NFL Week 11 Betting Odds and Picks: Dolphins-Panthers, Steelers-Chiefs, Bengals-Raiders

NFL odds are strange beasts, aren’t they? One week we dominate with our predictions; the next week we fall flat. After the Bears and Cowboys burned us in Week 10, it’s time for redemption.

Try these football picks on for size. We look at the upcoming Dolphins-Panthers Thursday night game, plus the Steelers-Chiefs and Bengals-Raiders matchups on Sunday.

Note: Follow the link for spread info and picks for all games on the NFL Week 11 schedule.

Miami Dolphins @ Carolina Panthers

Thursday, November 19, 8:20 p.m. ET

Dolphins-Panthers Sportsbook favorite: Panthers -3

As crazy as it sounds, the Panthers are creeping back into the NFC playoff picture. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are running wild, recapturing their late-season form of 2008, and Carolina leads the conference in rushing. Somehow, Jake Delhomme hasn’t thrown an interception in three weeks. He’s starting to re-establish his rapport with Steve Smith, who scored twice in Week 10. Against a shaky Miami secondary, Delhomme may survive yet again.

The Dolphins’ usually great rushing attack loses some luster without Ronnie Brown (injured foot) and they won’t throw successfully against the Panthers No. 4 pass defense, so all signs point to a Panthers victory.

Sports betting Dolphins-Panthers pick: Panthers -3

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Kansas City Chiefs

Sunday, November 22, 1:00 p.m. ET

Steelers-Chiefs Sportsbook favorite: Steelers -10

Who’s left to make plays for Kansas City? Larry Johnson is Cincinnati-bound. Dwayne Bowe is suspended. That leaves Jamaal Charles to battle a No. 1 Pittsburgh run “D” that handled Chris Johnson, Cedric Benson and Adrian Peterson just fine. Not only that, but the Steelers are angry after losing at home to Cincinnati in Week 10.

The Chiefs can’t stop the run or the pass, so Pittsburgh should romp whether they choose to air it out via Ben Roethlisberger or run the ball down K.C.’s throat via Rashard Mendenhall.

Sports betting Steelers-Chiefs pick: Steelers -10

Cincinnati Bengals @ Oakland Raiders

Sunday, November 22, 4:15 p.m. ET

Bengals-Raiders odds: Bengals -9.5

Call it a hunch, but I like the Raiders to beat the 9.5-point spread. Doing so would defy logic but so does everything else about the Bengals’ 2009 season.

Almost no one picked them to beat the Steelers on the road last week and they won. Wouldn’t it be Bengals-esque to not cover the spread against Oakland of all teams? The Black Hole still isn’t an easy place to play and Oakland’s pass defense is a respectable 14^th in the NFL. Maybe they capitalize on Cedric Benson’s absence and keep this game close and low-scoring?

Sounds crazy, but is the idea any crazier than the Raiders beating the Eagles in Week 6?

Raiders-Bengals Sports betting pick: Raiders +9.5

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