NFL 2009 Week 9: Picks & Selections

Benjamin Lee Eckstein

Eagles-x (-3) over Cowboys

Now that the World Series is out of the way, Eagles/Cowboys week takes its place under the spotlight, and NOTHING is finer than whipping Dallas.

Coming off a ridiculous 40-17 rout of the Giants, the Birds seem to be positioned perfectly to claim the top spot in the NFC East. Plus they get Brian Westbrook back. Really the only hiccup over the last month was that disasterous, unexplainable trip to Oakland. Other than that, the Eagles have been a money machine the last 15 times out, with 11 covers. They have covered six of their last seven at home, and five of the last six against Dallas.

Going back a little deeper into this rivalry, it's still ALL Birds, with eight covers in the last 10 at home. If you're into over/unders, and who isn't, the total has gone OVER in seven of the last eight Eagles/Cowboys games played in Philly.

So, lets rock the Green, and call it 30-24.

Texans (+9) over Colts-x

Talk about money machines, Houston is 10-4-1 against the spread the last 15 times out, and seem to enjoy playing on the road.

The Texans opened with a 34-31 win at Tennessee, then followed with a 28-21 loss at Arizona (only seven points), a 28-17 win at Cincinnati and a 31-10 W last week at Buffalo. Houston has covered six of its last eight on the road, and also seems to enjoy playing against Indianapolis.

Last season, the Texans lost at Indy 33-27, but covered an eight point spread. In Houston, it was the Colts squeezing out a 31-27 victory, but the Texans covering as a 4.5 point underdog. Then when you take a look at who the Horseshoes have beat on the way to their 7-0 mark, ya got Jacksonville, Miami, Arizona, Seattle, Tennessee, St. Louis and San Francisco. Not exactly a WHO's WHO of the NFL.

One final note: Indy has covered only four of the last 13 at home. It's a BEST BET!

Cards (+3) over Bears-x

Here's another team that LOVES playing on the road.

Arizona is only 1-3 at home, but 3-0, straight up and against the spread on the road. The Cardinals beat Jax 31-17 as a three point dog, whipped Seattle 27-3 as a three point dog and got past the Giants, 24-17, as a nine point dog. Obviously, Arizona is livin' LARGE on the road, and Chicago is still way too rough around the edges.

Panthers (+13.5) over Saints-x

We would like to see this line inch up to 14, and if it does, we'll put down a little more cash.

Carolina, with the exception of a 20-9 stinker at Buffalo, has played well and won every other game since the bye week. But here is the amazing stat in this matchup. The Panthers are 6-0 straight up and 5-1 against the spread in their last six trips to New Orleans.

In this NFC South rivalry, the dog is gonna bark all the way to the bank.

Chargers (+5) over Giants-x

Looking at New York's last three outings (48-27 loss to New Orleans, 24-17 loss to Arizona, 40-17 loss to the Birds), we're not quite sure why this line has jumped from -3.5 to -5. But we'll take a bite.

Last week, there were three NFL games that moved more than two points from the opening line. In each case, the team that the line moved toward, lost. Since the line is moving to the Giants here, the obvious play is to jump on San Diego.

Jaguars-x (-6.5) over Chiefs

Head coach Jack Del Rio was so embarrassed with last week's 30-13 loss at Tennessee that he has the Jags practicing in FULL pads. Oh yea, Kaycee has lost its main weapon, Larry Johnson, to a suspension.

Titans (+4) over 49ers-x

Here comes Tennessee. Love him or hate him, you gotta agree that Vince Young has energized the Titans. And you gotta agree that the Niners have fallen back to earth, hard, losing three in a row.

Bengals-x (+3) over Ravens

Cincinnati has covered seven of the last 10 against Baltimore, including a 17-14 win in October.

Redskins (+10) over Falcons-x

Double digit dogs were 4-1 last week, so we'll give Washington a tickle.

Packers (-9.5) over Bucs-x

Since Tampa has covered only one of its last NINE, Green Bay is the play.

Dolphins (+10.5) over Patriots-x

Hopefully, New England is still a little fuzzy from the trip to London.

Seahawks-x (-10) over Lions

Welcome to our "Monopoly Money" game of the week. Don't waste your time, or, your cash.

Broncos-x (+3) over Steelers (Mon)

Denver has covered six of the last seven, while Pitt is riding an 0-5 spread streak on the road.

x-home team

Last week: 7-6

Season record: 60-55-1

 

2009 NFL Week 9 LATEST LINE

Dallas is 2-10 vs. the spread its last 12 games as a road underdog in the month of November against an opponent off back-to-back victories. The Cowboys are also 2-9 vs. the spread their last 11 games against a division rival. Philadelphia is 9-3 vs. the spread its last 12 games at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles are a solid 11-1 vs. the spread their last 12 games after facing the NY Giants. Take Philadelphia -3 for another Best Bet winner. Other plays include Baltimore -3 vs. Cincinnati, Carolina +13 vs. New Orleans, and San Diego +5 vs. NY Giants.

 

 

NFL 2009 Week 9 Schedule

(All times local)

Green Bay at Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Chicago at Cincinnati, 4:15 PM
San Francisco at Houston, 12:00 PM
Atlanta at Dallas, 3:15 PM
San Diego at Kansas City, 12:00 PM
N.Y. Jets at Oakland, 1:05 PM
New Orleans at Miami, 4:15 PM
Minnesota at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
Indianapolis at St. Louis, 12:00 PM
New England at Tampa Bay, 5:00 PM (GMT)
Buffalo at Carolina, 4:05 PM
Arizona at N.Y. Giants, 8:20 PM (NBC)
Philadelphia at Washington, 8:30 PM (MNF - ESPN)

Bye Week: Baltimore, Denver, Detroit, Jacksonville, Seattle, Tennessee

 

NFL 2009 Week 6 Results

(Home Team in CAPS)
Houston 28, CINCINNATI 17
OAKLAND 13, Philadelphia 9
GREEN BAY 26, Detroit 0
Arizona 27, SEATTLE 3
JACKSONVILLE 23, St. Louis 20 (OT)
NEW ENGLAND 59, Tennessee 0
MINNESOTA 33, Baltimore 31
Buffalo 16, N.Y. JETS 13 (OT)
NEW ORLEANS 48, N.Y. Giants 27
ATLANTA 21, Chicago 14
PITTSBURGH 27, Cleveland 14
Carolina 28, TAMPA BAY 21
Kansas City 14, WASHINGTON 6
Denver 34, SAN DIEGO 23

Bye Week: Dallas, Indianapolis, Miami, and San Francisco

 

 

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NFL 2009 Week 9 - Selections & Latest Line