NFL Picks Week 9: Offensive Shootouts That Are Guaranteed to Beat the Over

Defense has long been the pillar of great teams in the NFL, but over the past few seasons, the focus has shifted to offense. This is now a quarterback-driven league where it is nearly impossible to win without an offense capable of putting up some points.

Because of that, scoring seems to continually increase. That has caused a rise in over/under betting lines, but it shouldn't stop you from going with the over. Here are three Week 9 shootouts that should have no problem breaking the over threshold.

Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders (42.5)

With the recent struggles of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, it may be dangerous to select the over in a game involving Denver, but I expect the Broncos to play much better this week against the division rival Oakland Raiders. Tebow in particular should have his best game of the season, as the Oakland secondary is certainly a vulnerable unit at this point.

The Broncos were picked apart by the Detroit Lions last week, so the Raiders should have plenty of offensive success as well. Running back Darren McFadden will be out, but replacement Michael Bush shouldn't miss a beat. Also, quarterback Carson Palmer figures to be much better with a couple weeks of preparation under his belt. Ultimately, this should be a close, offensive battle resulting in a total over 42.5.

New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills (45)

The New York Jets have made the AFC Championship Game over the past two seasons thanks to their ferocious defense, but for whatever reason, the Jets simply haven't been dominant on that side of the ball this year. Opposing teams have run the ball with great success against New York, and that figures to be a big issue against the Buffalo Bills and MVP-candidate running back Fred Jackson.

Buffalo has scored at will this season, particularly at home. The Bills had beaten the over in every game this season prior to last week when they shut out the Washington Redskins 23-0. Generally speaking, the Bills have been awful on defense, so there will be plenty of opportunities for the Jets to move the ball on the ground and through the air as well. The Bills should come out on top in another offensive fireworks show, though.

New York Giants vs. New England Patriots (51)

When it comes to an offensively-gifted team like the New England Patriots, choosing the over is usually a pretty safe bet. That should be especially true on Sunday when the Pats host the New York Giants. While quite underrated, the Giants boast an explosive offense of their own that is capable of putting up some big points.

Regardless of who they play, the Patriots are going to score. The same can't always be said for New York, but New England should prove to be a very advantageous matchup for the Giants. The Patriots are the worst in the league against the pass, and Giants quarterback Eli Manning has developed into a consistently great signal caller. With two quarterbacks at the top of their games like Manning and Tom Brady facing off, this one is poised to be a points bonanza.