NFL 2025 Week 9 Prequel
Thursday, October 30, 2025, 8pm
Baltimore Ravens (-7 1/2) at Miami Dolphins — Both teams are awful, which makes it all the more surprising that they won last week. The Dolphins went on the road and obliterated Atlanta. The oddsmakers were unimpressed. We keep hearing that the Ravens are better than their record, but with Lamar Jackson injured that is not true. Jackson is back, which drastically improves the team. Yet the spread is too high for a road team, especially if Jackson has any rust. Ravens win but fail to cover
Sunday, November 2, 1pm
Atlanta Falcons at New England Patriots (-5 1/2) — The Patriots are a good football team again thanks to Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye. The Falcons are too inconsistent to trust, especially after getting blown out home by a bad Miami team. Patriots cover
Los Angeles Chargers (-10 1/2) at Tennessee Titans — Yes, the Titans are pathetic. Yet the Chargers simply do not blow teams out. They play down to the level of their competition. On paper the Chargers are much better but games are not played on paper. This game is begging for a garbage touchdown to beat the spread, especially with the Chargers being on the road. Chargers win but fail to cover
Chicago Bears (-2 1/2) at Cincinnati Bengals — The Bears losing at Baltimore was forgivable, but the Bengals blowing a 14 point fourth quarter home lead to the previously winless Jets is not. It is really hard to give the Bengals the benefit of the doubt, but perhaps they will be angry in what is their third straight home game. This is the last chance to say the Bengals are not awful and the Bears are overrated. Upset special, Bengals win outright
Indianapolis Colts (-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers — 20 years ago the Steelers went into indianapolis and shocked the 14-2 Colts in the playoffs. That matters to someone, somewhere. The Colts are 7-1 and their offense is lighting up the league. The Steelers lost at home to Green Bay. Go with the hot team, even on the road. The Steelers are good, but the Colts right now are great. Colts cover
San Francisco 49ers (-2 1/2) at New York Giants — In 1990 these teams played two of the greatest defensive games ever and the most brutal NFC Title Game ever. Now the 49ers are a good team that laid an inexcusable egg at Houston while the Giants are slowly improving. At home, Jaxson Dart brings the energy. Losing Cam Skattebo for the season hurts, but go with the fiery quarterback in front of the home crowd. Upset special, Giants win outright
Denver Broncos at Houston Texans (-1 1/2) — The Texans did get an impressive win over San Francisco, but Denver presents a much tougher test. Both teams have good defenses, and right now Bo nix is playing better than CJ Stroud. Go with the hot quarterback. Upset special, Broncos win outright
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (-8 1/2) — First JJ McCarthy gets injured and now Carson Wentz is done for the year with an injury. As the Vikings are getting wounded, the Lions are getting healthy. That means their offense should roll. Lions cover
Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers (-12 1/2)— 30 years ago this was the NFC Title Game. 30 years later, the Packers are still the better team. Their win at Pittsburgh was impressive. Bryce Young should return after missing one week due to injury, but if he is even slightly hobbled by his ankle, this game will not be close. Packers cover
4pm
Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) at Las Vegas Raiders — It is really hard to trust the Raiders on anything. They have no home field advantage, no offensive line, and lousy quarterback play. Yet they had two weeks to prepare for this game. After a lifeless shutout drubbing at Kansas City, this is the last chance to give them the benefit of the doubt this season. The Jaguars are inconsistent and the Raiders defense has improved. Upset special, Raiders win outright
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams (-14 1/2) — This was a thrilling and controversial 2018 NFC Title Game. Now it is a very good team against a terrible team. Yet at the risk of being a broken record, the spread is too high when a potential garbage touchdown is factored in. The Rams could make this a blowout, but they often play down to the level of their competition. Rams win but fail to cover
Kansas City Chiefs (-2) at Buffalo Bills — Both teams won their respective games by 31 points last week. The Bills won on the road. The way this series works is that the Bills win in the regular season and choke against the Chiefs in the playoffs. Since this is the regular season go with the Bills to hold serve at home so they can get their fan base hyped up before disappointing them in January. Upset special, Bills win outright
8pm
Seattle Seahawks (-3) at Washington Commanders — Over a decade ago, the Commanders were the Redskins. RGIII was a rookie phenom who suffered a gruesome knee injury in a playoff game against Seattle that derailed his career. Now Jayden Daniels is back from injury but the Seahawks still seem to be the better team right now. Sam Darnold is airing it out and the Seattle defense is the best it has been since the Legion of Boom days. Dan Quinn helped build that defense, but giving up 44 points at Dallas in inexcusable. Until the Commanders right the ship, they do not get the benefit of the doubt. Seahawks cover
Monday, November 3, 8pm
Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys (-2 1/2) — The Cowboys offense exploded for 44 points against Washington. While the Dallas defense cannot stop anyone, luckily against Arizona that will not be an issue. This is one game where high octane offense alone should be sufficient. The Cardinals lack the firepower to keep up. Cowboys cover