Eli’s NFL Week 9 Best Bets: Will Giants Upset Commanders?

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Written By Eli Hershkovich | Last Updated
NFL Bets

As the odds for NFL Week 9 near kickoff, I’ll handicap point spreads, moneyline odds, and totals while searching for the best NFL promos across the betting industry. The TNF odds for the Jets vs. Texans, along with the Giants vs. Commanders, pique my interest juxtaposed with my model and projections. I’ll add other NFL bets once they’re in my sportsbook account.

Click any of the odds below to place a bet. These are the best odds available on betting apps in your state.

potential NFL bets: jets moneyline (to win straight up)

Good or bad, I’m always transparent with my picks, which you will find in our free sports betting Discord. This football season has been my toughest, going 15-21-3 (-3.84 units). I’ve had a profitable run during the last two years at TheLines.com, finishing 101-65-2 (+33.06 units).

Whether you tail my NFL bets or find this article helpful when isolating your favorite sides and totals, hopefully, you understand the importance of bankroll management amid bumpy stretches and avoid the urge to chase your losses.

Without further ado, let’s begin.

Situational Spot Favors Jets?

For those unfamiliar with situational spots, they attempt to uncover conditions that teams have exceeded or underperformed their normal level of play — relative to the moneyline or spread. For one, the Jets have dropped five straight games. Meanwhile, the Texans are 6-2 SU but are missing their two best weapons. This matchup represents a buy-low, sell-high opportunity on the surface.

Nevertheless, there’s a case to be made that the market has already accounted for the spot. Aaron Rodgers and Co. opened as short home underdogs before the line drifted to -2 on Tuesday morning.

Don’t forget about the lengthy injury report. New York may be without both starting safeties and linebacker C.J. Mosley (neck). Given this short prep week, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich and the rest of the staff are also disadvantaged.

Conversely, over the last three weeks, C.J. Stroud ranks No. 23 among qualified signal-callers in the EPA+CPOE composite. His struggles correlate with the absence of Nico Collins (hamstring), one of the league’s best wideouts at creating separation.

During Stroud’s glamorous rookie campaign, his most inefficient showing came against these Jets. Both trends could intensify with veteran Stefon Diggs (knee) put on the shelf. But considering the aforementioned market movement, I’ll pass for now.

Injury Report

Player Pos Position Injury Status Snaps/g Snaps Per Game Comment
Houston Texans
Azeez Al-Shaair LB Suspension Out 55.1 Al-Shaair has been suspended three games for a late tackle and unsportsmanlike conduct.
Brandon Hill S Knee Out 0 Hill is dealing with a right knee injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season.
Brevin Jordan TE Knee Out 43.5 Jordan suffered a torn ACL and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
British Brooks RB Knee Out 17.6 Brooks suffered a torn meniscus and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Case Keenum QB Foot Out 0 Keenum is dealing with a foot injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season.
Christian Harris LB Calf Questionable 0 The Texans have opened the 21-day practice window for Harris as they await his return from the injured reserve list.
Dalton Keene TE Knee Out 0 Keene suffered a torn ACL and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season.
Denico Autry DE Knee Probable 35.3 Autry was a full participant in practice on Thursday heading into Week 15 versus the Dolphins.
Folorunso Fatukasi DT Foot Questionable 30.9 Fatukasi was limited in practice on Thursday heading into Week 15 versus the Dolphins.
Jalen Pitre S Shoulder Out 55.7 Pitre suffered a torn pectoral and will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. He is expected to be placed on the injured reserve list.
Jamal Hill LB Knee Questionable 15 Hill was limited in practice on Thursday heading into Week 15 versus the Dolphins.
Jaylon Thomas OT Undisclosed Out 0 Thomas is battling an undisclosed injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season.
Juice Scruggs OL Foot Questionable 70.8 Scruggs did not practice on Thursday heading into Week 15 versus the Dolphins.
Ka’dar Hollman CB Knee Out 30.6 Hollman is dealing with a knee injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss at least four games.
Kenyon Green G Shoulder Questionable 66.7 The Texans have opened the 21-day practice window for Green as they await his return from the injured reserve list.
LaDarius Henderson G Foot Out 0 Henderson underwent foot surgery and has been placed on the non-football injury list. He will miss at least four games.
Stefon Diggs WR Knee Out 53.9 Diggs has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Teagan Quitoriano TE Knee Out 21.6 Quitoriano is dealing with a knee injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss at least four games.
New York Jets
Alijah Vera-Tucker G Ankle Questionable 60.6 Vera-Tucker did not practice on Thursday heading into Week 15 versus the Jaguars.
Brandin Echols CB Shoulder Questionable 33.3 Echols did not practice on Thursday heading into Week 15 versus the Jaguars.
Breece Hall RB Knee Questionable 46.9 Hall did not practice on Thursday heading into Week 15 versus the Jaguars.
C.J. Mosley LB Neck Out 29.8 Mosley is dealing with a neck injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
D.J. Reed CB Groin Questionable 63.2 Reed was limited in practice on Thursday heading into Week 15 versus the Jaguars.
Greg Zuerlein K Knee Out 7.9 Zuerlein is dealing with a knee injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss at least four games.
Haason Reddick LB Illness Questionable 36.3 Reddick was limited in practice on Thursday heading into Week 15 versus the Jaguars.
Irvin Charles WR Knee Out 17.2 Charles has suffered a torn ACL and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Jermaine Johnson LB Achilles Out 46.5 Johnson has suffered a ruptured Achilles and has been placed on the injured reserve. He will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Jimmy Ciarlo LB Knee Out 0 Ciarlo is dealing with an ACL injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Jordan Travis QB Undisclosed Out 0 Travis is dealing with an undisclosed injury and has been placed on the non-football injury list. He will miss at least four games.
Kene Nwangwu RB Hand Questionable 15 Nwangwu did not practice on Thursday heading into Week 15 versus the Jaguars.
Leki Fotu DT Knee Out 33 Fotu has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss at least four games.
Malik Taylor WR Undisclosed Out 0 Taylor is dealing with an undisclosed injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-2025 season.
Marcus Riley WR Undisclosed Out 0 Riley is dealing with an undisclosed injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season.
Morgan Moses OL Wrist Questionable 53.8 Moses was limited in practice on Thursday heading into Week 15 versus the Jaguars.
Tyron Smith OL Neck Out 59.7 Smith is dealing with a neck injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss at least the next 4 games.
Xavier Newman-Johnson OL Groin Questionable 4.8 Newman-Johnson was limited in practice on Thursday heading into Week 15 versus the Jaguars.
Zaire Barnes LB Ankle Out 0 Barnes is dealing with an ankle injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss at least four games.

Watch: BetMGM Trader Discusses Jets Vs. Texans

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nfl bets: giants +3.5 (to lose by three points or fewer or win)

Fade The Commanders?

Entering the regular season, I placed a wager on Jayden Daniels to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s blown through my expectations, manufacturing the highest EPA+CPOE composite rating among qualified QBs. The Commanders’ defensive improvement has followed suit. Over the last month, they’ve ranked No. 14 in the success rate allowed, excluding plays with turnovers.

More impressively, they’ve registered the NFL’s highest pressure rate during this span. It includes a two-game stretch without stud defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, who was placed on injured reserve.

But coming off the Hail Mary victory against Chicago, Dan Quinn’s team could get caught looking ahead to an arduous set of opponents, with the Steelers, Eagles, and Cowboys on deck.

Enter New York, failing to cover in Pittsburgh on Monday night despite box-score indicators expecting the contrary. Moreover, the Giants would’ve presumably defeated the Commanders in Week 2 had placekicker Graham Gano avoided an injury on the opening kickoff.

They lost by three points, failing to cash in on an extra point, a pair of two-point conversion attempts, and a fourth down right before the two-minute warning. The latter play stemmed from their inability to attempt a possible game-winning field goal.

Final Thoughts: NFL Week 9 Bets

After starting 3-5 ATS, with consecutive losses, I’ll plug my nose with the first of my NFL bets. The Giants are at the bottom of the barrel regarding their market rating. However, I’ll buy low on them in hopes that the oft-maligned Daniel Jones can provide another efficient outing against a secondary that still grades below the league average.

To boot, the current spread is above the key number of a field goal, adding more perceived value. The look-ahead line opened at Washington -3.

Photo by Associated Press/Vera Nieuwenhuis

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