NFL Week 8 Odds and Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
Here’s a quick look at all Week 8 NFL games, played Sunday unless noted.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills, Thursday
The Bucs have gone into hiding offensively in back-to-back games with many of their fans calling for 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask to replace Baker Mayfield at QB. That’s not expected to happen before Thursday’s game but it might during. Buffalo has one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks in Josh Allen yet also has been a bit uneven offensively in dropping two of three. The Bills have been outscored 24-0 in the first quarter of the last three games and lost the points differential in the first half of those games by 20 points.
Pick ATS: Buffalo (buy down to -7)
Los Angeles Rams at Dallas Cowboys
Dallas comes out of its bye week to play the other Los Angeles team – the Cowboys won 20-17 at the Chargers in Week 6. None of the Dallas wins this year are against teams with a winning record currently. The Rams were up 17-10 at home Sunday in the fourth quarter against Pittsburgh but lost 24-17. Even without No. 1 running back Kyren Williams, who is out again this week, the Rams managed 135 yards on the ground. Rookie WR Puka Nacua had another big game with eight catches for 154 yards.
Pick ATS: Dallas
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
First meeting of the season between NFC North rivals, and Minnesota fans surely are thrilled they don’t have to deal with Aaron Rodgers any longer – although the Vikings did have some success against him. It’s a short week for Minnesota after a 22-17 home upset of San Francisco on Monday. Rookie WR Jordan Addison had his best game with seven catches for 123 yards and two scores. Green Bay came out of its bye with major questions about QB Jordan Love and none were really answered Sunday in a 19-17 loss in Denver, the Packers’ third straight loss. Love threw for only 180 yards and a crushing late pick.
Point spread: Vikings -1
Pick ATS: Green Bay
Atlanta Falcons at Tennessee Titans
In January 2021, the Falcons made Arthur Smith their new head coach, and he should have a reasonable idea of what to expect from the Titans offence as he coordinated that unit from 2019-20. Tennessee comes off its bye week but lost QB Ryan Tannehill to an ankle injury in Week 6. He won’t need surgery but is unlikely for this one so it will either be 2022 third-round pick Malik Willis or 2023 second-round pick Will Levis under centre. The Falcons were 16-13 upset winners in Tampa on Sunday – the first road win in the career of second-year starting QB Desmond Ridder. Stellar rookie RB Bijan Robinson barely got any touches due to an illness. That killed Fantasy players.
Pick ATS: Tennessee
New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis Colts
The Saints played on Thursday in Week 7 and were upset 31-24 at home by Jacksonville. The Derek Carr signing has not worked out yet for New Orleans, which was down a few starting offensive linemen due to injury. He had a pick-six and four shots to tie the game late near the Jacksonville end zone but misfired on all four attempts – although to be fair, tight end Foster Moreau probably should have caught one of them. The Colts lost a wild home game Sunday to Cleveland, 39-38. Gardner Minshew threw for two scores and rushed for two … and also had four turnovers. That’s who he is.
Pick ATS: Indianapolis
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins
Not too long ago, the Pats had a massive advantage at QB in this series with Tom Brady, but it now swung completely Miami’s way with Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins go for the season sweep as they won in New England, 24-17, in Week 2. Tua had one of his worst statistical games of the season with only 249 yards passing, a TD and a pick, but Raheem Mostert ran for 121 yards and two scores. Tagovailoa improved to 5-0 against New England coach Bill Belichick. The Patriots might have saved their season temporarily with Sunday’s upset win over Buffalo, while Miami lost in Philadelphia.
Pick ATS: New England (buy up to +10.5)
New York Jets at New York Giants
Both teams play at MetLife Stadium, so a huge break for the Jets that this is one of their road games. This matchup had a lot of promise entering the season but not so much now. The Jets are off their bye and have salvaged their season for now with QB Zach Wilson getting a bit more confident each week with Aaron Rodgers sidelined – but targeting a late-season return. But it’s the Jets defence that has carried the club to a 3-3 record. The Giants played without starting QB Daniel Jones a second straight game Sunday and Tyrod Taylor led a 14-7 win over Washington. RB Saquon Barkley banged up his elbow, however.
Pick ATS: Giants (buy up to +3.5)
Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers
Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence was a game-time call last Thursday in New Orleans with a knee injury but played and led a 31-24 upset for the team’s fourth straight win. The former No. 1 overall pick actually rushed for a career-high 59 yards, which was obviously unexpected considering the injury and that Lawrence was wearing a brace. No. 1 cornerback Tyson Campbell was out injured. Pittsburgh came out of its bye and rallied in the fourth quarter for a 24-17 win at the Rams. Kenny Pickett at least didn’t turn the ball over.
Pick ATS: Pittsburgh (buy up to +3)
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders
The Eagles go for the sweep as the beat Washington 34-31 in overtime on Oct. 1. The Commanders tied it on a 10-yard TD pass on the final play of regulation and the PAT, but Jake Elliott won it with about four minutes left in overtime on a 54-yard field goal. Philly won a potential Super Bowl 58 preview on Sunday night over Miami, 31-17. Jalen Hurts injured his knee but downplayed it after. Washington lost 14-7 at the Giants. Commanders QB Sam Howell was sacked six more times and is being absolutely battered this year.
Pick ATS: Philadelphia
Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers
The first NFL matchup between the top two picks in this year’s draft, both quarterbacks: Bryce Young of Carolina and CJ Stroud of Houston. Both teams are off their bye. Stroud has been by far the better pro so far and has just one pick, but also likely has more talent around him. Carolina is the only team in the league without a victory, and Young has looked overmatched at times. Expect the Panthers to be sellers again this year ahead of the trade deadline, and No. 1 receiver Adam Thielen would bring back a nice haul. He’s putting up big numbers even though Young (missed one game) isn’t.
Pick ATS: Carolina (buy up to +3)
Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks
Will QB Deshaun Watson play for Cleveland? He was very much in doubt this past Sunday but did start in Indianapolis, only to leave injured again in a 39-38 victory. The points scored were easily a season high but so were the points allowed for that excellent Browns defence. Myles Garrett was sensational, though, with two sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked field goal. He was the first player to record two-or-more sacks, two-or-more forced fumbles and a field goal block in the same game since 2000. Seattle played without No. 1 WR DK Metcalf Sunday but still won 20-10 over Arizona. Kenneth Walker III rushed for a season-high 105 yards.
Pick ATS: Seattle
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos
The Chiefs sweep the Broncos every year and won their 16th straight game (longest active in NFL) in the series just two weeks ago on Thursday night in Week 6, 19-8 at Arrowhead Stadium. Denver totaled only 197 yards. The Broncos have not beaten the Chiefs since Sept. 17, 2015, the year Peyton Manning led Denver to its last Super Bowl title and playoff berth. That was six head and interim coaches ago. Both clubs won Sunday at home, with Kansas City knocking off the LA Chargers and Denver winning at home for the first time under Sean Payton with a 19-17 victory over Green Bay.
Pick ATS: Denver
Baltimore Ravens at Arizona Cardinals
Last week, Cardinals franchise QB Kyler Murray finally returned to practice off his recovery from a torn ACL but wasn’t ready to play Week 7. Doesn’t sound like it will be this week, either, but Nov. 5 against Cleveland. Arizona lost its fourth in a row Sunday, 20-10 in Seattle. Josh Dobbs threw for just 146 yards so this team really needs Murray. The Ravens looked like arguably the AFC’s best team in a 38-6 rout of Detroit. Lamar Jackson threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns, finishing with a near-perfect passer rating of 155.8. He also ran for a TD.
Pick ATS: Baltimore
Cincinnati Bengals at San Francisco 49ers
The Bengals come off their bye week at 3-3 despite some very uneven play by QB Joe Burrow after he missed all of camp and the preseason with a calf injury and then tweaked it early in the season. He has played every game but not looked like the MVP candidate he was expected to be yet. The bye might have been ideal for him. It’s a short week for the Niners as they played without two Pro Bowlers in receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Trent Williams on Monday in Minnesota and lost a second straight game, 22-17. Christian McCaffrey did score a TD for a 16th consecutive game.
Point spread: 49ers -5.5
Pick ATS: Cincinnati
Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday night game and surprisingly it wasn’t flexed out. Not a lot of great options to replace it in Week 8 honestly. Chicago played without QB Justin Fields on Sunday due to a thumb injury and undrafted free agent and ex-Division II star Tyson Bagent played mistake-free football in an upset of the Raiders. The Chargers lost in Kansas City and continue to shoot themselves in the foot. Coach Brandon Staley once was a linebackers coach in Chicago.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles
Las Vegas Raiders at Detroit Lions, Monday
Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t having a very good season for the Raiders, but they clearly missed the injured Jimmy G on Sunday in an ugly 30-12 loss in Chicago. Journeyman Brian Hoyer threw for 129 yards and two interceptions before being pulled and third-string rookie Aidan O’Connell was 10 of 13 for 75 yards with a touchdown and interception. Too early to know who might start Monday – could be Garoppolo. The Lions played easily their worst game of the season in a 38-6 loss in Baltimore. No. 1 running back David Montgomery was out injured.
Pick ATS: Las Vegas