NFL spread predictions for Week 9 may seem a little light in terms of value, especially when focusing on spreads.
But just because spreads aren’t jumping off the Week 9 odds board doesn’t mean that bettors need to force themselves into wagers, either.
It’s surprisingly easy to talk yourself into extra bets, especially if your card is lighter than normal, but this is exactly how casual bettors bleed off bankroll over the course of a season.
Sharps, or those who win over the long term, prioritize value over action, no matter how many (or few) picks they have on a given day.
With that said, there are two noteworthy NFL spread predictions and picks to highlight on Sunday, including how wiseguys are smartly approaching key numbers for Washington Commanders vs. New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts vs. Carolina Panthers.
NFL Spread Predictions
*NFL odds as of Sunday morning
Commanders vs. Patriots Prediction
1 p.m. ET | FOX
Commanders vs. Patriots is an interesting example of the importance of key numbers.
New England is currently a 3-point spread favorite against Washington, though wiseguys have already gobbled up the Commanders and the hook heading into Sunday’s game.
As recently as Thursday afternoon Washington was available at +3.5 before sharp bettors popped that price through the key number of +3 and down to +2.5 across the market.
Still, there are some +3s at -120 out there for those interesting in aligning themselves with the pros in this matchup.
PRO Report Prediction: Commanders +3 (-120) via bet365
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Colts vs. Panthers Prediction
4:05 p.m. ET | CBS
NFL teams getting three points is also the overriding theme for Colts vs. Panthers as well.
In this instance, early action pushed Indianapolis up to -3, and that’s exactly when pro bettors pounced.
Action Labs’ Bet Signals are reporting that sharps steamed Carolina at +3, helping to explain why oddsmakers felt obligated to kick this spread back down to +2.5 across the market.
In fact, some shops, like DraftKings, have moved a half-point further to +2 as of the time of writing.
PRO Report Prediction: Panthers +2.5 (-110)