2009 Week nine

Predicted scores for 2009 week 9:

WAS 3
ATL 22 (-10)

This feels like a safe bet to me. The Redskins have no offense, and the Falcons are a solid team.

ARI 21
CHI 19 (-3)

Interesting choice here. The bookies seem to thing the two teams are even, but Predictabot definitely is giving Arizona the nod. I think that if Warner can shake off his bad game, they could upset.

BAL 17 (-3)
CIN 21

Well, as a Steelers fan I'm not sure which outcome to hope for here. The AFC North is suddenly looking like a competitive division now that the Ravens took down the Broncos. My gut is that the Ravens aren't going to manage it this year, despite their #2 offense.

HOU 13
IND 28 (-9)

I'll be curious to see how the Colts respond to the scare from the Niners last week, but I think they are going to quietly keep racking up wins.

KAN 22
JAC 21 (-6.5)

A tight game predicted here, but when you're dealing with two teams that are essentially out of the playoffs already, it's hard to get too excited.

MIA 14
NWE 28 (-10.5)

I suspect this will be closer, and that the Dolphins may come close enough to be the one to bet on.

GNB 28 (-9.5)
TAM 16

Anything else would be a pretty major upset.

CAR 16
NOR 38 (-13)

Same thing here. Until someone really stops the Saints consistently they are going to be predicted way on top.

DET 14
SEA 28 (-10)

Another dull matchup, the Lions didn't help themselves with their loss to the Rams. They're definitely more dangerous with Culpepper in there, but that's not doing them any good for the future. They clearly had nowhere to go but up after last year, but it might be a rough trip.

SDG 24
NYG 31 (-5)

Can the Giants slow their slide? They're now ranked by Predictabot as a middle-of-the-road team. Unfortunately for the Chargers, they are ranked even lower.

TEN 14
SFO 31 (-4)

Can Vince Young turn it around? Maybe, but not this week.

DAL 22
PHI 26 (-3)

The Eagles are the worst-ranked 5-2 team (mostly thanks to the Raiders loss), but the Cowboys are only just ahead of them in the rankings. Philly gets the nod mostly by home field advantage, but the extra point is enough to put them as predicted to beat the spread.

PIT 7 (-3)
DEN 17

I have to say I'm a little surprised to see the Steelers favored here, largely because they are playing at Denver. Still, they are the defending champs on a 4-game winning streak, and the Broncos just tumbled to the Ravens.

My gut is telling me it'll be a Steelers victory, but then, it almost always does. If the Steelers spread the ball around to the weapons and avoid Champ Bailey, and their OL keeps playing like they have been, they should do ok. The Broncos still have the top-rated defense, however, so it could be a heck of a game.

I'm going to predict a curiously quiet 13-6 victory for the Steelers.