“Pick ‘Em or Kick ‘Em”™: FGT VS. Urban Sports Scene 2023 Week 9 NFL Picks

November 2, 2023

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

If you followed last year, you won over 60% of your picks, and we aim to do even better this year.

And if you’ve been following us, you know that we here at Football Garbage Time have gone head-to-head against Wally, Will and Ray at Urban Sports Scene on our NFL Picks for the last 6 seasons. Why? Because they’re awesome competitors, they KNOW their sports, and, heck, they’re just good guys! This year we’ll have their picks up right HERE, so keep it tuned in, to both us and them, because we’ll be picking all season all long.

Without further to do, here we go:

Week 9 Games

Ha Kung Wong’s Picks

Ha Kung’s Thoughts:

After a 64.7% record two seasons ago, I ended last season 63.3% (178-103). So that’s eight years in a row with over a 60% pick rate. I also ended up 16-4 for Locks of Week (80%) and 8-12 for Upsets of the Week (40%) which is also eight years in a row of Locks being over 70%. I was 13-3 in Week 8 and am now 76-46 (62.3%) overall for the season. I unfortunately missed on my Lock of the Week (Chiefs) but hit my Upset of the Week (Bengals), meaning I’m 62.5% for Locks and 50% for Upsets so far. But there are plenty of weeks to go!

Let’s get to that Lock (for Survivor Leagues) and Upset for Week 9…

Lock of the Week ➡ New Orleans Saints (-7.5) over Chicago Bears

It’s not like the Saints are great, but they’ve been averaging just under 30 points per game since Alvin Kamara returned from suspension. The Bears on the other hand have been pretty bad all around on defense, allowing the 3rd most passing yards and 5th most points per game. On top of that, they have Tyson Bagent starting another game, which doesn’t give the Bears offense much upside against a Saints defense that’s allowed the 5th least yards per game to opposing teams and has the 5th most takeaways this season. Lock in the Saints.

Upset of the Week ➡ Los Angeles Rams (+3.0) over Green Bay Packers

I’m sticking by this only if Matthew Stafford plays for the Rams. So long as he does, I think Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua will be able to pick apart the Packers defense that’s middle of the pack and allow 339.1 yards and 22.3 points per game. The Packers lost 5 of the last 6 games and won the one game by only 1 point. The Packers have the 8th least yards on offense per game this season, and I don’t see that changing. I like the potential for an upset here.

UPDATE: With Matt Stafford unlikely to play, I’m switching to my Upset of the Week to the Bills (+2.5) over the Bengals.

Joanne Kong’s Picks

Scott King’s Picks

Wole’s Picks

Wole’s Thoughts:

Check out Wole’s thoughts on his picks in the recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Ray’s Picks

Ray’s Thoughts:

Check out Ray’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Will’s Picks

Will’s Thoughts:

Check out Will’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

George’s Picks

George’s Thoughts:

Need to improve on last week so I will go back to the well again with Carolina. After struggling for so long to get a win they will get acquainted with a win streak by beating a Colts team that gave up 38 to the normally punchless Saints.

So since Houston lost to the Panthers they surely will lose to Tampa? I don’t think so. The Bucs surprising early start continues to melt away as C.J. Stroud bounces back from a tough outing in Charlotte.

Kansas City and Miami will be a wild shootout that the Chiefs will win with some late Patrick Mahomes magic.

I was all set to pick the Giants to win at Las Vegas but then the Raiders got rid of Josh McDaniels and the feel good factor from that will give Antonio Pierce (former Washington Redskin) his first win as interim coach.

Dallas will fall short in another big prove it game against Philadelphia and the Joe Burrow’s mastery of the Buffalo Bill will continue as well.