NFL Week 9 trend plays: Fade below-average Steelers
Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.
We're back to highlight the best betting trends and angles. Last week, the Patriots and Packers both rewarded those who bet them as favorites, while the Dolphins made it three straight against the spread thanks to a Monday night cover.
Here are some of the more notable trends to watch for in Week 9.
(Trends are from Sports Database unless noted otherwise.)
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers
Line: PK
The allure of the Silver and Black is once again distracting bettors from the reality of these Steelers, who opened as 1-point favorites before being bet to pick 'em. Since 1989, teams with losing records facing squads with winning percentages of at least .700 have won just 29.8% of games straight up and covered seven of their last 19 when favored or at pick 'em.
Trend play: Colts PK
New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens
Line: Patriots -4
The second half of the season hasn't been kind to undefeated teams in recent years, especially on the road. Since 2011, unbeaten road favorites are 4-10 ATS (28.6%) with six outright losses in Week 9 or later. They've also lost four straight ATS in that spot versus opponents with winning records.
Trend play: Ravens +4
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
Line: Jets -3
Could this finally be the spot to take the Dolphins...outright? In the last 30 years, winless home 'dogs catching three points or fewer are 7-5 SU and 7-4-1 ATS (63.6%) in Week 9 or later. Miami has kept it close recently, which bodes well here; since 2000, winless teams coming off three straight losses of fewer than 14 points are 12-5-1 ATS (70.6%) in Week 9 or later.
Trend play: Miami +3
Detroit Lions at Oakland Raiders
Line: Raiders -2
No need to adjust your screens, folks: The Raiders are indeed favorites. It's the first time Oakland's been favored since Week 4 of 2018 - against the Browns in Baker Mayfield's first start - and only the second time in the Raiders' last 28 games. Head coach Jon Gruden is a modest 39-35-4 ATS as a home favorite in his career, but an impressive 10-2-1 ATS (83.3%) when giving fewer than three points in that spot. He's also 33-19-2 ATS (63.5%) all time when coming off a road loss.
Trend play: Raiders -2
C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.