Week 9 Betting Preview: Predictions for every matchup

Each week during the NFL season, theScore's Dane Belbeck will handicap every matchup and offer up a three-pack of picks.

Week 8 record: 4-9
Overall: 62-57

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+7) at New Orleans Saints

The Buccaneers look dreadful as of late in a four-game losing streak, while the Saints are rolling with five straight victories. Despite those recent trends, Tampa Bay is the play in this NFC South matchup. The Saints have been winning games with a strong rushing attack and stout defense, a stark contrast from previous years under Sean Payton, but the Bucs are a decent outfit against the run. Look for Doug Martin to have a strong day, and Jameis Winston to bounce back from a rough outing to keep this one close. Saints 27, Bucs 24

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers (-1)

The Panthers dealt Kelvin Benjamin during the week, which many signaled as a sign they're punting on the season. The fact is, Devin Funchess' emergence made Benjamin an expendable piece. Carolina gets the home win in Christian McCaffrey's best game as a pro. Panthers 27, Falcons 23

Washington Redskins at Seattle Seahawks (-7)

Injuries will play a big role in this NFC showdown, with Earl Thomas likely out for the Seahawks and the majority of the Redskins' starting offensive line unlikely to play. While Thomas' absence is certainly a big one, going into Seattle with backups on the offensive line is not a recipe for success. Kirk Cousins certainly isn't known to be particularly fleet of foot, and he could have a long day fending off the Seattle pass-rush. Russell Wilson isn't getting much help from his running game, but the star quarterback showed he doesn't need it last week with 452 yards passing. Seahawks 30, Redskins 20

Remaining matchups

Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans (-3.5)

It appears that Joe Flacco is good to go after suffering a brutal concussion in last week's game, but that shouldn't alter the pick in this one at all. The Ravens have the league's second-worst rush defense so look for Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray to run wild in a Tennessee win. Titans 27, Ravens 17

Los Angeles Rams (-3.5) at New York Giants

Taking a west coast team in a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff on the east coast is usually a cardinal sin of the betting world, but it's tough to see the Giants keeping this one close. Rams 24, Giants 13

Denver Broncos at Philadelphia Eagles (-7.5)

Brock Osweiler is once again starting at quarterback for the Broncos. *Insert joke here.* Eagles 24, Broncos 10

Cincinnati Bengals at Jacksonville Jaguars (-4.5)

The Jaguars' home record is concerning, but this is not a good matchup for the Bengals. Jacksonville has the worst rush defense in the league, but Cincinnati struggles to run the ball. The porous Bengals' offensive line will struggle with the league's best pass-rush and Jacksonville will just get the cover. Jaguars 24, Bengals 19

Indianapolis Colts (+7.5) at Houston Texans

The football world was rocked on Thursday by Deshaun Watson's torn ACL, and the mood in Houston can't be good heading into this contest. The spread was originally Texans (-13), so oddsmakers view Houston as almost a full touchdown better with Watson playing over Tom Savage. You could easily make the case it's an even wider margin. Texans 17, Colts 14

Arizona Cardinals (-1.5) at San Francisco 49ers

The toughest game to bet on the board and one nobody should touch. Since we must, let's take Arizona coming off a bye. Cardinals 20, 49ers 13

Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys (-1.5)

Somehow, Ezekiel Elliott keeps winning his appeal of his suspension and will be in the lineup yet again against the Chiefs this weekend. That's bad news for the 28th-ranked rush defense in the league. The star running back will make the most of his availability and lead the Cowboys to a win. Cowboys 28, Chiefs 24

Oakland Raiders (-3) at Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins have a winning record on the season despite being outscored 152-86 on the campaign. Trading Jay Ajayi isn't going to help the sputtering offense this week. Raiders 24, Dolphins 17

Detroit Lions (-2.5) at Green Bay Packers

The Packers have had two weeks to prepare Brett Hundley for his second career start, and they will need a much better effort against the Lions if they are going to snap a two-game losing streak. Detroit boasts the league's sixth-best rushing defense and will force Hundley to make plays in the passing game to beat them. He won't be able to do so. Lions 24, Packers 17

Byes: Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers