NFL Week 9 Picks: Why Raiders and Texans Will Fail to Cover Sky-High Spreads

The Week 9 NFL slate features some absurdly high lines.

Vegas is overreacting to certain teams that aren’t playing well and taking advantage of this early in the week before the lines makers have a chance to adjust is the best way to go.

Consider taking the under dog on the following two games:

(Spreads courtesy of Covers.com)

Cleveland Browns +10.5 @ Houston Texans

The Browns aren’t a good team by any stretch of the imagination, especially on offense. With Montario Hardesty expected to miss 2-3 weeks and Peyton Hillis still dealing with a hamstring injury, the running game is in shambles.

That’s why the line is so high.

Let me remind you that the Browns are second in the NFL against the pass, allowing a mere 172 yards through the air. They have speedy corners that aren’t giving up the big play—a huge plus when factoring in such a big spread.

To score on the Browns you need long, sustained drives that eat up the clock. That’s why the Browns have only lost by over 10 points once this season.

The Texans are coming off two big divisional wins, and are due for a letdown against a lesser opponent they won't take very seriously.  

I don’t think the Browns win, but like last week against the 49ers, they find a way to cover the double-digit spread.

Denver Broncos +9 @ Oakland Raiders

We all know Tim Tebow was horrible on Sunday against the Lions, but it’s a new week and he will be playing the Raiders at an opportune time.

Carson Palmer is making his first-ever Raiders start after managing to throw three interceptions in two quarters a week ago. RB Darren McFadden is questionable as well.

In Week 1 the Raiders beat the Broncos with Kyle Orton under center and he played horrible. His two turnovers were the reason the Broncos couldn’t pull out the win.

The defense was able to hold the Raiders to 105 passing yards, and really tightened up around the goal line, holding Oakland to three field goals compared to two TDs.

I’m not here to tell you that Tebow is going to pull off another Miami miracle. I do think that in this big rivalry game the outcome comes down to the fourth quarter more often than not. This isn’t going to be a double-digit affair.

In the battle of two of the worst current QBs in the league, take the points.