Bierman’s Best Bets – NFL Week 9
We’re steadily plugging along with our NFL picks, going 2-1 last week to bring our season record to 13-10. This week, we’re back with three more picks, including one matchup that has two teams riding very different emotions after thrilling finishes last weekend. Let’s keep the momentum going Sandman Nation!
Raiders at Bengals (-8) (*All lines are from DraftKings Sportsbook)
It was a rough day in the Queen City on Sunday, as the Bengals dropped to 3-5 with a disappointing 20-point loss to the Eagles at home. The Bengals remain winless at home, sitting at 0-4, with both offense and defense struggling mightily. Meanwhile, the Raiders managed to keep things respectable against the league’s last unbeaten team, the Chiefs, and even scored a late touchdown to give us a backdoor cover.
Despite these struggles, I expect a big bounce-back performance from the Bengals this weekend. While they’ve had their share of issues, they lead the league as the least-penalized team with just four per game. Tee Higgins is expected back, adding firepower to the offense, and they’re up against a Raiders squad that ranks 28th in offense and averages more than two turnovers per game. Those turnovers could provide some short-field opportunities for Burrow and company. Three of Cincinnati’s losses have come against division leaders, and I refuse to believe they’re as bad as Sunday’s game would suggest. With their season on the line, I’m betting on the Bengals to come out strong and put a hurting on the Raiders.
The Pick: Bengals -8
Bears at Cardinals (-1)
These two teams are coming off very different endings. The Cardinals are riding high after an exhilarating last-second road win over the Dolphins with a clutch field goal. Who would have thought halfway through the season we’d see Arizona sitting at the top of the NFC West? On the flip side, the Bears are coming off an absolute heartbreaker. In one of the season’s most exciting finishes, the Commanders launched a Hail Mary from midfield, and after a wild deflection, the ball landed in WR Noah Brown’s hands for the winning touchdown. Seeing a Hail Mary connect like that is thrilling—unless you’re a Bears fan, of course.
Chicago’s offense is still struggling, ranked a lowly 26th, and despite the last-second miracle, the Commanders dominated for nearly the entire game. Heading out to Arizona, I don’t see the Bears shaking off that brutal loss, and I like the Cardinals to keep soaring and take the win.
The Pick: Cardinals -1
Colts (+6.5) at Vikings
Joshua Downs is quickly becoming one of the league’s most underrated wide receivers. Even though he’s not on any of my fantasy teams, he continues to impress, racking up 109 receiving yards and a touchdown this past week (with another that was ruled just inches short). He’s clearly taken over as the Colts’ top target, surpassing Michael Pittman in that role. There are still concerns with QB Anthony Richardson, who managed just 10 completions on 32 attempts for 175 yards, though he added a respectable 45 rushing yards. And with Jonathan Taylor in the backfield, opposing defenses still have to stay honest.
Meanwhile, the Vikings have cooled off, dropping their last two games after starting the season 5-0. Some weaknesses are starting to show, and surprisingly, the Colts are actually outgaining the Vikings in yards per game. Both teams have comparable defenses, and I love the Colts here as nearly a touchdown underdog. Give me the road dog!
The Pick: Colts +6.5
