NFL Picks Week 9: Runaway Favorites Who Will Stomp Helpless Underdogs

The St. Louis Rams taking down the New Orleans Saints last week makes it seem like every team can pull off an upset in any given week. Such is not the case.

There are certain favorites this week that are going to put underdogs in the ground. An embarrassing blowout is an unavoidable fate for some of the league's worst teams.

With mismatches rampant in Week 9, here are three favorites who will win in a landslide.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys were dismantled last week against the Eagles, but they face the lowly Seahawks this week in a game that presents a gimme win.

Tony Romo has his shortcomings, but he's clearly got the upper hand on the Tarvaris Jackson/ Charlie Whitehurst train wreck. To make matters worse, the Seahawks rank 2nd to last in rushing YPG, and the Cowboys allow less than 95 YPG on the ground.

This week is about getting back on track for the Cowboys. The NFC East is still wide open, and with the Giants squaring off against the Patriots, the Cowboys won't miss out on an opportunity to gain ground in the division.

San Francisco 49ers

One of these weeks, some team is going to show the 49ers that they aren't a Super Bowl contender. This week is not that week though. The Rex Grossman and John Beck mess isn't capable of taking advantage of San Francisco's shortcomings, and the 49ers' No. 1 run defense is going to be relentless against their repertoire of lackluster backs.

Alex Smith has just two picks on the season. By limiting turnovers and letting Frank Gore literally carry the offense, the 49ers are able to let their defense dictate the game and overpower teams on both sides of the ball.

Gore is coming into this game with four consecutive 100-yard rushing games with a touchdown. The Redskins pride themselves on their defensive play, but even in a defensive struggle, they'll find themselves outmatched.

Atlanta Falcons

The Rams want to win, as do the Vikings, Dolphins and Cardinals. The inconsistency is unbearable, but at least we see flashes of effort that make their failure more palatable.

Such is not the case with Indianapolis. They don't want it. The state of indifference in Indy has players not finishing blocks, runs or tackles. The Colts haven't won a single game yet, and their -131 point differential is downright embarrassing.

The Falcons reestablished their identity with Julio Jones out. Michael Turner has over 120 yards in back-to-back games, and though nobody is talking about Atlanta in the NFC South race, they have all the tools to snatch away the lead from the rapidly declining Saints in the upcoming weeks.