Overview of What’s Wright NFL Week 9 Predictions
Nick Wright breaks down his Week 9 NFL betting card after going 3-2 in Week 8 and hovering around .500 on the season. He first explains which games he is staying away from and why, then gives his five official picks, plus a three-team teaser, a Touchdown Genie play, and a quick recap of last week’s teaser success. The episode is built around point-spread analysis, situational angles, injury updates, and market movement.
Week 8 Recap
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Went 3-2 last week, with a few close calls:
- Won on Jaguars -9.5 vs. Colts
- Won on Raiders +1.5 vs. Jets
- Won on Cardinals +6.5 vs. Cowboys
- Lost on Chiefs -1.5 at Broncos in a frustrating late cover miss
- Lost on Seahawks -3.5 vs. Bears
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He notes he easily could have gone 4-1 with a better break on Kansas City.
Games He Stays Away From
Nick passed on several matchups, mostly because the lines felt right or the uncertainty was too high:
Bengals vs. Falcons in Madrid
- Lean: Falcons
- Pass reason: neutral-site game, both teams are hard to trust, and Atlanta’s offense looked awful last week.
Jets at Chiefs
- He thinks Kansas City wins comfortably, but:
- Jets’ offense has been sneaky solid
- Chiefs have had trouble generating pressure
- Strong lean: over, but he avoids the side.
Lions at Dolphins
- He considered Miami but passed.
- He highlights the concern around Jack Campbell’s scary injury for Detroit.
- Line felt fair, so no play.
Rams at Commanders
- Lean: Commanders +4.5
- But he doesn’t trust Washington enough to play it.
Giants at Eagles
- He thinks the public may be too eager to fade Philadelphia, but:
- Eagles are on a long losing streak
- Jalen Hurts is out
- New QB uncertainty makes it hard to back the Giants confidently
- Passes despite not trusting Philly.
Browns at Saints
- Lean: Browns
- He says New Orleans shouldn’t be a field-goal favorite over almost anyone, but the game is unattractive and he’s avoiding it.
Raiders at 49ers
- Strong lean: 49ers
- But he stays away because:
- Big favorites have been terrible against the spread this year
- Raiders’ offense is capable of hanging around
Cardinals at Seahawks
- He originally loved Arizona at +12.5, but the line moved too much after the quarterback situation changed.
- The move from Drew Lock/Sam Darnold uncertainty made it a pass.
Packers at Patriots
- He thinks the line is basically right and expects a close game.
- No edge, so he stays away.
Nick’s Official Week 9 Picks
1. Panthers +2.5 vs. Broncos
- He likes Carolina as a home dog.
- Reasons:
- Carolina has been strong after losses under Dave Canales
- Denver is in a possible letdown spot after beating Kansas City
- He expects a bounce-back game from Bryce Young
- He actually thinks Carolina can win outright.
2. Cowboys -5.5 at Colts
- He believes Indianapolis is basically done for the season.
- He’s worried Jonathan Taylor could be limited or even inactive if trade talks intensify.
- Dallas is coming off a brutal loss and should be highly motivated.
3. Texans -5.5 at Chargers
- He’s ready to fade the Chargers hard.
- Notes:
- Chargers have been awful all season
- Texans’ season is on the line
- He expects Houston’s defense to take control and pressure Herbert
- He predicts a blowout-style Houston win.
4. Buccaneers +6.5 at Bears
- He respects Chicago, but thinks the market may be too high on them after a huge performance.
- He expects Tampa Bay’s defense to slow down Chicago’s run game and give Baker Mayfield a better passing environment.
- He sees this as a live underdog spot.
5. Vikings +3.5 vs. Bills
- He likes Minnesota with Carson Wentz at quarterback.
- Key reasons:
- Backup QB gives a different matchup feel
- Brian Flores’ defense can create problems for Josh Allen
- He views it as basically a field-goal game
- He takes the home dog.
Touchdown Genie Pick
Kyle Pitts 50+ receiving yards
- The production team offered Kyle Pitts over 50 receiving yards, but Nick declined the over.
- He instead says he would take Pitts under 50 yards.
- He references Pitts’ history of success in London, but still prefers the under.
Teaser Play
Three-team 6.5-point teaser
Nick likes:
- Raiders +16
- Vikings +10
- Jets +16
Why he likes it:
- Chiefs usually don’t blow teams out
- Minnesota should stay competitive at home
- The Jets, even if outclassed, can stay inside a large teaser number
Main Takeaways
- Nick is most confident in:
- Panthers +2.5
- Texans -5.5
- Vikings +3.5
- His biggest philosophy this week:
- Trust home underdogs
- Be cautious with big favorites
- Fade teams in letdown spots or with unstable QB situations
- He also continues to emphasize how much line movement and market context shape his picks.
Final Card
- Panthers +2.5
- Cowboys -5.5
- Texans -5.5
- Buccaneers +6.5
- Vikings +3.5