NFL Underdog Betting Lines: 3 Underdogs That Might Be Playoff Contenders

As the calendar turns to November, the NFL playoff races are heating up. Three NFL underdogs find themselves in the thick of the wild card picture and need wins in Week 9 to remain in contention.

In this article, I’ll be looking at the NFL betting trends and NFL underdog betting lines for three matchups in Week 9.

• Cleveland Browns (+3) at Cincinnatti Bengals
• Minnesota Vikings (+6) at Baltimore Ravens
• Carolina Panthers (+3.5) at New England Patriots

Read on to learn more about the best bets for underdogs in Week 9.

Cleveland Browns (+3) at Cincinnati Bengals

The Browns enter Week 9 with a 4-4 record that puts them a half-game behind the Chargers for the final wild card spot. Cleveland has had a rough go of it as of late with Baker Mayfield battling a shoulder injury, but the Browns still have a shot at the AFC North title if they can right the ship.

Mayfield gets a nice matchup this week against a Bengals defense that has allowed the 6th most passing yards in the NFL.

The Browns defense has a few things going for it in this game. First, Myles Garrett gets to go up against a Bengals offensive line that has given up the seventh most sack yards in the NFL this year.

The Browns may also get Denzel Ward back after he missed last week with a hamstring injury. If the defense can get pressure and Mayfield can connect on some of the open passes he’s been missing, the Browns could pull out a key divisional win.

Minnesota Vikings (+6) at Baltimore Ravens

While fans were up in arms after the Vikings lost to Cooper Rush and the Cowboys at home last week, Minnesota is still just a half-game out of the final wild card spot in the NFC. However, if the Vikings lose a few more games, Mike Zimmer’s job could be in serious jeopardy.

This matchup against Baltimore is a must-win game for Minnesota, and I expect them to come out firing after last week’s Dallas debacle.

The Ravens are dealing with significant injury issues along their offensive line. Baltimore has already lost Ronnie Stanley for the season and lost RT Patrick Mekari during the Bengals game two weeks ago. Mike Zimmer’s future may hinge on whether or not he can exploit the Ravens’ offensive line troubles.

Carolina Panthers (+3.5) at New England Patriots

On Sunday against the Falcons, the Panthers secured their first win since Christian McCaffrey went down in Week 3. McCaffrey is coming off the IR this week and has a chance to play against New England.

McCaffrey is the engine that makes this Panthers offense work, and his return should provide a massive boost for Carolina. The Panthers currently hold the seventh and final wild-card spot in the NFC.

Reviewing the NFL Underdog Betting Lines for Week 9

The underdog NFL betting lines have produced some winners this year. Underdogs have gone 57-50 against the spread in 2021, but the three teams mentioned above need to win outright to improve their playoff odds.

With the Panther getting McCaffrey back and the Browns and Vikings in must-win situations, I think each team has a shot to pull off the upset. You can see more sports betting lines and NFL odds by visiting the NFL page on BetMGM.