Week 9 of the NFL season is here, and the betting board features key matchups throughout.

The week is capped with a highly anticipated Monday Night Football game between Buffalo and Minnesota, two teams currently fighting for the No. 1 seed in their respective conferences, but bettors can’t sleep on other quality matchups like Green Bay vs. New England and the Sunday Night Football game between Tampa Bay and the surging Chicago Bears.

This betting preview covers those games and more. Compare the latest NFL odds before placing a wager, since prices can move throughout the week.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Indianapolis Colts – Odds & Prediction

Sunday, November 8, 2026 – 1:00 p.m. EST

Moneyline odds – Dallas -240; Indianapolis +200

Point spread – Dallas -5.5 (-108)

Over/Under Total – 51.5

(Odds taken from LuckyRebel)

The Cowboys have no excuses for their catastrophic collapse against Arizona. Leading by 10 with under four minutes left should put a team in position to win, but Dallas found a way to lose, drawing intense criticism from pundits and bettors alike.

And look, I get the hesitance many bettors will have backing the Cowboys after that collapse, as the defense continues to be anemic, ranking last in the league in many major categories. But if there ever were a “prototypical” opponent for the Cowboys to face after such a disaster, it would be a team that’s seen the entire 2026 campaign become a disaster, with virtually everyone wanting out.

Enter the Indianapolis Colts.

Indy is in sell-off mode as a major rebuild looms, with stars like WR Josh Downs and RB Jonathan Taylor reportedly among the players who could be on their way out. The 42-7 loss at Jacksonville last week was an uninspired effort from start to finish, and it didn’t look like anyone on the field even wanted to be there.

Despite Dallas’ glaring issues, they still boast a highly talented offense and a locker room actively trying to win games. Conversely, the Colts are watching their top talent walk out the door in what has clearly become a lame-duck season.

Yet, public perception of Dallas has become so toxic that the fourth-best offense in EPA/play isn’t even laying a touchdown against this lame-duck Colts team. When comparing

Best Bet: Dallas -5.5

If the Cowboys had held onto that 10-point lead with four minutes left last week to at least win the game (by any margin), there is little chance this spread would be below the touchdown mark. That’s plenty of line value, and I’ve got no problem scooping it up with a Cowboys team I know can score (27.4 points per game).

Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots – Odds & Prediction

Sunday, November 8, 2026 – 4:25 p.m. EST

Moneyline odds – Green Bay +150; New England -175

Point spread – New England -3 (-120)

Over/Under Total – 45

(Odds taken from BetUS)

No team enters Week 9 on a hotter ATS run than the Green Bay Packers, who went 5-0 against the spread in October and won four of those games outright. That’s quite a feat, considering all five spreads were between -3.5 and +3.5, and the Packers have found a way to be on the right side of all these expected close games.

This week’s point spread sits in that same range for the Packers, and for a team that’s as one-dimensional on offense as Green Bay is – still last in rushing offense by a mile – it’s fair to question whether this run of being on the right side of tight games can continue.

Which brings me to the Patriots, who have won four of five as well, but have underperformed against market expectations the last three weeks. They were 6.5-point favorites in a five-point win at Miami last week and 7.5-point favorites in a seven-point win over the Jets three weeks ago, sandwiched between a six-point loss at Chicago as a field-goal underdog.

Now, back at home after that 0-3 ATS run, we’ve got a line that suggests these two teams would be priced in the pick’em range on a neutral field. That suggests the Patriots side offers market value here, and I’m happy to back that thought with my wager. The price matters, too: anyone consulting online sports betting reviews to choose a book should also check the exact wager available. This pick is New England -3 at -120.

Best Bet: New England -3

New England has scored at least 24 points in each of their last five games, and if they hit that mark again, it should be enough to beat market expectations by three to four points, instead of the few points below market expectation they’ve had in recent weeks.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Chicago Bears – Odds & Prediction

Sunday, November 8, 2026 – 8:20 p.m. EST

Moneyline odds – Tampa Bay +220; Chicago -270

Point spread – Chicago -6 (-108)

Over/Under Total – 47.5

(Odds taken from Bovada)

Last week, Tampa Bay had the unique distinction of being the first NFL team to win a game without completing a pass since the 1970s, as they ran all over Atlanta (324 rushing yards).

Yes, the poor, wet weather dictated that running the ball was a smart strategy, but they did the same thing to Carolina the week prior – 49 rushes for 258 yards compared to just 11 pass attempts for 64 yards in another dominant win. That’s two consecutive division wins that have established the Bucs’ identity as a running football team for the rest of the league to deal with. Those division wins may draw attention in the longer-term super bowl betting market, but the immediate question is whether that rushing identity can keep Tampa Bay within six points of Chicago.

Chicago’s defense ranks 13th in Rush EPA (-0.106), a number that will surely be tested here; more importantly, defending those rushing attacks will shorten the game and force the Bears offense to be highly efficient and make the most of every possession.

That’s not exactly the game script you want to have as a bettor backing a team that needs to win by a touchdown, especially when they are also facing a Tampa defense that has forced eight turnovers (four in each game) the last two weeks.

We’ve already seen this point spread move in Tampa’s favor throughout the week after opening at +6.5, and even at a worse number, I’ve got no problem agreeing with the move and taking the points.

Best Bet: Tampa Bay +6

I like Tampa Bay to cover because they control the pace through their rushing attack. All five of Tampa’s losses this season have been by a single possession (7, 3, 7, 4, and 6 points), and this Sunday Night Football game shouldn’t be any different.

Buffalo Bills vs. Minnesota Vikings – Odds & Prediction

Monday, November 9, 2026 – 8:15 p.m. EST

Moneyline odds – Buffalo -175; Minnesota +150

Point spread – Buffalo -3 (-117)

Over/Under Total – 44.5

(Odds taken from LuckyRebel)

MNF brings us a matchup between the top offense in EPA/play (Buffalo) vs. the top defense in EPA/play (Minnesota) in what should be a highly entertaining battle when QB Josh Allen and company have the football. For bettors tracking Allen’s

At the same time, we will have one of the worst offenses (Minnesota) going up against one of the worst defenses (Buffalo) when the Vikings, who are turning to QB Carson Wentz again this week, have the ball. Those possessions could be just as entertaining for highly different reasons.

But from a betting perspective, I think this battle of strength vs. strength and weakness vs. weakness ultimately leads to long drives for both teams, putting touchdowns at a premium.

Minnesota can’t have any illusions about asking Wentz and this struggling offense to keep pace with Josh Allen at his best, and Buffalo’s defense can’t be thrilled about needing Allen at his best against Minnesota’s top-ranked defense, which loves to bring pressure.

All in all, it suggests points will be at a premium here, and we’ve already seen significant market pressure push this total down from an opening number at least three points higher than where it sits now.

Minnesota shifting to Wentz has something to do with that, but both teams’ statistical profiles suggest we could see plenty of field goals.

Therefore, it’s another Week 9 market move I wholeheartedly agree with.

Best Bet: Under 44.5

At home, in the national spotlight, I expect Minnesota’s defense to step up and prove they’ve got the right plan to contain Josh Allen so they don’t have to put everything on Wentz’s shoulders.