Underdogs served Colin Cowherd well in October, where he finished the month with a three-week winning streak in his Blazin’ 5 picks. He now has a 23-17 record through Week 8 of the 2022 NFL season.
Cowherd just released his picks for Week 9, which airs Fridays at 1 p.m. ET on his show, The Herd. We bring you those weekly picks and the analysis he shares.
On top of Cowherd’s picks, we’ve added the “mortal locks” from the Barstool Advisors, as well as other industry experts, Eli Hershkovich of TheLines.com and ESPN’s Erin Dolan.
Regardless of which picks you like, check out lines at PA sportsbooks before placing your bets.
Colin Cowherd’s Blazin’ 5 record
Colin Cowherd’s lifetime record is 142-142-7, with his three-week winning streak pulling him up to an even .500 over three-and-a-half years of doing the Blazin’ 5.
- 2022: 23-17-0
- 2021: 37-43-2
- 2020: 40-41-2
- 2019: 42-41-3
Week 8 wins:
- Washington Commanders (+4.5) vs. Green Bay Packers (final score: Commanders 23, Packers 21)
- New York Jets (+1) at Denver Broncos (final score: Jets 16, Broncos 9)
- Seattle Seahawks (+5) at Los Angeles Chargers (final score: Seahawks 37, Chargers 23)
Week 8 losses:
- Baltimore Ravens (-6.5) vs. Cleveland Browns (final score: Ravens 23, Browns 20)
- San Francisco 49ers (+2.5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (final score: Chiefs 44, 49ers 23)
Colin Cowherd Blazin’ 5 Week 9 NFL picks
“I’m on a three-week heater where, actually, the bets have fallen, and I’ve said this year I like underdogs. Scoring is down from two years ago, last time we checked, about a touchdown a game. Points become more and more valuable, so I’ve just taken underdogs. This week, I have five more underdogs I like.”
Indianapolis Colts (+4.5) at New England Patriots
Cowherd pick: Colts
Final score prediction: Colts 24, Patriots 23
Cowherd said:
“I’m gonna take the Colts in an upset +4.5 to win. Five of their six games have been decided by one possession; their defense has held opponents under 400 yards in every game. Only six teams in the league have done that. Their defense is not the issue, and the Patriots have four wins, but they’ve beaten [four mediocre quarterbacks]. They’re not blowing people away.”
“And in the last three starts, Mac Jones has been awful. He is regressing, a 64 passer rating in his last three games. No way I can give up 4.5 points. I’m gonna take the Colts and the points, and I think they’re gonna win an ugly, ugly game, 24-23.”
Final Score: Patriots 26, Colts 3
Did Colin Cowherd win? No
Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta Falcons (+3)
Cowherd pick: Falcons
Final score prediction: Falcons 30, Chargers 27
Cowherd said:
“This is one of the games I really like. Atlanta runs the football. You know, Marcus Mariota’s funny: when he doesn’t get hurt, he’s really good! Three straight games, passer rating over 100. They’re No. 5 in rushing their last three weeks. Mariota’s been excellent.”
“And the Chargers’ defense allows almost 5.7 yards per carry, it’s the worst in the league. So Atlanta’s run game against the Chargers’ run defense. Also, Keenan Allen is still banged up, and Mike Williams and Josh Palmer, so their receiving corps is banged up.”
“The Chargers aren’t scoring a lot of points these days. I’m gonna take Atlanta to beat them, take the points, 30-27 Falcons.”
Final Score: Chargers 20, Falcons 17
Did Colin Cowherd win? Push
Minnesota Vikings at Washington Commanders (+3)
Cowherd pick: Commanders
Final score prediction: Commanders 28, Vikings 24
Cowherd said:
“I’m gonna take the Commanders at home, plus a field goal. Taylor Heinicke, say what you want, they’re better with him. I was a Carson Wentz guy, but they’re better with Heinicke. And the defense during this three-game winning streak, five takeaways. So, they’re takin’ the ball away. Ron Rivera loves that.”
“Each of the five wins during the Vikings’ winning streak have all been by one possession, and they don’t have a lot of big plays this year. And maybe that’s why they went and got T.J. Hockenson is because Justin Jefferson, people are clamping down on him.”
“I’m gonna take the points. I know, it’s crazy. Washington wins over a team I like, 28-24 Commanders.”
Final Score: Vikings 20, Commanders 17
Did Colin Cowherd win? Push
Seattle Seahawks (+1.5) at Arizona Cardinals
Cowherd pick: Seahawks
Final score prediction: Seahawks 24, Cardinals 20
Cowherd said:
“I don’t understand the line. I didn’t understand it when they played a few weeks ago. I’m gonna take Seattle and the points. They’re a better team, and they’re a young team getting better every week. Seattle +1.5.”
“The defense, the last three weeks, has been top-five in the league in multiple categories. They’re a super young team. What does that mean? These young guys are just figuring out how to play.”
“And the Cardinals’ scoring defense is 30th. And the Cardinals’ offense, for all the talent, less than five yards a play. Seattle wins the game. Seattle’s a better team: 24-20.”
Final Score: Seahawks 31, Cardinals 21
Did Colin Cowherd win? Yes
Baltimore Ravens at New Orleans Saints (+2.5)
Cowherd pick: Saints
Final score prediction: Saints 30, Ravens 24
Cowherd said:
“The Saints +2.5. Monday Night Football in New Orleans. That’s crazy loud, that’s a big home-field advantage. The Saints, over the last month, have 14 offensive touchdowns. That leads the league. Is that crazy? It’s a different offense recently, and the Ravens are all beat up again.”
“Lamar Jackson was OK recently in the fourth quarter, but Lamar has struggled [historically] a lot in the fourth quarter. I have a hard time betting against New Orleans. These big standalone games in New Orleans – I think it’s the loudest stadium in the league – Baltimore’s talented, but they’re beat up and have not finished games that well this season. I’m gonna take New Orleans to beat them 30-24.”
Final Score: Ravens 27, Saints 13
Did Colin Cowherd win? No
Week 9 Blazin’ 5 Record: 1-2-2
C0lin Cowherd 2022 Blazin’ 5 Overall Record: 24-19-2
NFL Week 9 expert picks roundup
Barstool Advisors
The Barstool Advisors’ crew of Stu Feiner, Dan ”Big Cat” Katz and Jerry “The Kid” Thornton publishes its “mortal locks” before kickoff each Sunday morning. This week, NHL expert Ryan Whitney joins them to take Jerry The Kid’s place.
Fair warning: “Mortal locks” have not fulfilled their name in recent weeks, producing a combined losing record. Week 8 was no different, as the trio of “experts” went 1-2.
Week 9 mortal locks:
- Stu Feiner: Cincinnati Bengals (-7.5) vs. Carolina Panthers – Win
- Ryan Whitney: Green Bay Packers (-3.5) at Detroit Lions – Loss
- Dan “Big Cat” Katz: Chicago Bears vs. Miami Dolphins Over 45 – Win
Combined Week 9 Record: 2-1. Both football advisors won their mortal locks, while Whitney’s Packers lost outright on the road to the Lions. Maybe hockey guys should stick to hockey predictions.
Erin Dolan
Erin Dolan, a Philadelphia native and ESPN analyst, posts her picks throughout the week on Twitter and YouTube and provides valuable statistical insight to back them.
This week, she produced a video discussing whether to bet with your gut or with statistics. According to Dolan, the correct answer is a combination of both. You should always look at stats and understand why you are making bets, but you must also trust your intuition.
Understandably, Dolan’s focus has been on baseball with her Phillies in the World Series. But she did throw out one player prop for Week 9’s Thursday Night Football game, which hit.
- Miles Sanders: Over 80.5 rushing yards – Win
She added two more picks before 1 p.m. kickoffs and another before the 4 p.m. game.
- Stefon Diggs – anytime TD – Loss
- Minnesota -1.5 first half at Washington – Win
- Kyler Murray – over 34.5 rushing yards – Win
Dolan went 3-1 on her bets in Week 9.
Eli Hershkovich
After posting a 2-2 record in Week 8, TheLines.com’s Eli Hershkovich has a 31-19 record on the season. He made two picks leading up to Week 9’s kickoff and added one more Sunday morning.
- Washington Commanders (+3.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings – Win
- Jacksonville Jaguars (+2) vs. Las Vegas Raiders – Win
- Detroit Lions (+4) vs. Green Bay Packers – Win
Hershkovich slayed his three picks for Week 9, going 3-0 to keep his season-long hot streak going.
NFL Week 9 lines at PA sportsbooks
John Bazemore / AP