NFL betting is passing the halfway point and the decisions are getting tougher as slumping teams surprise and powerhouse teams falter.
Does Week 9 have any surprise NFL picks in store for us? Let’s have a look.
Arizona Cardinals @ Chicago Bears
Sunday, November 8, 1:00 p.m. ET
Sportsbook favorite line: Bears -3
The Cardinals sure are difficult to figure out. A week after turning heads with a great road win over the New York Giants, Arizona drew Carolina at home and stank up the joint. Kurt Warner got possessed by Jake Delhomme’s spirit and turned the ball over six times.
What, then, can we expect when the Cards hit the road again in Week 9?
Don’t be surprised if Arizona looks more like the team that downed the Giants. Warner is unlikely to lay two straight eggs and the Bears secondary is beatable deep. Also, Chicago’s O-line has been suspect all season and the Cardinals were the NFL’s best run-stopping team before last week’s debacle. I’d take the Cards for the upset.
Cardinals-Bears Pick: Cardinals +3
San Diego Chargers @ New York Giants
Sunday, November 8, 4:15 p.m. ET
Sportsbook favorite line: Giants -5
The Giants have been online betting goats of late, dropping three straight games, but they’re due for a turnaround. A close look at the Chargers’ “success” this season shows that they’re total pretenders; they’ve only beaten Oakland (twice), Kansas City and Miami.
They struggle to stop the run so they should expect a steady diet of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw on Sunday. The pressure is on the Giants, who haven’t beaten too many real opponents themselves. Expect Eli Manning to rise to the occasion and lead his team to a big point total.
Chargers-Giants Pick: Giants -5
Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, November 8, 8:20 p.m. ET
Sportsbook favorite line: Eagles -3
The Cowboys certainly look better of late after winning three straight games but have a tough test this week considering what the Eagles did to the Giants last week. Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid’s aggressive passing system are flourishing, especially because of DeSean Jackson’s amazing ability to get downfield separation. They will test a Dallas secondary that has been hot/cold this season.
Tony Romo usually plays well in November but you have to wonder if his horrible debacle against the Eagles in Week 17 last season still haunts him. Against a blitz-happy Eagles’ “D” he may have his first bad game in several weeks.
Pick: Eagles -3
