NFL Week 8 is in the books, NFL Week 9 odds are on the board, and several betting factors are already in play. That includes the typical injury news, which is actually becoming far too typical for the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.
This week’s NFL Cheat Sheet serves as one-stop shopping for that information and more. Covers checks in on NFL Week 9 injuries, weather, consensus picks, Pros vs Joes and more. Check back throughout the week for NFL injury updates, popular picks, and notable contrasts between sharp bets and public money.
Week 9 Injuries
Atlanta Falcons: Wide receiver Calvin Ridley was ruled out for Sunday's game against Denver due to a foot injury. The Falcons opened as 3.5-point favorites and currently are sitting at -4.
Baltimore Ravens: Cornerback Marlon Humphrey tested positive for COVID-19 Monday after playing in Sunday’s home loss to Pittsburgh. Prior to that news, The SuperBook opened the Ravens -2.5 and quickly moved to -3 Sunday evening, while the total went from 45 to 44.5. But this game came off the board Monday, while the book awaited clarity on Baltimore’s situation. The game went back up Tuesday at Baltimore -2.5 and on Friday was at pick.
Indianapolis Colts: Wideout T.Y. Hilton (groin) is doubtful Sunday against Baltimore. But that had no impact Friday at The SuperBook, and in fact this game is now a pick 'em, after opening Colts +2.5 and initially moving to +3.
Seattle Seahawks: Running backs Chris Carson (foot) and Carlos Hyde (hamstring) are out again this week for an interconference clash at Buffalo. But The SuperBook already had that baked into the cake, as the line has stuck at -3 and the total at 55 since Tuesday.
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees (right shoulder) was not listed on Friday's injury report, so it appears he's fine for a Sunday night showdown with Tom Brady and Tampa Bay. However, wideout Michael Thomas (ankle/hamstring) is questionable to play his first game since Week 1. The SuperBook moved the visiting Saints from +4.5 to +4 Friday.
Arizona Cardinals: Running back Kenyan Drake (ankle) is out Sunday against Miami, but that's another injury likely baked into The SuperBook's oddsmaking cake. Arizona has been at -4.5 since midweek. The Cards had a bye in Week 8, and over the weekend, linebacker Devon Kennard and cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. tested positive for COVID. So this game was off the board for a while early in the week.
Chicago Bears: The Bears on Thursday revealed guard Cody Whitehair tested positive for COVID-19, as did backup left tackle Jason Spriggs. Right guard German Ifedi also landed on the reserve/COVID list as a close contact. The SuperBook's line for Sunday's game at Tennessee was at Chicago +6.5 Friday, and the total was at 47.
Tennessee Titans: Wideout Adam Humphries didn't clear concussion protocol Friday and is out Sunday against Chicago. But Tennessse remained -6.5 Friday at The SuperBook, and the total ticked up to 47.
Dallas Cowboys: Running back Ezekiel Elliott (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's home tilt against Pittsburgh. Dallas briefly went from +14 to +14.5 Friday afternoon, then back to +14 at The SuperBook. The total moved a point Friday, from 42 to 43.
Las Vegas Raiders: Running back Josh Jacobs (knee/illness) missed Thursday's practice but was back in limited participation Friday. But the Raiders have seen action all week at The SuperBook, with Sunday's game against the Chargers opening at +3 and sitting at pick 'em Friday. The total on Friday moved from 51.5 to 52.
Los Angeles Chargers: Defensive end Joey Bosa is in concussion protocol and doubtful for this week’s home game against the Raiders. The Chargers opened -3 and quickly dropped to -1.5, though SuperBook executive director John Murray said that had much more to do with Los Angeles’ fourth-quarter collapse in the loss to Denver. By Friday, Chargers-Raiders was a pick 'em, and on Saturday, wideout Keenan Allen (illness) was listed as questionable, but the game remained pick. On Sunday morning, it appeared Allen would be good to go, though Las Vegas moved to -1.
Detroit Lions: Quarterback Matthew Stafford appears likely to play Sunday at Minnesota, provided his final test of COVID protocol comes back negative. He's had multiple negative tests so far while being isolated, after having been in close contact early in the week with someone who tested positive. The SuperBook moved the line Saturday from Lions +4 to +3.5, and interestingly, the total ticked down from 52.5 to 52. Wideout Kenny Golladay (hip) will miss Sunday’s game.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Quarterback Gardner Minshew II (right thumb) was officially ruled out Friday, which was expected, although the Jags did move from +6.5 to +7 Friday at The SuperBook. The total opened at 51.5 and spent pretty most of the week at 50.5. Rookie sixth-rounder Jake Luton gets his first NFL start Sunday against Houston.
San Francisco 49ers: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo aggravated a high ankle sprain in Sunday’s loss at Seattle and could be out several weeks. And tight end George Kittle broke a bone in his foot and is also out several weeks. That’s on top of running backs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. both on IR with ankle injuries, among other key banged-up players.
The SuperBook at Westgate opened San Fran +2.5 at home against Green Bay in the Thursday night game. The game went back up Tuesday morning at 49ers +5. Then came Wednesday's news that the Niners were dealing with COVID issues, off a positive test of wideout Kendrick Bourne that has him out for Thursday's game. Because fellow wideouts Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel were ruled close contacts, those two are out, as well.
So this game again came off the board Wednesday morning, went back up Wednesday afternoon at Packers -6.5 and briefly reached -7.5 Thursday morning before going to -7. The total is down to 48.5.
Green Bay Packers: Backup running back AJ Dillon, who played in Sunday’s home loss to Minnesota, tested positive for COVID-19 and is under the league’s COVID protocol. The Dillon news is what first prompted The SuperBook to take the Packers-Niners game off the board, and then came the aforementioned San Francisco injury news. The game opened Packers -2.5, with a total of 50.5 that moved to 51 Monday morning, before the game was taken down. The numbers went back up Tuesday morning at Packers -5/50.
Week 9 Weather
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars: The forecast calls for a 15 percent chance of rain Sunday in Jacksonville, with winds up to 20 mph. This total has dropped from 51 to 49 points since opening.
Carolina Panthers at Kansas City Chiefs: The updated Kansas City forecast shows little chance of rain, but it could still be a little breezy, with winds of 17-25 mph. This total climbed from 50.5 to 52 points since opening.
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The bad weather in Tampa may blow over for Sunday Night Football. The forecast is calling for a 15 percent chance of rain with winds blowing up to 20 mph and temperatues in the high 70s. This total has moved from an opener of 55 points to 50.5 as of Sunday.
Week 9 Consensus
Week 9 Pros vs Joes
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: "We opened the Bucs as 5.5-point favorites, but saw some sharp money come for the Saints early at +5.5," PointsBet USA's Patrick Eichner said, noting the line got as low as -4 Thursday morning, then ticked up to -4.5 Thursday evening. "The Pros are on the Saints at +5.5, and Joes are on the Bucs throughout."
Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts: "We are seeing a lot of Ravens money, but the line has moved from Ravens -3 to Ravens -1.5," SuperBook manager/oddsmaker Eric Osterman said Thursday. "We took sharp action on the Colts at +3 and +2.5." Likewise, PointsBet USA's Patrick Eichner said this game is Pros vs Joes at his shop. "We opened the Ravens at -3, but quickly saw sharp money come in on the Colts at +3," Eichner said, noting the line Friday is Ravens -1.5. "The public is all over the Ravens, but sharps liked the Colts +3, as they've quietly had a very solid season."
Miami Dolphins at Arizona Cardinals: Arizona opened -5.5 at The SuperBook and dropped to -4, went up to -5 and stood at -4.5 Thursday night. "We have taken some sharp money on the Dolphins at +5. Parlay money is heavy on the Cardinals moneyline," The SuperBook's Osterman said.
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