A clash of division leaders highlights the NFL Week 9 schedule, with the Buffalo Bills playing host to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday as narrow 2.5-point underdogs on the NFL odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Buffalo padded its lead atop the AFC East with a 24-21 win over New England last weekend, but has failed to reward bettors during the 0-4 against the spread run it takes into Sunday afternoon’s matchup at Bills Stadium.
An offensive breakdown is at the heart of the Bills’ recent struggles at the sportsbooks. Buffalo averaged 30.75 points per game during a season-opening 4-0 straight-up run, but has mustered just 18.75 points per game while going 2-2 straight-up over its past four contests. However, the Bills are a solid wager as small home underdogs, going 6-4 straight-up and against the spread in their past 10 games when hosting teams favoured by three or fewer points at betting sites.
Scoring points has not been a problem for the Seahawks, who currently lead the NFL at 34.3 points per game. Seattle rebounded from its first loss of the season in Arizona with a big offensive performance last weekend, knocking off San Francisco, 37-27, to stay just ahead of the Cardinals atop the NFC West standings.
The Seahawks also sport a solid 5-2 against the spread record, but shutting down opposing offences has been a problem at times with the team allowing an average of 32 points over their past two games and 30 or more points on four occasions this season.
Elsewhere on the NFL Week 9 odds, the Pittsburgh Steelers look to remain the lone unbeaten team in the NFL when they visit the free-falling Dallas Cowboys as lofty 14-point chalk. The Steelers improved their perfect straight-up record to 7-0 with a 28-24 win in Baltimore last weekend, and are now 3-0 against the spread on the road. However, they have covered just once in 13 outings as double-digit road favourites since 1993.
The Cowboys return home looking for answers after falling 23-9 to Philadelphia last weekend on Sunday Night Football. Dallas has scored just one touchdown during a dismal 0-3 straight-up slide and is winless against the spread in eight outings to date this season.
As well, the red-hot Miami Dolphins aim to keep pace with the Bills in the AFC East with a fourth straight win when they visit the Cardinals as 4.5-point underdogs. And the battle for first place in the AFC South continues as the Tennessee Titans host the Chicago Bears as 6-point favourites while the Indianapolis Colts battle the Ravens as 3-point home underdogs.
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