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By Mike Ivcic, UltimateCapper Contributing Writer
Week 9 predictions from Mike Ivcic:
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Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers
Thu, 8:20pm, NFLN
Line: Chargers by 9
Itâs do-or-die time for the Chargers, especially with the way the Broncos are playing now. Nine points is high, but after KCâs performance against the Raiders, Iâm taking the favorite and the points here.
Pick: San Diego 27, Kansas City 10
Arizona Cardinals @ Green Bay Packers
Sun, 1pm, FOX
Line: Packers by 11
The Packers didnât cover at home against the Jaguars last week. Something tells me theyâll manage to pull off this cover at home against the Cardinals. At least they better.
Pick: Green Bay 35, Arizona 17
Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns
Sun, 1pm, CBS
Line: Ravens by 4
I called the Browns win over San Diego last week, but this Baltimore team is much more battle tested than the Chargers. It might be close, but Iâll say Joe Flacco and company pull away late and cover my least favorite spread number.
Pick: Baltimore 24, Cleveland 16
Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans
Sun, 1pm, CBS
Line: Texans by 10.5
Mario Williams returns to Houston for another lopsided affair. Buffalo actually has a chance to do something in a weak AFC this year, but this isnât a good matchup for their porous defense.
Pick: Houston 31, Buffalo 10
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Carolina Panthers @ Washington Redskins
Sun, 1pm, FOX
Line: Redskins by 3.5
Carolina almost pulled off the upset last week in Chicago, but often times a near-miss leads to a let-down for a bad team the following week (see: Jets vs. Miami last week) so I’m going with the ‘Skins in a rout.
Pick: Washington 34, Carolina 13
Chicago Bears @ Tennessee Titans
Sun, 1pm, FOX
Line: Bears by 4
Tennessee has proven themselves friskier than I initially thought they’d be this season, but after a weak performance from the Bears last week, I expect Chicago to offer a much better showing on the road this week. It’s just a shame Jay Cutler is still the QB or I might actually believe those Super Bowl expectations being heaped on the Bears.
Pick: Chicago 23, Tennessee 14
Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals
Sun, 1pm, CBS
Line: Broncos by 4
It looks like Peyton Manning has finally developed an offensive rhythm in Denver. It may be a bit premature, but based upon what I’ve seen the last couple of weeks I think the AFC is the Bronco’s to lose.
Pick: Denver 30, Cincinnati 17
Detroit Lions @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Sun, 1pm, FOX
Line: Lions by 4
As bad as Jacksonville has been this year, I still find it amazing that Detroit is actually favored by more than field goal on the road against anyone. It goes to show just how bad the Jaguars are this season.
Pick: Detroit 28, Jacksonville 20
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Miami Dolphins @ Indianapolis Colts
Sun, 1pm, CBS
Line: Dolphins by 1
Do not read too much into the Dolphins blowout win over the Jets last week. Itâs a much better of just how awful the Jets are than an indication of good things to come for Miami. The Andrew Luck bandwagon still has room, folks!
Pick: Indianapolis 24, Miami 21
Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks
Sun, 4:05pm, FOX
Line: Seahawks by 5
Iâm starting to like this Seattle team more and more, even though they canât actually pull off the big play late to win without a little help (sorry Packers fans). I like them even more at home against a Vikings team that I still believe is fraudulent as an actual playoff contender in the rugged NFC. Minnesota continues their crash back to earth.
Pick: Seattle 27, Minnesota 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Oakland Raiders
Sun, 4:05pm, FOX
Line: Raiders by 1
Yes, Oakland won on the road last week, but Tampaâs had ten days off and this really isnât a good Raiders team. I think Vegas missed on this one.
Pick: Tampa Bay 24, Oakland 13
Pittsburgh Steelers @ New York Giants
Sun, 4:25pm, CBS
Line: Giants by 3.5
Pittsburgh is traveling to the Meadowlands the day of the game against one of the two or three best teams in the entire NFL. I like the resolve of Mike Tomlin, Big Ben, and the rest of this group, and I applaud their recognition of the devastation on the east coast in not tying up a boatload of hotel rooms that could otherwise be used for people now homeless or still without power from Hurricane Sandy. That said, this is a football column, and day-of travel doesnât bode well for victories.
Pick: New York 34, Pittsburgh 24
Dallas Cowboys @ Atlanta Falcons
Sun, 8:20pm, NBC
Line: Falcons by 4.5
If the Cowboys couldnât hold off the Giants after their valiant comeback effort last week, thereâs nothing that points to them being able to walk into a primetime matchup in a sold-out Georgia Dome against an undefeated Atlanta team and walk out with a win. The real question is only how bad the carnage will be.
Pick: Atlanta 31, Dallas 20
Philadelphia Eagles @ New Orleans Saints
Mon, 8:30pm, ESPN
Line: Saints by 3.5
Take a good, long look football fans â this might be the final time we all get to watch Michael Vick as a starting quarterback in the NFL. If this game goes the way I think it will, Nick Foles will be starting for Philly next Sunday afternoon.
Pick: New Orleans 28, Philadelphia 16
Straight-Up: 72-46
Against Spread: 49-66-3
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