Week 9 of the NFL is here and we’re back with our expert picks, predictions and best bets.

It’s Week 9 in the NFL — a time of the season when dreams of division titles and playoff hopes begin to crystallize, where every game begins to carry the weight of December in the heart of fall. We just went a perfect 3-0 on Thursday night. Now, as we look to Sunday, three pivotal NFC matchups await, each with their own stories, each poised to reshape the contours of the playoff picture.

In week 9, anything is still possible. For some, it’s a chance to build on a season; for others, a last-ditch moment to stay in the race. The battles are on, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Check out the experts’ picks, predictions and best bets from Week 9 NFL!

NFL Week 9 picks, predictions and best bets from the experts

Cowboys vs Falcons betting preview

All odds Cowboys vs. The Falcons are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Friday, November 1st.

• Spread
  Falcons -3
• Moneyline
  Cowboys +145, Falcons -175
• Over/Under
  52
• Game time
  1 p.m. ET
• Location
  Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, GA
• Weather forecast for Kick
  Inside
• How to watch
  FOX

At the center of the NFC’s changing landscape, the Atlanta Falcons welcome the Dallas Cowboys in what could be a pivotal game for both teams as the NFL approaches the midseason.

For Dallas, Week 9 comes with a sense of urgency. The Cowboys, reeling from back-to-back losses, are dealing with a bruised lineup that includes star linebacker Micah Parsons among ten others on the injury report. The stakes are just as high for the Soiris, aiming to prove their standing in a conference anyone can claim. With both Parsons and Atlanta’s Matthew Judon doubtful, these teams are preparing for a matchup defined by both who is out and who takes the field.

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott is facing increasing pressure to deliver. The running game, once a cornerstone of this offense, is declining. Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook, showing their years, struggled to find daylight, while leading rusher Rico Dowdle was more effective in the passing game than on the ground. With Atlanta favored by a field goal, the Cowboys could find themselves in recovery mode, leaning heavily on Prescott’s arm.

That said, I’m going to root for the Cowboys here. That’s what Dak does. He gets into impossible situations and then puts on a show and everyone goes “Dak is underrated.” I think he succeeds this week.

Prediction: Cowboys 27 – Falcons 23

Best bet: Cowboys +3

Dak Prescott fired his team every week pic.twitter.com/mvpMy79zkY

— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) October 28, 2024

Bears vs Cardinals betting preview

All odds Bears vs. Cardinals are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Friday, November 1st.

• Spread
  Cardinals -1.5
• Moneyline
  Bears +105, Cardinals -125
• Over/Under
  44.5
• Game time
  4:05 p.m. ET
• Location
  State Farm Stadium | Glendale, AZ
• Weather forecast for Kick
  Inside
• How to watch
  CBS

The Chicago Bears head to the Arizona desert on Sunday afternoon coming off an 18-15 loss to Washington that ended in heartbreak. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, fresh off the toughest game of his young career, led a stunning comeback late in the game to take over in the final minute. However, a last-second Hail Mary left the Bears’ comeback – and their spirits – crushed. With two starters missing in the secondary, the Bears defense was able to stifle Washington’s top scoring offense, holding them scoreless in the touchdown column until that fateful play.

For Chicago, this game feels like a crossroads. Not only do they need a win to bounce back from last week’s stinging loss, but given the matchups in the division, this is a game they can’t afford to lose. Arizona, however, presents a real challenge with four wins and boasting key offensive talents in Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride. The Cardinals, riding a two-game winning streak, will put Chicago to the test.

Arizona’s defense is allowing 25.6 points per game and has shown vulnerability down the field. If the Bears fuel running back D’Andre Swift — Chicago’s most consistent offensive weapon in Week 4 — they will create play-action opportunities for Williams. The Bears showed potential offensively before last week’s slump, scoring 30+ points in back-to-back games, and will need that same spark to overcome Arizona. For Chicago, a win here could signal a season-defining turnaround.

Prediction: Bears 24 – Cardinals 20

Best bet: Bears +1.5

I found one and his name is Caleb Williams. pic.twitter.com/0004dbrT0r

— 𝓪𝓪𝓷𝓪 (@chitowncw) November 1, 2024

Lions vs. Betting Preview Packers

All odds Lions vs. Packers are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Friday, November 1st.

• Spread
  Lei -3
• Moneyline
  Lions -150, Packers +125
• Over/Under
  48
• Game time
  4:25 p.m. ET
• Location
  Lambeau Field | Green Bay, WI
• Weather forecast for Kick
  53* Rain possible
• How to watch
  FOX

The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers meet this week for something that for years seemed unthinkable — a true battle for control of the NFC North. After decades of dominating Green Bay, Detroit is finally writing a different script. After winning four of their last five against the Packers, the Lions enter as the top team in the NFC, riding a five-game winning streak and averaging 43 points per game over their last four games.

Quarterback Jared Goff is in the midst of an MVP-level season, with David Montgomery and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs forming a dynamic running back duo that has turned Detroit’s offense into the league’s highest-scoring unit. Their defense is no footnote, ranking in the top 10 against the run and in points allowed.

But Green Bay isn’t fading away quietly. Winners of their last four games, the Packers have rallied around a revitalized game plan. They were able to hold off the Jacksonville Jaguars last week despite quarterback Jordan Love leaving with a groin strain. His status remains uncertain, adding an extra layer of suspense to this high-stakes matchup.

The Lions have struggled recently against bruising running backs — a potential Achilles heel that the Packers, with their physical style, could exploit.