NFL Point Spreads Week 8: Best Picks Against the Spread

Another week, another potential season-ending injury for a starting quarterback in the NFL as the Cardinals’ Carson Palmer broke his left arm in a blowout loss in London to the Rams. Arizona is on the bye this week along with Green Bay, Tennessee, the Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants and Jacksonville. Here’s a quick look at all the Week 8 matchups with Sports Interaction NFL odds. Games Sunday unless noted.

Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens, Thursday

Miami won’t have QB Jay Cutler for this one after he cracked some ribs in Sunday’s come-from-behind victory over the Jets. Backup Matt Moore led the rally with two fourth-quarter touchdown passes. Baltimore’s Joe Flacco, meanwhile, struggled again in a 24-16 loss at Minnesota. Last year, while Cutler was still with Chicago, the Ravens crushed the visiting Dolphins 38-6. Flacco had maybe his best game of the past few seasons with 381 yards passing and four touchdowns. Miami was held to 277 yards with Ryan Tannehill under center.

Point spread: Ravens -3
Pick ATS: Baltimore

Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns

The final London game of the season with a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff from Twickenham Stadium – the second week in a row that venue hosts an NFL game. That’s a first. The Browns can’t win in the United States so maybe this is just what they need. They got the Titans to overtime on Sunday but lost 12-9. Minnesota beat Baltimore 24-16 for its third straight victory.

Point spread: Vikings -7.5
Pick ATS: Cleveland

Oakland Raiders at Buffalo Bills

Oakland saved its season with a wild 31-30 come-from-behind home win over Kansas City last Thursday night. However, the Raiders will be without running back Marshawn Lynch for this one as he was ejected for contact with a referee and suspended one game (barring an unlikely successful appeal). Buffalo rallied for a 30-27 home win over Tampa Bay. The Raiders beat the visiting Bills 38-24 last year in Week 13 even though Buffalo led 24-9 with about five minutes left in the third quarter. It was Oakland’s biggest comeback win since 2000.

Point spread: Bills -3
Pick ATS: Oakland

Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals

Once again, no Andrew Luck for the Colts; it was thought the franchise quarterback was getting close to a return from shoulder surgery, but he had a setback last week and now his season is in jeopardy. Indy was bombed at home by Jacksonville 27-0 on Sunday. It was the first time the Colts were blanked since a 41-0 loss to the Jets in a playoff game on Jan. 4, 2003. Cincinnati managed just 179 yards and one second-half first down in a 29-14 loss in Pittsburgh.

Point spread: Bengals -10
Pick ATS: Indianapolis

Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots

We all know that Tom Brady is a lock Hall of Famer, but the Chargers’ Philip Rivers also will be in Canton someday. The Bolts have won three in a row after starting 0-4. They got their first victory in L.A. on Sunday, 21-0 over Denver. Travis Benjamin returned a punt for a score and caught a 42-yard TD pass from Rivers. The Chargers had lost seven consecutive home games dating to last season in San Diego. New England dominated Atlanta in a Super Bowl rematch, 23-7, for a third straight win.

Point spread: Patriots -7
Pick ATS: New England

Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints

You aren’t supposed to win a game when your quarterback has four completions but that’s what the Bears did Sunday, 17-3 at home over Carolina. Chicago’s two touchdowns were both courtesy of rookie safety Eddie Jackson, who returned a fumble 75 yards and an interception 76. Jackson is the first Bears player with two defensive TDs since 1948. New Orleans won its fourth straight game, 26-17 in Green Bay, clearly benefitting from Aaron Rodgers being out injured.

Point spread: Saints -7.5
Pick ATS: New Orleans

Atlanta Falcons at New York Jets

Potential letdown game for Atlanta off its Super Bowl rematch at New England in Week 7. The Falcons were pushed around in that one, 23-7, in a third straight loss. The Jets blew a 28-14 fourth-quarter lead in Miami and lost 31-28. Josh McCown threw an inexcusable interception in the final minute to set up the Dolphins’ winning field goal. It was first time since 1995 the Jets lost a game after leading by at least 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Point spread: Falcons -4.5
Pick ATS: Atlanta

San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles

Looks to be the mismatch of the week with the Niners still one of two winless teams remaining and the Eagles with the best record in the NFC entering Week 7. However, it’s a short week for Philadelphia after hosting Washington on Monday night. San Francisco had lost an NFL record five straight games by 3 points or fewer but was blown out at home Sunday by Dallas, 40-10. Rookie C.J. Beathard made his first career start at quarterback and threw for 235 yards but lost two fumbles.

Point spread: Eagles -10.5
Pick ATS: Philadelphia

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Matchup of former No. 1 overall picks, Heisman-winning quarterbacks and NCAA national champions in Carolina’s Cam Newton and Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston. Both NFC South teams come off road losses in Week 7. The Bucs swept the Panthers last year in two close games. It was 17-16 in Tampa to close the regular season. Carolina went for a 2-point conversion in the final seconds with nothing to play for and failed.

Point spread: Bucs -2.5
Pick ATS: Tampa Bay

Houston Texans at Seattle Seahawks

Possible Super Bowl preview? Could be. The Texans are off their bye week, while the Seahawks won a third straight, 24-7 at the Giants. Russell Wilson threw for 334 yards and three scores, and the Seattle defense allowed just 177 yards. It’s two exciting mobile quarterbacks in Houston rookie Deshaun Watson and a guy he has been compared to frequently in Seattle’s Wilson.

Point spread: Seahawks -5.5
Pick ATS: Seattle

Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins

Washington was in Philadelphia on Monday night. Dallas played its best game of the season in a 40-0 victory in San Francisco. Ezekiel Elliott, who originally was to start serving his six-game suspension in Week 7, rushed for 147 yards and two scores while also catching a 72-yard TD pass. It’s possible the NFL could get an appeals court to reinstate that suspension this week. The Cowboys swept the Redskins in 2016 but only by a combined nine points.

Point spread: TBA
Pick ATS: TBA

Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions

The Sunday night game. Detroit comes off its bye week. It’s the first prime-time meeting ever between these franchises in a series that dates to 1934. Pittsburgh dominated the Bengals 29-14 on Sunday in holding Cincinnati to 179 yards. Le’Veon Bell had 192 yards from scrimmage. Pittsburgh has never lost when gets at least 25 carries.

Point spread: Steelers -3
Pick ATS: Detroit

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs, Monday

These AFC West rivals also close the regular season against one another. Kansas City was the last team in the NFL to lose but has since dropped two straight to fall back to the pack in the AFC as its defense has sprung leaks. Denver has lost back-to-back games and been terrible offensively in them. It was shut out Sunday for the first time in 25 years. The Chiefs swept the Broncos in 2016, an overtime thriller in Denver and a 33-10 blowout in Kansas City on Christmas.

Point spread: Chiefs -7
Pick ATS: Kansas City