The 2021 NFL betting season reaches its halfway point this week.

It’s been anything but dull.

Just last week, Tom Brady and the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers (-5) lost to a New Orleans Saints team quarterbacked by Trevor Siemian. Even more shocking, the game ended with Brady throwing a pick-six with 1:24 to play on what was supposed to be a game-winning drive.

Want more?

How about Mike “Joe Willie” White guiding the woebegone Jets (-11.5) to an upset victory over what was the top team in the AFC – the Bengals? There is so much to digest in that sentence, you may need to read it three times.

Still not enough?

QB Cooper Rush, a fifth-year backup, made his first NFL start and led the Dallas Cowboys to a 20-16 win at Minnesota. In that game, the line moved from Dallas -2.5 to Minnesota -4 after word of an injury sidelining Dak Prescott. This week, Prescott is still questionable.

RELATED: NFL Week 9 Odds & Betting Lines For Every Game

Those are the sort of outcomes that tend to spook bettors – it was Halloween after all. But there is a takeaway in all this. There are no certainties in what we do. It is, after all, called “gambling.”

Keep those lessons front forward when looking at the Week 9 matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers. The Packers are without Aaron Rodgers, who will miss at least 10 days after a positive COVID-19 test. QB Jordan Love makes his first start for the Packers since being taken by the team in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.

The fun continued elsewhere on Wednesday, too, when it was learned that Giants RB Saquon Barkley tested positive for COVID, Saints WR Mike Thomas announced he was out for the season and Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr. was excused from Browns practice.

There are four teams on the bye this week: Tampa Bay, Seattle, Detroit and Washington.

Get out the Octo-Box once again as there are eight games in the early Sunday slot. The Sunday night game has the Rams playing host to the Titans.

On to our Week 9 NFL picks:

Thursday, Nov. 4

New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts, 8:20 p.m. (FOX)

White threw for 405 yards against the bewildered Bengals. The Colts won’t be caught by surprise. Carson Wentz, meanwhile, reverted to his Philly form last week and threw two interceptions and a pick-six in a loss to the Titans. The difference between these two teams lies on defense, where the Jets are allowing 29.4 PPG, while the Colts are giving up just 22.9. That equals a 52.3 total where I went to school.

Check out Jets vs Colts odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

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QUARTERBACK BEST BETS : Ranking Every NFL QB Against The Spread

Sunday, Nov. 7

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Sean Payton worked his magic against Brady last week. Matt Ryan is next. The Saints defense ranks in the top five in QB rating and completion percentage. Siemian did just enough not to lose to Tampa Bay, but struggled in the second half. The Saints have won 5 of 6 in this NFC South matchup. But this line at sportsbooks is just a bit too large given the variables here.

Check out Falcons vs Saints odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

Denver Broncos at Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m. (FOX)

The Cowboys are 7-0 ATS this season. Cowboys bust broncos. Ride ‘em hard until they fall.

Check out Broncos vs Cowboys odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

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New England Patriots at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. (CBS)

Mac Jones has the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in a box, although it has yet to be sealed. He’ll face former Patriots and DPOY Stephon Gilmore, who was dealt by New England earlier this season after he was unable to nail down a contract extension. Christian McCaffrey is expected back for the Panthers. But Bill Belichick will have the resurgent Patriots ready. Here, kitty, kitty.

Check out Patriots vs Panthers odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

Minnesota Vikings at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. (FOX)

The Vikings fizzled in Week 8, losing at home to Rush and the Cowboys. Their season teeters on the precipice of irrelevance. The Ravens are coming off a bye and a brutal loss to the Bengals. John Harbaugh is a Belichickan 80-40 after a week off (not counting his Super Bowl win over the 49ers).

Check out Vikings vs Ravens odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. (CBS)

The Battle of Ohio features the dysfunctional Browns and the disheartened Bengals. While the Browns have beaten the Bengals in five of six, the Cats are poised to pounce on the rebound. The Browns’ success last season may have been just a figment of our collective imagination.

Check out Browns vs Bengals odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

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Las Vegas Raiders at New York Giants, 1 p.m. (CBS)

In the past month, the Raiders have lost coach Jon Gruden to old emails and Henry Ruggs III. The latter was cut Wednesday after being charged with a DUI stemming from a fatal car crash. Still, the Raiders are 2-0 since Rich Bisaccia took over head coaching duties and are coming off the bye before heading East. The AFC West remains theirs for the taking. Big Blue delivered a "good job, good effort" at Kansas City Monday night. But Danny Dimes came up a few pennies short.

Check out Raiders vs Giants odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

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Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. (CBS)

The Bills have covered some monster spreads this season. Last week, they opened at -13.5 against the Dolphins and closed at -15 before beating Miami 26-11. QB Josh Allen ran in for a 7-yard score to bail out Bills Mafia with less than 3 minutes to play. The Bills (4-2/4-2) also smashed a 17-point line with a 40-0 rout of Houston in Week 5. We’re leaning more toward the total on betting sites given the strength of Buffalo’s defense.

Check out Bills vs Jaguars odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

Houston Texans at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. (CBS)

DeShaun Watson was ticketed for Miami this offseason before his civil and criminal woes. Watson may still end up in Miami next season. For now, he remains with the Texans and won’t take a snap this season. Meanwhile, Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa makes his first-ever NFL start knowing that the starting job is his – health permitting – for the rest of the season. Baby steps.

Check out Texans vs Dolphins odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

Los Angeles Chargers at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)

The Chargers got punched in the face by the Patriots in Week 8 at home. Now, they visit the Eagles, who are as hot-and-cold as any NFL team has been this season. This is an early East Coast start for the Chargers, who scored a total of 26 points in 1 p.m. games earlier this season at Baltimore and Washington.

Check out Chargers vs Eagles odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

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Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)

(Jordan) Love is all you need when you have Aaron Jones to run the ball and a ball-hawking defense that is yielding just 20.9 PPG and has nine interceptions. Mahomes looked terrible against the Giants, gaining just 275 passing yards on 48 attempts with a pick and a touchdown. This line has swelled from Kansas City -1 since news of Rodgers’ absence.

Check out Packers vs Chiefs odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

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Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)

Arizona lost its first game of the season in Week 8 at home against the Packers but has had extended time to prepare for the 49ers. Arizona remains a top-five team on offense and holds its own defensively against the pass. The 49ers will look to run the ball and eat clock to keep Murray off the field. But an early lead for the Cardinals could spell doom for the home team.

Check out Cardinals vs 49ers odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

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Tennessee Titans at Los Angeles Rams, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)

The Rams traded for LB Von Miller this week. They’re all-in this season but won’t have a first-round draft pick until 2063. RB Derrick Henry is out for the Titans and has been replaced by RB Adrian Peterson. Any QB matchup featuring Ryan Tannehill and Matthew Stafford should scream offense, so wager accordingly on betting apps. The Titans have scored 33 PPG and Rams 32.5 PPG in their past four games, winning them all.

Check out Titans vs Rams odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

Monday, Nov. 8

Chicago Bears at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)

Justin Fields is getting better but he’ll be facing a stout and stingy Steelers defense. Pittsburgh has moved back into the playoff discussion and should hold a nice edge at home.

Check out Bears vs Steelers odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

2021 Record

Last Week: 9-6

Season: 66-55-1