NFL Week 9 betting: 5 biggest storylines, including the Bears and Jaguars creeping up Super Bowl odds
The Los Angeles Chargers still haven’t done anything for bettors this season.
There are no undefeated teams left in the NFL after the Vikings lost in Week 8, and only one winless team. That’s the Chargers. There is also only one team that is undefeated or winless against the spread. That’s also the Chargers, who are 0-6-1 according to Action Network’s standings. It has been a long season for the Chargers, and anyone backing them.
Here are five betting storylines for Week 9 of the NFL season:
Bears’ big night affects Super Bowl odds
The Chicago Bears had an impressive win over the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night, and now they’re one of the top few Super Bowl contenders, according to the odds.
The Bears are +900 to win the Super Bowl, with only two teams ahead of them. The Bills are +550 and the 49ers are +600. The Bears are 6-2, with one of those losses coming when Tyson Bagent started, and just made a major move to add defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in a trade with the Titans. The offense has been good most of the season (Caleb Williams has moved up to fourth in NFL MVP odds at +800) and the defense looked much different on Monday with Simmons creating chaos in the middle. In a wide-open NFL season, the Bears are making a charge.
Chicago Bears defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (99) celebrates during the first half of Chicago’s win over Seattle. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Jaguars also moving up Super Bowl odds
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ strong start are getting some notice. Only three teams have better Super Bowl odds at BetMGM than the Jaguars at 10-to-1. The Jaguars and Chiefs are tied for fourth at +1000 . Jacksonville is a heavy -750 to win the AFC South.
The 5-2 Jaguars have been good for most of the season, though they had two questionable games in London. They barely beat the Eagles on the final play and lost to the Texans. But Jacksonville has been pretty good otherwise, leading the NFL with a +85 scoring margin. Jacksonville was 13-4 last season and is once again one of the better teams in the league this season. They’re legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Ravens are big underdogs
The Jaguars have one of the easier matchups of Week 9, according to the odds. They get to face the reeling Baltimore Ravens, who will be without Lamar Jackson and likely Tyler Huntley on Thursday night. The most likely starting quarterback is undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano, though he’s dealing with an ankle injury. Austin Reed, who was signed Monday to the practice squad, has never played in an NFL game and was most recently with the UFL’s Dallas Renegades, could be the starter if Fagnano can’t play. Not ideal.
If Huntley returns soon, the Ravens won’t be massive underdogs very often. But they’re in a bad spot for Thursday night.
Cowboys are big road favorites
If the Dallas Cowboys can’t win on Sunday, the sky really might start falling in Dallas.
The Cowboys are 6-point favorites on the road, which seems hard to believe after they fell to 3-5 with an embarrassing home collapse to the Cardinals. But that is because of this week’s opponent: Dallas faces the Indianapolis Colts this week.
The Colts could trade more players including running back Jonathan Taylor before Sunday. They looked awful in a 42-7 loss last week to the Jaguars, which was their fourth straight loss. The Cowboys probably shouldn’t be that big of a road favorite against anyone with how their season is going, but Indianapolis might be the rare team that can’t move the ball on Dallas’ defense.
A weird NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year race
Broncos rookie running back Jonah Coleman had 93 yards rushing before Week 8. He had 41 yards rushing on Sunday and now he’s second in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year race (Coleman did make a big impact with a 51-yard catch to set up his go-ahead touchdown run).
Coleman’s +550 odds at BetMGM are only behind Titans receiver Carnell Tate at +375. It hasn’t been a great year for offensive rookies. Fernando Mendoza hasn’t started a game all season. Jeremiyah Love has been banged up since preseason. Philadelphia’s Makai Lemon, the third receiver drafted, got off to a slow start. The second receiver drafted, Jordyn Tyson, hasn’t played yet for the Saints due to a hamstring injury. The Jets refuse to feature tight end Kenyon Sadiq, the 16th pick of the draft.
That’s how a rookie running back who has missed most of the season due to injury and has 134 rushing yards all season is second in the rookie of the year race.
Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.