NFL Parlays & Picks: Best Bets for Week 9 (2025)

The NFL sent six teams, roughly 20 percent of the league, onto a bye in Week 8. Four more teams will be unavailable in Week 9, meaning lines will be sharper with a smaller slate.

It’s early in the week, but we’re going to look for value in sides and totals in NFL betting markets. It was another tough outing for my NFL Parlays & Picks: Best Bets for Week 8 (2025), winding up 0-4. All four players were underdogs on the point spread, but none of the teams came close to covering.

Let’s lock in and emerge from NFL Week 9 with two winning parlays. Follow me on X at Matt_MacKay_ for more NFL betting analysis and free picks.

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NFL Early Week Parlays: Week 9

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Parlay 1 (+294)

Leg 1: Denver Broncos Moneyline (-116)

Oddsmakers have the Broncos and Texans valued close to a pick’em in Week 9. Denver will head to NRG Stadium with a ton of momentum following its last two games. Broncos QB Bo Nix has been on fire, as Denver has scored 77 points in the last five quarters played.

Houston just posted arguably its best win of 2025 in a 26-15 home win against the San Francisco 49ers. C.J. Stroud has improved since a slow start, however, it’s  been the Texans’ stout defense under head coach DeMeco Ryans that has helped them go 3-1 since Week 4.

Denver’s defense is no slouch either. Broncos DC Vance Joseph has his unit ranked fifth in scoring defense, while Houston leads the NFL in this metric. It’s why the point total is set to 39.5.

Ultimately, I like Denver’s offense more with head coach Sean Payton calling the plays. Houston’s first-year OC, Nick Caley, is not trustworthy yet, especially against a top-five defense. Let’s bet on the Broncos to win outright against the Texans for their third straight road win.

Leg 2: Cincinnati Bengals Moneyline (+112)

Cincinnati handed the New York Jets their first win of 2025 during a 39-38 shootout loss at home. Bengals QB Joe Flacco played well but the Cincinnati defense was exploited by New York’s rushing attack.

Now, the Bengals host the Chicago Bears, who looked much more flat without a defense forcing multiple turnovers during a 30-16 road loss against Baltimore in Week 8. The Bears’ offense is run-centric, keeping Caleb Williams ahead of schedule.

Fortunately for Cincinnati, Chicago’s defense ranks 32nd in yards per play allowed at 6.2. The Bears have allowed 16 passing touchdowns, third-most in the league, so Flacco should have a ton of production with star wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Neither defense in this matchup is expected to play well. The Bengals have the best offensive players on the field, plus a veteran gunslinger at quarterback, so let’s bet on Cincinnati as a home underdog for the second leg of this NFL moneyline parlay.

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Parlay 2 (+265)

Spencer Rattler’s time as the Saints’ QB1 ended in Week 8 during a lopsided 23-3 loss at home. Now, it’s time for Tyler Shough to showcase what he can do against the Rams’ second-ranked scoring defense.

Shough was selected 40th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Now, head coach Kellen Moore will try to game plan for Shough during his first career start in a difficult road tilt against a Rams team that looks like a Super Bowl contender.

While it’s been a rough season for New Orleans, the defense hasn’t played bad. The Saints are a top-12 team in yards per play allowed (5.2) and have forced 10 turnovers, putting them in the top-10 for this metric.

Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ offense have struggled against other strong defenses in 2025. Los Angeles has been held to 23 or fewer points in three of seven games played.

With an inexperienced rookie facing a top-tier defense, plus New Orleans relying on its defense to stay competitive, bet under 44.5 total points in this NFC interconference matchup at SoFi Stadium.

Leg 2: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Las Vegas Raiders – Under 44.5 (-115)

Another game that could be an ugly, low-scoring affair features the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders. The Jaguars are one of the top defenses in the league in total turnovers (14) and are holding opponents to 3.9 YPC and four total rushing touchdowns.

The Geno Smith experiment has seemingly failed during Pete Carroll’s first year as the Raiders’ head coach. Top-10 rookie running back, Ashton Jeanty, is Las Vegas’ best playmaker within the offense. However, it’s going to be an uphill battle against a stout Jacksonville defensive front.

Jacksonville has scored 19 total points in its last two games played against Seattle and the Los Angeles Rams. They also don’t have a rest advantage with the Raiders coming off a Week 8 bye.

Las Vegas has been held to six points in two of its last three games played, with the exception coming against a porous Titans defense. Jacksonville’s offense could make this a sweaty bet, considering how bad the Raiders defense has been this season, even with star edge rusher Maxx Crosby healthy.

We’re going to ride a pair of unders in this totals parlay and bet under 44.5 between the Jaguars and Raiders in Week 9.