NFL Picks Against the Spread Week 9: Sure-Fire Bets for Weekend Slate

Remember just how crazy the thought of the Kansas City Chiefs being the NFL's best team seemed in September? Now, they're the only team still with an unbeaten record through eight weeks.

The 2013 season has been much more than just Andy Reid's crew, as the hot starts of Denver and Seattle also have shined bright over a league that has seen a lot of parity emerging among the middle teams as the playoff picture is far from clear at this point.

Picking against the spread is never easy in the NFL, but these picks jump off the page as easy ones to make.

Let's break down the best picks against the spread for Week 9.

 Note: spreads via Bovada.lv

Picks Against the Spread

New York Jets (+7) Over New Orleans Saints

In wins and losses, the Jets have been an average 4-4 on 2013, but that's a massive surprise given their status as one of the league's worst entering the season.

Despite being at home, where New York is 3-1, it's been given a six-point deficit in Vegas as the 6-1 Saints come marching into town with one of the league's best records.

The Jets are no strangers to going up against the NFL's elite, having battled with the Patriots twice and coming out on top in one of those contests.

Rex Ryan's squad is shutting teams down on the ground, holding opponents to a league-low 77.9 yards per game. The Saints don't have much of a ground game but can turn it on when needed, and that often allows them to keep teams at bay.

I'm not saying the Jets will win, but it should be a very close contest with the Saints unable to run the ball. New York is also above average against the pass, which could hamper Brees' ability to put up points at will.

Prediction: Saints 27, Jets 26

Atlanta Falcons (+7.5) Over Carolina Panthers

Carolina has been suffocating teams on the ground this season, ranking second behind the Jets in run defense by giving up 79.3 yards per game.

The Falcons rank dead last on the ground this season, but Matt Ryan has been getting yards at will through the air to combat that. He hasn't seemed to miss a step in the wake of a season-ending injury to Julio Jones and star wideout Roddy White's week-to-week injury bug. 

Without his two stars, Ryan has turned Harry Douglas into an overnight sensation as he's nearly totaled 300 receiving yards in his last two games combined. 

Carolina's secondary is average and far from elite, so the suddenly promising duo of Ryan and Douglas should continue to emerge over the weekend. That should at least keep the Falcons in this game and make things close to combat the lack of a running game.

Prediction: Falcons 27, Panthers 20