NFL Bettors Lose Big as Favorites Miss in Week 9
A 2-3 record against the spread followed an unusual week where 11 favorites covered, setting the stage for high-stakes matchups in Munich and New York.
By Amit Chukwu ·
The NFL experienced a rare statistical anomaly during Week 9, with 11 favorites covering the point spread. For bettors, this environment typically signals high returns, yet CBS Sports recorded a 2-3 record against the spread in that timeframe. The disconnect between team performance and betting outcomes highlights the volatility of the current season.
The week saw mixed results for major contenders. The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks successfully covered their respective lines. The New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears won their games but failed to meet the spread. The Minnesota Vikings suffered a specific setback when quarterback Carson Wentz, inserted to challenge the Buffalo Bills, delivered one of the worst statistical performances in franchise history before the team reverted to Kirk Cousins.
The focus now shifts to Week 10, which opens with an international matchup in Munich. The Detroit Lions host the New England Patriots on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET. The Lions are favored by 2.5 points. Detroit has entered a four-game winning streak, during which their defense ranks second in the league in points allowed per game at 15.5 and second in yards allowed per game at 286.3.
The New England Patriots arrive with significant personnel concerns. Their defense surrendered 45 points to the Green Bay Packers in their previous game. Quarterback Drake Maye threw three interceptions in that contest. The Patriots may lose their top two running backs to injury. Rhamondre Stevenson is dealing with a knee injury, and TreVeyon Henderson suffered an unusual medical emergency. Corey Kiner and Lan Larison could see increased playing time for head coach Mike Vrabel.
In New York, the Buffalo Bills travel to face the New York Jets at 1 p.m. ET. Buffalo is favored by 8.5 points. The Bills lead the NFL in scoring offense with 32 points per game. Their defense allowed only 8.0 points per game over its last two matchups against the Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings. Buffalo also limited opponents to an NFL-low 161.0 total yards per game in that two-week span.
The Jets have lost four consecutive games under head coach Aaron Glenn. The team is 0-8 straight up and 1-7 against the spread in divisional games this season. Buffalo strengthened its secondary by acquiring safety Amani Hooker at the trade deadline. Hooker is tied for the league lead with five interceptions, including three against the Cincinnati Bengals in a single game.
The Kansas City Chiefs visit the Atlanta Falcons at 1 p.m. ET. Kansas City is favored by 3 points. The Falcons have struggled recently, scoring zero points in a rain-soaked loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and losing 34-17 to the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid. Atlanta traded safety Jessie Bates III to the Jacksonville Jaguars three days before the game. The Chiefs added wide receiver Josh Downs at the trade deadline to address a lack of deep threat production.
The Indianapolis Colts host the Miami Dolphins at 1 p.m. ET. Indianapolis is favored by 3.5 points. The Colts will field a new starting quarterback as sixth-round pick Kyle McCord makes his debut after Malik Willis was placed on injured reserve. The Dolphins are 1-7, while the Colts are 2-7. The Colts retained running back Jonathan Taylor but traded away wide receivers Josh Downs and Keenan Allen this week.
The Cincinnati Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers at 8:20 p.m. ET. Cincinnati is favored by 3.5 points. The Bengals have won four straight games and scored at least 30 points in each of those contests. Quarterback Joe Burrow is approaching rare historical milestones in scoring and completion percentage. The Bengals have won seven of their last nine home games during primetime slots.
