2009 NFL ATS Pick 'Em: Week Nine Standings

By: Luke Florence

Week nine proved to be a difficult one to pick, as no one recorded double-digit wins and four members had double-digit losses.

It was a week where to stay in contention, you simply had to survive. Next week, when there are 15 games to pick, including a Thursday night game, you should start to see the cream rise to the top.

Congratulations to Justin Whelan and Eric Hug for both going 9-4 and receiving the best week nine records of the bunch. Both of them used those strong showing to vault themselves into a four-way tie for second place, three games behind Nick Lay.

For Justin, this is not unfamiliar territory. One year ago, Whelan was 78-52 (an ATS record) and in first place. However, he went 3-11 the next week, and wouldn't record a winning week record until week 13. Maybe this time around will be different. Stay tuned.

No surprise that Whelan and Hug were the week's biggest gainers, as they jumped six spots in week nine. On the other hand, week nine was the cruelest to Jeff Normand. Jeff went 3-10 and fell seven spots in the process.

For the first time all year, Nick Lay now finds himself in first place all alone, three full games clear of 2nd place.

2009 NFL ATS PICK 'EM: WEEK NINE STANDINGS (week nine record in parentheses)
1) Nick Lay 76-53 (8-5)

2) Anthony Tynan 73-56 (8-5)

2) Luke Florence 73-56 (7-6)

2) Eric Hug 73-56 (9-4)

2) Justin Whelan 73-56 (9-4)

6) Billy Wakefield 72-57 (6-7)

6) Luke Polito 72-57 (6-7)

8) Jeff Normand 71-58 (3-10)

8) Jamie Reamer 71-58 (5-8)

8) Shane Kline 71-58 (7-6)

11) Erik Smith 70-59 (6-7)

11) Corey Taylor 70-59 (7-6)

13) Ryan Polito 68-61 (4-9)

13) Matt Barnes 68-61 (6-7)

13) Andrew Braverman 68-61 (7-6)

16) Jeff Schaffer 67-62 (5-8)

17) Josh Florence 66-63 (6-7)

17) Jake Young 66-63 (6-7)

19) Kevin Hunt 65-64 (7-6)

19) Brian Boesch 65-64 (4-9)

19) Chris Rapking 65-64 (6-7)

22) Chris Woodard 64-65 (4-9)
23) Jason Fazzone 61-68 (3-10)

24) Andrew Reinhart 57-72 (1-12)

25) Devin Frank 55-74 (4-9)
26) Bart Borer 51-78 (2-11)

You know the drill by now. Please make me aware of any discrepancy and we will take a look at it. We have a podcast scheduled for tonight, as Luke Polito bats lead-off in the Luke vs. The League contest. Should be fun.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."