NFL best bets for Week 9

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Every Friday during the NFL season, theScore's betting writers will release their best bets for the week. Each writer has been given an imaginary $1,000 bankroll to manage throughout the campaign. If you decide to follow any of the picks, please gamble responsibly.

Odds courtesy of theScore Bet.

Thomas Casale ($1,098)

Season record: 6-4-1, +$98

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Seattle Seahawks (-6)

The line tells us all we need to know about this game. Despite being 6-2 on the year, Seattle is just a six-point favorite over 2-5 Tampa Bay with sharp money backing the Buccaneers. The Seahawks are an interesting team. They win because of head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson but their overall talent is average. One really disturbing stat is Seattle's defense allows the third most yards per play (6.2) in the NFL, ahead of only winless Miami (6.5) and Cincinnati (6.6). The Seahawks haven't been profitable at home lately, failing to cover five straight. Look for the Bucs to keep this game close and stay within the number.

Pick: Buccaneers +6 ($100)

Cleveland Browns (-3.5) at Denver Broncos

I'd love to give you all these amazing stats and trends, but in reality, I'm just fading the Broncos' new starting pivot, Brandon Allen. Search Allen's stats and it says, "No information available." That's because he's yet to throw a pass in four NFL seasons. If the Browns can't win this game, Freddie Kitchens shouldn't be allowed on the plane back to Cleveland.

Pick: Browns -3.5 ($100)

Alex Kolodziej ($1,093)

Season record: 9-5, +$93

Tennessee Titans at Carolina Panthers (-3.5)

Call it a zigzag, a buy-low option, or whatever, but I'm all aboard fading the Titans and playing the Panthers in this spot. Make no mistake: Ryan Tannehill has been fine as he's led the Titans to consecutive wins since taking over as the starter. But I think we should be cautious here. Tennessee beat an underwhelming Chargers team at home - a game that should've been a loss - and last week beat Tampa Bay by four despite being outgained by nearly 150 yards. The Titans also benefited from turnovers against Tampa, scoring on two drives from inside the Bucs' 10-yard line and starting on their own 45 or better four times. I have serious qualms about this Tennessee team - and its current stock - and something tells me we're going to find out this weekend on the road that this club is fraudulent.

Pick: Panthers -3.5 ($50)

C Jackson Cowart ($855)

Season record: 7-8-1, -$145

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Seattle Seahawks (-6)

We still aren't sure the Seahawks are actually good, with six wins against teams in disarray and four of them coming by a combined six points. The matchup here is unfavorable, too, with Seattle's shaky secondary facing two of the best receivers in the league in Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.

The Seahawks also enter this game without center Justin Britt, which doesn't bode well against the league's best run defense, led by interior linemen Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea. Seattle is just 2-2 at home this season and could be looking ahead to next week's trip to San Fran. Fade the big number here.

Pick: Buccaneers +6 ($50), Buccaneers +220 ($10)

Indianapolis Colts (-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers

This either feels like a massive overreaction to the Colts' tight win over Denver a week ago or to the Steelers' ability to eke out wins against awful teams. Indianapolis isn't awful. I'm fading Pittsburgh until oddsmakers rightfully price them as a below-average club.

Pick: Colts -1 ($40)

Alex Moretto ($773)

Season record: 7-9, -$227

New York Jets (-3) at Miami Dolphins

Neither of these teams are very good, but the Dolphins are worse and depreciating by the week as a result of trades and injuries, with Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard the latest player to be placed on injured reserve. The Jets' main issue on offense this year has been their putrid offensive line, but Miami doesn't have the pass rush to take advantage. Sam Darnold will finally have time to throw as New York's offense gets back on track, while Adam Gase takes one out on his former employer, as he's been known to do in the past. This is the same guy who called for an onside kick against another former employer, the Denver Broncos, two years ago while up 33-9 in the fourth quarter. With the Jets sitting at 1-6, this is his Super Bowl.

Pick: Jets -3 ($70)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Seattle Seahawks (-6)

I had this whole thing written out about the Seahawks, their unimpressive wins, their two lopsided defeats, and their general lack of talent outside the quarterback position. There were some great lines in there about a deceiving record, the Bucs being better than you think, and this line telling you all you need to know about the two teams. You would've loved it.

And then both Tom and Jackson went and picked the Bucs as well, rendering my incredible words redundant. Thanks, guys.

Pick: Buccaneers +6 ($70)

Tennessee Titans at Carolina Panthers (-3.5)

Ryan Tannehill has led something of a Titans revival, but his two wins have come at home against a pair of defenses that struggle to pressure the quarterback and defend the pass. Let's all pump the breaks. He's in for a rude awakening against the Panthers' defense, which ranks in the top five against the pass and leads the NFL in sacks per game. Their nasty defensive front will give Tennessee's offense fits and have Titans fans scouting college games in search of quarterbacks to draft in April.

Pick: Panthers -3.5 ($70)

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