It’s taken me a while to come up with my NFL Week 9 predictions.

This is not an easy week for NFL football betting. It appears that the odds makers have really honed in on what is making a lot of these teams click. But there are some things to like about more than a couple of teams in games this weekend.

Below is the complete NFL Week 9 schedule along with our predictions.

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5)

NFL Betting Line: Pittsburgh Steelers -4 ½ (42)

The Bengals have been on a rollercoaster the past few seasons as they bounced back from a terrible 2008 campaign to win the AFC North division last year. But with high hopes of back to back post season appearances, they have come out and dropped four straight after winning two and a row

. It was the Dolphins that took it to them last week as they walked into Cincinnati and walked out with a 22-14 decision. It just so happens that Pittsburgh took out Miami the week before, so by process of elimination the Steelers should take out the Bengals.

That and a few other factors such as Ben Roethlisberger going 6-1 in Cincinnati, it’s hard to not take Pittsburgh in this one.

FREE PICK: Pittsburgh Steelers -4 ½ (OVER)

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2) vs. Atlanta Falcons (5-2)

NFL Betting Line: Atlanta Falcons -8 ½ (44.5)

A surprising battle between the top two teams in the NFC South features the Atlanta Falcons playing host to the upstart Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Falcons were expected to be much better this season but the Bucs, not so much. Their records are identical in the standings and at the betting window for NFL spread betting fans, 5-2 SU and 4-3 ATS.

The odds makers have set the NFL spread betting line favoring the Falcons by -8½-points. A straight up bet on the underdog Bucs will pay bettors +320 on the moneyline. The game total is set at 44½ points.

FREE PICK: Atlanta Falcons -8 ½ (OVER)

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Chicago Bears (4-3) vs. Buffalo Bills (0-7)

NFL Betting Line: Chicago Bears -2.5 (38)

The Bears are still struggling to pick up Mike Martz's offensive system and it has hindered Jay Cutler at times. Coming off of a year last year in which the football odds favorites had serious communication problems between their new QB and his receivers, things haven't changed a whole lot. Wrong patterns and timing throws in the Martz system thrown too early or too late have been a big problem.

Johnny Knox is having a potential breakout year for the Bears at WR but Cutler is still getting sacked an awful lot as most Martz quarterbacks do. The Bills don't have the defense to cause turnovers but any margin for error could mean a game-swinging turnover. The Bills have played very well in tough games lately coming close against Kansas City on the road, a very tough place to play, and also at home against Baltimore.


FREE PICK: Chicago Bears -2.5 (UNDER)

Our Team Record:

Spread Picks - (16-8)

Over/Under Picks - (15-9)