NFL Week 9 Betting Picks

Oct 25, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Special to Outkick The Coverage from OddsShark.com

Where are the money-making opportunities on the Week 9 NFL betting slate? Here's a breakdown of two matchups that have the potential to fatten your wallet on Sunday.

Rams vs. Vikings

The Rams (4-3) and Vikings (5-2) have been two of the surprise teams with winning records through the first half of the season. Many liked Minnesota to be improved over last year, but winning five of six since suffering a 20-3 season-opening road loss to the San Francisco 49ers has surpassed expectations and put the team just one game back of the Green Bay Packers for the lead in the NFC North. Still, the Vikings were gashed by San Francisco running back Carlos Hyde and will face another top rusher here in Todd Gurley of the Rams.

Gurley is the favorite to win NFL Offensive Player of the Year at 1/3 odds and has been inspired by the comeback of Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, who returned from ACL surgery to lead the league with 2,097 rushing yards in 2012. But Gurley is nine years younger and leads a St. Louis team that has gone 6-1 against the spread in its last seven games as road underdogs during the month of November. The road team has also won the last four meetings both straight-up and ATS according to the OddsShark NFL Database, so put your money on the Rams to knock off the Vikings.

Broncos vs. Colts

The Colts (3-5) are coming off an exhausting 29-26 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers on the road Monday night, rallying from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game before falling in the extra session. Meanwhile, the Broncos (7-0) had an easy 29-10 win over the previously unbeaten Green Bay Packers last Sunday to stay perfect. Both teams covered the spread, and Denver seems to be the obvious choice in this matchup to do it again.

However, Indianapolis has won two of the past three meetings with former quarterback Peyton Manning, including a stunning 24-13 divisional playoff win on the road back in January as a 9.5-point underdog. Manning and the Broncos also lost 39-33 in his only previous trip to Lucas Oil Stadium two years ago as a 6.5-point road favorite. The Colts are a desperate and motivated team right now that has beaten the spread in eight straight meetings with Denver overall -- winning seven of them -- and they will make it nine covers in a row as dogs again.

Check out detailed matchup reports for every NFL game for this week at OddsShark.com.