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Hey, no pushing!
The first multiple-push week of the NFL season made it hard to make up ground in Week 8, but that’s precisely what Ricky Doyle did. After spending most of the season languishing in last place, Doyle is back within striking distance of the leader in NESN.com’s picks race for the second time this season.
Now, can he keep up the rally in the second half?
It won’t be easy, as Week 9 brings with it some tough-to-call matchups — including two humongous spreads for the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots. Whoever has the guts to roll the dice the right way in those games will go a long way to making noise this week.
The standings so far:
Ben Watanabe: 66-49-4 (Last week: 7-5-2). Clings to first, but the pushes helped.
Mike Cole: 60-55-4 (Last week: 5-7-2). A sub-.500 week has the runner-up spot in jeopardy.
Ricky Doyle: 60-55-4 (Last week: 7-5-2). Can he finally break through after pulling into a tie for second for the second time this season?
Let’s get on to this week’s games.
THURSDAY, NOV. 5
Cleveland Browns (2-6) at (-12) Cincinnati Bengals (7-0), 8:25 p.m. ET
Ricky: Bengals. Cleveland has the worst run defense in the NFL and its secondary is in shambles. The Browns also have a quarterback dilemma with Josh McCown banged up. The Bengals should mop the floor with their overmatched opponent.
Ben: Bengals. Shockingly, Cincy’s yet to lose against the spread this season, yet this is obviously the biggest spread it’s faced. In the past three weeks, though, the Browns have failed to cover spreads of seven, six and three, so we can’t see them suddenly making up double digits.
Mike: Browns. Way too many points, and I can’t shake the memory of Cincinnati’s home loss to Cleveland last season. On a Thursday night. In Week 9.
SUNDAY, NOV. 8
Miami Dolphins (3-4) at (-3) Buffalo Bills (3-4), 1 p.m.
Ricky: Bills. The Dolphins might suffer a mental hangover from their loss to the Patriots, but the bigger concern is the physical toll that game took. Losing Cameron Wake is a major blow to Miami’s defense, which will be tasked with stopping a Buffalo offense that’s getting healthier.
Ben: Bills. Tyrod Taylor is expected to start, and while he’s no Jim Kelly, he might as well be, compared to EJ Manuel. Heck, compared to Manuel, I’m Johnny Unitas.
Mike: Bills. How much better would this game be if it was just a professional wrestling match between Dan Campbell and Rex Ryan instead?
(-2.5) Green Bay Packers (6-1) at Carolina Panthers (7-0), 1 p.m.
Ricky: Packers. This is a perfect opportunity for Aaron Rodgers and Co. to stick it to everyone panicking about Sunday night’s setback in Denver. If they don’t, that’s on them.
Ben: Packers. Green Bay is at least a field goal better than Carolina.
Mike: Panthers. The Packers aren’t nearly as good on the road (as we saw last week), they struggle against good defenses (as we saw last week) and their receivers can’t get open (as we saw last week). Â
St. Louis Rams (4-3) at (-2.5) Minnesota Vikings (5-2), 1 p.m.
Ricky: Vikings. Two very similar teams. So I’ll take the Vikings, who have won six straight home games. Minnesota also is 6-1 against the spread this season, trailing only Cincinnati (6-0-1) in that category.
Ben: Rams. Since Todd Gurley got up to full speed Oct. 4 (his second game after a six-carry preview against the Steelers), St. Louis’s only loss straight-up or against the spread has come to the Packers.
Mike: Vikings. I look at that line, and I feel like Vegas wants me to take the Rams. Not falling for it this time, Vegas!
Washington Redskins (3-4) at (-14.5) New England Patriots (7-0), 1 p.m.
Ricky: Patriots. This is the second-largest point spread of the NFL season. The largest? When the Patriots were 14.5-point favorites against the Jaguars in Week 3. New England won 51-17.
Ben: Patriots. After a couple seven-point victories in which they failed to cover, the Pats got back to business by dismantling the Dolphins and should continue to roll against the ‘Skins.
Mike: Patriots. Not gonna make a habit of betting against the Patriots because I’m not a total idiot.
Tennessee Titans (1-6) at New Orleans Saints (4-4), 1 p.m.
*no line as of Wednesday morning
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) at New York Jets (4-3), 1 p.m.
*no line as of Wednesday morning
Oakland Raiders (4-3) at (-4.5) Pittsburgh Steelers (4-4), 1 p.m.
Ricky: Raiders. I generally don’t like to overreact to running back injuries, because how often have we seen other backs step in and hit the ground running? But Le’Veon Bell also did so much for Pittsburgh’s passing game, which still is getting up to speed with Ben Roethlisberger working his way back into form.
Ben: Raiders. Oakland has put up 71 points in its last two games, and with Bell out and Roethlisberger still not at 100 percent, the Raiders’ defense won’t be as vulnerable as they’d otherwise be to Pittsburgh’s big plays.
Mike: Raiders. The Raiders are 4-2 ATS in their last six overall and 1-5 ATS in their last six against the Steelers. Oh, and the other thing: The Raiders are better than they’ve been in past years.
(-7.5) Atlanta Falcons (6-2) at San Francisco 49ers (2-6), 4:05 p.m.
Ricky: Falcons. It’s like when you keep unsuccessfully betting red and finally switch to black, only to then see red come up on the next bet. I know the Falcons’ recent track record, but I refuse to jump ship in a game against one of the NFL’s doormats.
Ben: Niners. The Falcons have failed to cover the last four weeks against some of the league’s most dismal competition. Speaking of dismal competition, they play Blaine Gabbert and the Niners.
Mike: Niners. Set this game on fire.
(-2.5) New York Giants (4-4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4), 4:05 p.m.
Ricky: Bucs. Surrendering 52 points in an NFL game — which the Giants did last week against the Saints — is grounds for a one-week ban. Also, New York is 0-7 in its last seven November games, for whatever that’s worth.
Ben: Bucs. Jameis Winston and the Bucs actually are improving, which is more than most teams can say at this point of the season. The Giants’ defense looks just as bad as was feared before the season.
Mike: Giants. This is where picking games off early lines can be tricky. This line opened with the Giants as one-point underdogs and will move by the end of the week, and professional gamblers will swoop in and get the Bucs at, like, plus-3. Whatever. Still going with the Giants.
(-5) Denver Broncos (7-0) at Indianapolis Colts (3-5), 4:25 p.m.
Ricky: Broncos. Pray for Andrew Luck.
Ben: Broncos. Luck’s rally on Monday night was nice and all, but we’re not overlooking the first half and his costly fourth-quarter interception. If he does those things Sunday, the Broncos will run away with this one.
Mike: Broncos. Only four teams have intercepted the opposing quarterback more than the Broncos, and no one’s thrown more picks than Luck.
(-2.5) Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) at Dallas Cowboys (2-5), 8:30 p.m.
Ricky: Eagles. The Eagles have more takeaways (19) than any team in the NFL. That’s scary for a Cowboys offense that just isn’t good without Tony Romo.
Ben: Cowboys. Philly’s had a week off, which means Chip Kelly’s had seven extra days to out-think himself. Dez Bryant and the ‘Boys won’t be monkeying around in prime time.
Mike: Cowboys. The Cowboys’ defense was impressive last week against Seattle, and you have to think their offense can do a little more against the Philly defense than it could muster against the Seahawks.Â
MONDAY, NOV. 9
Chicago Bears (2-5) at (-4) San Diego Chargers (2-6), 8:30 p.m.
Ricky: Bears. The Bears will be without Matt Forte, but Jay Cutler suddenly looks competent and the return of Alshon Jeffery has helped Chicago keep things close recently. The Bears also have the fourth-best pass defense in the NFL — 214.3 yards allowed per game — and that could be the difference against a pass-happy Chargers offense that’ll be without Keenan Allen for the rest of the season.
Ben: Bears. The Chargers’ inability to cover at home (1-8 ATS in its last nine at Qualcomm; 1-3 ATS there this season) is becoming laughable, while Chicago’s playing much more competitively of late.
Mike: Bears. No longer falling for taking the Chargers to cover at home.
Thumbnail photo via Jason Bridge/USA TODAY Sports Images
