NFL Week 9 Betting Picks

NFL Week 9 seems to dial up the competitive intensity just a bit.

The juices are already flowing after a tightly contested Thursday Night Football game. In that one, the Pittsburgh Steelers held off a late surge from rookie quarterback Will Levis and the Tennessee Titans. With a final score of 20-16, under 36.5 bettors and Pittsburgh -3 supporters both grabbed narrow wins.

From here, Week 9 will go international. Kicking off early (9:30 a.m. ET), the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins are set for a bid in Frankfurt, Germany at Deutsche Bank Park. That should set an explosive tone for the remainder of Sunday's action.

Back on domestic soil, an NFC East showdown awaits between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. That will provide a fantastic measuring stick for possible postseason priority. From there, what on Earth can we expect from a stripped-down Las Vegas Raiders team against the New York Giants? Imagine the possibilities.

Let's dive into the Week 9 odds with an emphasis on scoping out the most valuable of Sunday's lines in traditional betting markets.

All NFL odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Lines may change after this article is published.

NFL Betting Picks (11/5/23)

Sunday's Full Slate

*Denotes NFL International Series

Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons

• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
• Spread: ATL -3.5
• Moneyline: MIN +156/ATL -186
• Total: 37.5 (-105/-115)

The Minnesota Vikings are set for a visit with the Atlanta Falcons. I don't think anyone anticipated before the season that this game would pit Jaren Hall and Taylor Heinicke against one another, but Kirk Cousins' season-ending Achilles injury caused a ripple effect nonetheless.

Atlanta has benched second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder. That is understandable considering the Falcons are just 4-4 straight up (SU) while Ridder was averaging only 6.5 adjusted yards per pass attempt. Perhaps the wily vet Heinicke can unlock more production from pass catchers like Kyle Pitts and Drake London, but London will sit this one out.

Whether Hall or the newly acquired Joshua Dobbs takes majority of the reps this Sunday is yet to be determined. This will be Hall's first NFL start, but he does have stars like T.J. Hockenson (53 receptions in 2023 to lead all NFC tight ends) and Jordan Addison (7 touchdowns to lead all rookies) to help ease the transition. Both players have stepped up in the absence of the All-Pro Justin Jefferson (hamstring).

Best Bet: Over 37.5 (-105)

Attacking the low number of 37.5 near even money (-105 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook), I believe there is more than enough here to go over the combined total.

Yes, Minnesota is attempting to bounce back after losing their franchise quarterback, but the presense of many dynamic skill players will make that process easier. On the road this week, I'd expect head coach Kevin O'Connell to get the football to his playmakers in space near the line of scrimmage.

When glancing at this contest on numberFire, my over play is confidently supported. Their game projection shows an estimated score of 26.57-24.46 in favor of the Falcons. That equates to more than 51 total points here, which provides a double-digit cushion when compared to set total of 37 with a hook. Simply, I will be rooting for points aplenty this weekend at Mercedes-Benz Stadium -- a venue with a fast surface.

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

• Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
• Spread: PHI -3 (-115)
• Moneyline: DAL +144/PHI -172
• Total: 46.5 (-115/-105)

A divisional rivalry as heated as they come, the Eagles (7-1) and Cowboys (5-2) will meet on Sunday for their first of at least two games this season. Hosted at Philly's Lincoln Financial Field, the Birds will look to set the tone early with their physicality.

Dallas and Philadelphia split last year's head-to-head series. Of course, the home team emerged victorious in each bid. In the most recent contest played at the Linc, the Eagles won by a score of 26-17, utilizing scores from receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

Other than running back Ezekiel Elliott, most major players from last season's rosters are back on both sides. Of course, All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs won't be around for this one as his season ended prior to Week 3.

Best Bet: Eagles -3 (-115)

I can respect that Dallas has done well to bounce back after a beat down at the San Francisco 49ers last month, but I'm not sure their offense is ready to steal a win in Philly. The Cowboys may be scoring 28.1 PPG in 2023, but that figure falls to 21.5 PPG on the road. I think they will be lucky to approach that latter number this time around at the Birds.

Jalen Hurts has orchestrated a much more consistent offense than Dak Prescott in 2023. The Eagles have scored less than 24 points in only one game this season. When you add in Hurts' running abilities (who has a team-leading six rushing touchdowns), he absolutely wins the quarterback edge.

It's always must-see television when Dallas pass rushers Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence get to go at the Eagles' massive offensive line. This time around, I am on host Philadelphia against the spread (ATS) laying a field goal. For reference, of eight total contests, the Birds have covered four games this season and pushed two others.

New York Giants at Las Vegas Raiders

• Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
• Spread: LV -1.5
• Moneyline: NYG +108/LV -126
• Total: 37.5 (-105/-115)

Also in the afternoon window, Big Blue will head to Sin City to clash with the Silver & Black. Candidly, this game has all the elements of a low-scoring affair.

The Raiders notably fired head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler on Halloween, sending veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to the bench simultaneously. With that, rookie Aidan O'Connell will now be the starting signal-caller for Raider Nation.

Shuffling quarterbacks is something the Football Giants can absolutely relate to in 2023, although for different reasons. Starter Daniel Jones has missed the past three games with a neck injury, but he was cleared for contact early in Week 9. Does that mean we see him Sunday in Vegas? If not, prepare for Tommy DeVito. Keep in mind, DeVito totaled -1 yards passing last weekend versus the New York Jets.

Best Bet: Under 37.5 (-115)

Let's get one thing straight: the Raiders (31st) and G-Men (32nd) have produced less total yardage than all other teams this season. From there, at a mere 11.9 PPG, NYG is the very worst scoring side in the NFL.

Even in games Jones has started this season, that clip is barely higher (12.4 PPG). Considering there is a rookie quarterback (O'Connell) across the field from Jones, I'm much more confident in under 37.5.

O'Connell plays the game with guts; I'll give him that. However, I'm just not completely sure that opens up Vegas' offense right away. Both McDaniels and offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi are gone, so it may take some time before a quality new scheme is installed.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.