NFL Week 8 Odds and Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
Here’s a quick look at all Week 8 games, played Sunday unless noted.
Baltimore Ravens at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Thursday
Matchup of former NFL MVPs in Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson – I think he wins another in his career – and Bucs QB Tom Brady (he’s done winning the award with three). Baltimore comes off a 23-20 home win over Cleveland. In his season debut off injury, Gus Edwards rushed for two scores. The Tampa Bay offence is simply broken right now as the Bucs were stunned 21-3 as double-digit favourites at Carolina on Sunday. Top defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. suffered a concussion and is not expected to play here.
Pick ATS: Baltimore
Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars
Maybe going to London and playing at 9:30 a.m. ET at Wembley Stadium will solve the Broncos’ broken offence. They were downright terrible again Sunday in a 16-9 home loss to the Jets, although starting QB Russell Wilson was out injured – only the fourth game he has missed in his 11-year career. Not clear yet if that hamstring will allow him to play here. Jacksonville lost its fourth in a row Sunday, 23-17 vs. the Giants. Jags receiver Christian Kirk was stopped at the New York 1-yard line as time expired.
Pick ATS: Jacksonville (alternate line of -3)
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
These teams will play again in less than two weeks – Thursday night in Week 10. Carolina surprised Tampa Bay on Sunday and interim coach Steve Wilks already has said that former third-string QB PJ Walker would start again under centre this week regardless of the injury status of Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. Atlanta was routed 35-17 at Cincinnati. Marcus Mariota completed just eight passes for the Falcons.
Pick ATS: Atlanta
Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys
Short week for the Bears as they visited New England on Monday to close Week 7. QB Dak Prescott returned from injury for the Cowboys on Sunday and Dallas beat Detroit 24-6. He threw for a score and that terrific Dallas defence forced five turnovers.
Pick ATS: Dallas (alternate line of -9.5)
Miami Dolphins at Detroit Lions
Current Lions head coach Dan Campbell was a former Miami interim coach. Campbell might be a former Lions head coach soon if the team doesn’t turn things around as Detroit lost its fourth in a row Sunday and looked quite bad doing it in Dallas. Jared Goff threw two picks and lost two fumbles, but there’s no scuttlebutt that he’ll be benched. Miami got starting QB Tua Tagovailoa back from injury on Sunday night and beat Pittsburgh 16-10 thanks to two interceptions of rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett in the game’s closing minutes.
Pick ATS: Miami (alternate line of -2.5)
Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings come out of their bye on a four-game winning streak and leading the NFC North. Arizona was a 42-34 home winner over New Orleans on Thursday in Week 7. Marco Wilson and Isaiah Simmons scored touchdowns on two pick-sixes late in the first half. DeAndre Hopkins had 10 catches for 103 yards in his season debut off suspension.
Point spread: Vikings -3.5
Pick ATS: Minnesota (alternate line of -3)
Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints
Call this the Party Bowl! No two more fun cities in the USA than Las Vegas and New Orleans. Las Vegas beat Houston 38-20 on Sunday as Josh Jacobs rushed for 143 yards and three second-half touchdowns. He became the first Raider to rush for more than 100 yards in three straight games since Napoleon Kaufman in 1997. Jacobs is the sixth player in the past six seasons with three 100-plus-yard rushing games in a row. The Saints lost 42-34 at Arizona last Thursday as Andy Dalton was intercepted three times, two returned for scores. Coach Dennis Allen hasn’t said whether Dalton or Jameis Winston would start here.
Pick ATS: New Orleans
New England Patriots at New York Jets
The Patriots are on a short week after hosting Chicago on Monday to close Week 7. Mac Jones returned from injury at quarterback. The Jets lost running back Breece Hall, who had been the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, to a torn ACL in Sunday’s 16-9 win. The team then traded for Jacksonville running back James Robinson.
Pick ATS: New England
Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles aren’t the Super Bowl betting favourites as the NFL’s lone unbeaten coming out of their bye, but they are NFC favourites and Jalen Hurts is among the MVP leaders. Pittsburgh lost 16-10 in Miami on Sunday night. Rookie QB Kenny Pickett, who was cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol Friday, was 32 for 44 for 257 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.
Pick ATS: Pittsburgh (alternate line of +10.5)
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans
Tennessee won its fourth in a row Sunday, 19-10 over Indianapolis. Derrick Henry had third straight 100-yard rushing game, finishing with a season-high 128 yards on 30 carries. QB Ryan Tannehill injured his foot but should be good to go. Houston lost 38-20 at Las Vegas on Sunday. Davis Mills completed 28-of-41 passes for 302 yards, two touchdowns and one pick-six interception.
Pick ATS: Tennessee
Washington Commanders at Indianapolis Colts
Interesting these teams are playing because Colts owner Jim Irsay last week basically said the league had the votes to get rid of controversial Commanders Dan Snyder. Wonder if Snyder will make the trip. Embattled Colts coach Frank Reich has had enough of Matt Ryan turning the ball over as he has benched the likely future Hall of Famer for 2021 sixth-round QB Sam Ehlinger, who has never attempted a regular-season pass. Washington rallied to beat Green Bay, 23-21. QB Taylor Heinicke, making his first start of the season in place of injured Carson Wentz, threw for two touchdowns and was 20 of 33 for 200 yards after starting 1 of 7 for 14 yards with the interception.
Pick ATS: Indianapolis
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams
The Rams come out of their bye struggling big-time on offence but still right in the NFC West race. The Niners made a big splash last week in trading for Panthers Pro Bowl running back Christian McCaffrey. He had 62 yards offence in his Niners debut but San Francisco was routed 44-23 at home by Kansas City. San Francisco beat the visiting Rams 24-9 on Monday night in Week 4 – the Niners’ seventh straight regular-season win in the series. They scored once through the air, on the ground and on defence.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles
New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks
The new NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite is Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III after he had 168 yards rushing and two scores Sunday in an upset win at the LA Chargers. Seattle wideout DK Metcalf was carted off with a knee injury in the first quarter and probably misses at least one game. The Giants continue to surprise as they won a fourth straight Sunday, 23-17 in Jacksonville. They stopped the Jags at the 1-yard line as time expired. The Giants (6-1) have matched their best start since 2008.
Pick ATS: Seattle (alternate line of -2.5)
Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills
The Sunday night game and looked like a potential Super Bowl preview entering the season. The Bills, off their bye, have done their part behind MVP betting favourite Josh Allen. The Packers, behind four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, haven’t. They lost a third straight in upset fashion Sunday, 23-21 at Washington. Rodgers just doesn’t have much receiving help. It’s the team’s longest skid since 2018.
Pick ATS: Green Bay
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns, Monday
Cincinnati beat Atlanta 35-17 on Sunday behind 481 yards passing and three touchdowns and a 1-yard run for a score from Joe Burrow. He became the first QB to have five games of 400 yards or more in his first three seasons. Cleveland dropped its third in a row, 23-20 in Baltimore. Tight end David Njoku hurt his ankle and will miss 2-5 weeks. The Browns swept the Battle of Ohio last year even though the Bengals were AFC North champions.
Pick ATS: Cincinnati (alternate line of -2.5)