Week 9 NFL best bets: Count on Bears, Raiders

NFL odds, picks, lines, spreads for Week 9: Chicago and Las Vegas stand out

We have hit the halfway point in the NFL season and through eight weeks, many things are not playing out as people expected. Geno Smith is an MVP candidate with the seventh-best odds to win the award. Tom Brady has finally shown signs of his age. Russell Wilson cannot get anything going on a stacked Denver Broncos team.

In Week 9 of this unpredictable season, we look to the best bets on the NFL slate in an effort to continue improving our success with picks. Through eight weeks, our season record is 12-7.

Let’s take a look at Jets X-Factor’s best bets for Week 9.

All odds via Fanduel Sportsbook

Week 9 NFL Lines and Odds

• Philadelphia Eagles @ Houston Texans: +14
• Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots: -5.5
• Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets: +12.5
• Miami Dolphins @ Chicago Bears: +5
• Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions: +3.5
• Minnesota Vikings @ Washington Commanders: +3.5
• Carolina Panthers @ Cincinnati Bengals: +7.5
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Atlanta Falcons: +3.5
• Las Vegas Raiders @ Jacksonville Jaguars: +1.5
• Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals: -2
• Los Angeles Rams @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -2.5
• Tennessee Titans @ Kansas City Chiefs: -12.5
• Baltimore Ravens @ New Orleans Saints: +2.5

NFL Best Bets

Miami Dolphins @ Chicago Bears

The Miami Dolphins are sitting at 5-3 and have starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa healthy for the second half of the season.

However, the Dolphins’ defense has been playing poorly on the road. Their defense has given up 33 points per game on the road compared to 15 points per game at Hard Rock Stadium.

Going up against the Chicago Bears, you have to slow their rushing attack down. Through eight games, the Bears are leading the NFL in rushing yards per game at 188.4. That is more than 20 yards per game than the second-best team.

Khalil Herbert is leading the way for Chicago as he has 563 rushing yards on the season and is averaging 6.2 yards per attempt. Second-year quarterback Justin Fields has 424 rushing yards and is averaging 5.6 yards per attempt. The Bears do not throw the ball well but they can hurt you on the ground.

Chicago has found its identity recently, rushing for at least 230 yards in three straight games. I expect the Bears to be able to stay with the Dolphins and keep this game close.

The Play: Chicago Bears +5 (-110)

Las Vegas Raiders @ Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders have both had disappointing seasons from what their hopes were in the preseason. Trevor Lawrence was supposed to take a massive step forward in his second season after an expensive free agency from the Jaguars. The Raiders made one of the biggest moves of the off-season in trading for star wide receiver Davante Adams, which was going to set them up to compete in the AFC West.

The Raiders are a better team than their record says they are. Even after last week’s 24-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints, I think this is a good bounce-back spot for the Raiders. Since Week 3, the Jaguars’ defense is allowing 24 points per game and 370 yards per game. I think the Raiders can take advantage of the Jaguars’ below average passing defense and score a lot of points come Sunday.

Jacksonville also played in London last week against the Denver Broncos and elected to not have the bye week directly after the London trip. After a long flight home coming off a loss, I think the Raiders will catch an unmotivated Jaguars team and pounce on them.

The Play: Las Vegas Raiders Money Line (-125)