As I always say, there are favorites – and then there are favorites! This simply means that some favorites don’t stand nearly as much of a chance of winning or cashing in as others. With that said, I’ve identified a trio of week 9 NFL favorites that you just shouldn’t let pass this coming weekend. With that said and Sunday’s kickoff times for all three contests quickly approaching, let’s get down to business.
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
Game Information
🏈: Detroit Lions (3-4) at Minnesota Vikings (4-3-1)
⏰: Sunday, November 4, 2018, 1:00 PM ET
🏟️: US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
📺: FOX, DTV: 710
🎰: Minnesota Vikings: -4½ -110 | -220 | U 49 -110
The Lions got smacked around by Seattle 28-14 on Sunday and never came close to covering the spread as a 3-point home favorite just as I predicted. While quarterback Matthew Stafford passed for 310 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, Detroit’s defense allowed Seattle’s Russell Wilson to toss three TD passes while running back Chris Carson rushed for 105 yards and one score in the win. The Vikings enter this contest looking to bounce back from their convincing 30-20 home loss against New Orleans on Sunday night – again, just as I predicted. Kirk Cousins passed for 259 yards with two TD passes and one interception but Minnesota was limited to just seven second-half points. 
For me, the Minnesota Vikings are the easy pick to win by double digits and cover the chalk as a decisive home favorite. I thought the Lions made a big boo-boo by jettisoning former head coach Jim Caldwell after he recorded consecutive winning campaigns and think it’s going to take some time for Matt Patricia to find his way as an NFL head coach. While the Lions have gone 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games and 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games against their NFC North division rivals, Minnesota has gone an insane 35-16-2 ATS in their last 53 home games while also going 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in the month of November. Minnesota’s loss last weekend means there won’t be any fooling around this coming weekend. Predicted Score: Vikings 28 Lions 20
Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns
Game Information
🏈: Kansas City Chiefs (7-1) at Cleveland Browns (2-5-1)
⏰: Sunday, November 4, 2018, 1:00 PM ET
🏟️: FirstEnergy Stadium Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
📺: CBS, DTV: 706
🎰: Kansas City Chiefs: -9 -110 | -440 | O 51½ -110
The Chiefs rolled all over Denver in their 30-23 win this past weekend in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score indicates. Patrick Mahomes tossed three more TD passes in a ho-hum easy win over the Broncos. Cleveland has lost three straight and fired head coach Hue Jackson following their 33-18 smackdown loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday. 
The Chiefs lead the league in scoring an average almost 15 points per game more than the Browns. Kansas City is 7-1 ATS in their last eight games, 6-1 ATS in their last seven games against their AFC counterparts and a blistering 19-7 ATS in their last 26 road games. I won’t even get into Cleveland’s trends, which are mostly awful to look at. I’m totally expecting this game to be over with by the time halftime rolls around. Predicted Score: Chiefs 38 Browns 24
Los Angeles Chargers at Seattle Seahawks
Game Information
🏈: Los Angeles Chargers (5-2) at Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
⏰: Sunday, November 4, 2018, 4:05 PM ET
🏟️: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA
📺: CBS, DTV: 713
🎰: Seattle Seahawks: -2 -115 | -125 | U 48 -110
The Chargers have won four straight games including a narrow 20-19 home win over Tennessee two weeks ago. The Bolts will be well-rested coming into this affair, but I’m going with Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks to hold down the fort seeing as how they’ve won two straight and four of their last five games overall. Seattle pounded Detroit 28-14 this past weekend just as I predicted to cash in as a 3-point road underdog. While the Bolts average an impressive 27.9 points per game to Seattle’s 23.3 points per contest, the Seahawks have the better defense in this affair as they’re limiting the opposition to just 18.7 points per game compared to the Chargers’ 23.3 points per game allowed. 
The Seahawks have suddenly found a rushing attack and they look a lot more like their old Legion of Boom selves than they have in either of the last two seasons. The Chargers are 3-8 ATS in their L/11 games against a team with a winning record and an identical 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a bye week. Seattle has gone 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game while also going 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. I like Seattle to hold it down at super difficult CenturyLink Field. Predicted Score: Seahawks 27 Chargers 24
