Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season concluded on Monday night as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hit the road to face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Tampa Bay is currently struggling at 4-4 as star receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are out of the lineup.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs acquired veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins before the trade deadline, making them an even more explosive attack at this point in the season. Kansas City is the only team remaining undefeated in the NFL and will look to keep it that way on Monday night.

The oddsmakers have the Chiefs edged by nearly 10 points in this game, but should bettors trust them on this one?

Here’s a look at some of the SI Betting team’s top picks and predictions for Week 9 Monday Night Football – sideways hardware.

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers +9 (-110) vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Iain MacMillan

Earlier this week, SI Betting’s NFL betting expert Iain McMillan shared why he likes the underdog Bucs in a statement on Monday night. Way to Column 272 – Where he bets on every game every week in the NFL:

Just like I was rooting for the Raiders as the 10-point underdog last week, the Chiefs haven’t played well enough this season to deserve to be such a heavy favorite. Even though they are 7-0, they are 14th in the NFL in Net Yards Per Game at +0.3.

Last week, the Buccaneers proved they can move the ball without their two best receivers. Reliance on their running game and tight end Cade Otton is enough to get them on the board several times throughout the game.

Believe it or not, Baker Mayfield has been the best quarterback this season, ranking eighth in the EPA+CPOE composite, while Mahomes ranks 13th.

I’ll be backing the Bucs to keep this game relatively close.

Jalen McMillan OVER 3.5 Receptions (-110) -Peter Dewey

One of my favorite prop bets on Monday night comes for rookie receiver Jalen MacMillan, as he should be in line for a big role since Evans and Godwin are both out.

MacMillan was targeted seven times while making just four catches in Week 8, the first game without both receivers. In fact, he has been targeted 15 times in the last two weeks, turning those targets into seven catches.

I think it’s a solid bet that he clears 3.5 receptions for the second straight week, especially considering the Bucs will likely play from behind in this game.

Last week, Baker Mayfield attempted a season-high 50 passes. If this continues, MacMillan will need to get a chance to catch up in Week 9.

Cade Otton Always TD (+215) – Iain MacMillan

If you want to bet on a player finding the end zone, MacMillan thinks there’s no better value than Bucs tight end Cade Otton:

With Evans and Godwin sidelined, Cade Otton has become the clear top target for the Buccaneers offense. He is coming off two games in which he saw double-digit targets, totaling 17 receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns.

Moreover, the Chiefs have struggled to defend tight ends all season long. This looks like a dream matchup for Otton, and the +230 scoring odds for him are too good to pass up.

Rates are updated periodically and may change.

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