NFL Week 9 odds — Well, let's hope that Week 9 doesn't follow the trend from Thursday! The Jaguars dominated the Ravens on Thursday night but man that was a tough watch. Fortunately, the Sunday slate looks a lot better than what we got as an opening salvo.

Key Developments and Main Event

Bet on the NFL at DraftKings, where new users get $200 in bonus bets and 3 free months of NBA League Pass after spending $5+: Speaking of the Jaguars, if you're so inclined, there are some decent matchup numbers for Jacksonville to make the Super Bowl if you can name the opponent. I love Jags-Bears at 25-1 on DraftKings Sportsbook.

The Jags and Rams (29-1) isn't terrible if you buy into the Rams turning the corner with a new offensive approach (I do). Further down the board, the Jags facing off against one of the NFC North teams is real juicy, particularly the Packers (70-1). There's a lot of season left but sprinkling some Jacksonville futures isn't the worst idea in the world.

Core Facts and Essential Highlights

Let's stay hot this week and find some winners, player props and anytime touchdown scorers! Claim the best Kalshi promo code CBSSPORTS55, trade $25, and receive a $55 bonus here: Best bets for NFL Week 9 Colts +5.5 vs. Cowboys The Colts aren't full-blown tanking but they are selling off just about every asset on their roster to try and acquire draft picks.

It's the smart thing to do, because the roster is far away from being ready to compete for a championship. The roster can compete, however, against a team like the Cowboys, who should not be laying this many points on the road against a team of professionals.

Broader Context and Market Implications

That team includes Jonathan Taylor, who's been heavily rumored in trade talks but might not actually be on the move. If he is, then this could be the last game for him in a Colts uniform. If that's the case, it's a perfect matchup;

the Cowboys are arguably the worst defense in the NFL against opposing running backs (you'd have to include them catching passes as well to get there) and are unquestionably a bottom-five team against running backs. Taylor could go nuts here in what profiles to be a shootout. Chargers +6 vs. Texans Hoooo boy does this feel ugly.

The Chargers STINK out loud and are sitting at 0-7, have a horrible offensive line and are facing off against what we perceive to be an elite defense. The Chargers are coming off a pretty embarrassing loss to the Rams at "home" and the Texans are coming off their bye. So I get the line here.

But it's just a little too high for a 2-5 team that managed to lose to J.J. McCarthy at home in its last game. The Chargers aren't going 0-17 this year. Patriots -3 vs. Packers We obviously would have loved to have gotten a 2.5-point spread here, but there's a good chance that even the 3s disappear before the weekend gets here.

The line might be holding on to the possibility of Micah Parsons' return -- he's back at practice this week -- but I wouldn't be shocked if he's one week away from returning to the field. And if Parsons doesn't go, the Patriots should be able to have a field day on offense even with some of their key players (A.J. Brown, TreVeyon Henderson) potentially out.

The Pats have been a good team outside of the first two weeks of the season and are elite at home.