Football Betting Predictions - Week 8
We’ll be here to guide you with weekly picks against the spread every week, and we’re still well above .500 approaching the midway pole. Here are 14 fresh takes for Week 8, with odds coming from FanDuel Sportsbook and Draft Kings Sportsbook.
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (-6): CARDINALS
The Packers have covered or pushed in each of their last nine prime-time games, but they’re extremely shorthanded and running into a juggernaut on the road on short rest. Arizona should be laying a full touchdown.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (-14) AT HOUSTON TEXANS: TEXANS
In two recent games as 14-plus-point favorites, the Rams are 1-1 straight-up and 0-2 against the spread with a scoring margin of only plus-six. Houston should put up a fight at home in Tyrod Taylor’s return.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (-3.5): STEELERS
Too many injury questions for the Browns, and the scrappy Steelers always find a way to compete. They’ve won back-to-back and are healthier and more rested. This’ll be a field-goal game.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-3.5) AT DETROIT LIONS: LIONS
The Lions aren’t a significantly worse team than Philadelphia on paper. They play hard and should also be able to keep this within a field goal at home.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (-3.5) AT CHICAGO BEARS: BEARS
This has almost nothing to do with Chicago and everything to do with the fact the 49ers have no business laying more than a field goal on the road right now. They haven’t won a game since Week 2. Vegas is trying to dupe you with some of these hooks.
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (-3): FALCONS
I wouldn’t touch this game with a 10-foot pole if I had the choice, but I’m not backing Carolina’s offense right now. I’ll take the home team with only a field goal on the line, even if Atlanta by three is by far the most likely result.
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT BUFFALO BILLS (-14): BILLS
The Bills crushed the Dolphins in Miami earlier this year. Now, they’re at home and coming off a bye week, and they should be motivated after a tough loss to the Titans. Will Miami be motivated? Their season is probably already over. This should be another Buffalo blowout.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (-10.5) AT NEW YORK JETS: BENGALS
I don’t feel comfortable backing the Bengals as a double-digit road fave for only the second time in franchise history. New York is at home and could benefit from backdoor business against an inexperienced opponent that might overlook an inferior Jets squad. I wouldn’t be this though.
TENNESSEE TITANS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (-1): COLTS
The Colts have the better quarterback, the stronger DVOA total at Football Outsiders and they’re just about as hot as Tennessee right now. They also need this more. And while it’s possible Derrick Henry will do Derrick Henry things and make me regret this, I’m backing the home squad.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (-6): CHARGERS
Also scary betting against Bill Belichick with six points, especially considering the Pats are coming off a huge win and the Bolts are coming off a huge loss. But L.A. is on extra rest and Justin Herbert should be inspired to pick on a defense that just lost key corner Jonathan Jones.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (-3): SEAHAWKS
So many garbage games with oddsmakers guessing or settling this week. The Jaguars haven’t won on American soil since last September so I’ll roll with the home team with just a field goal on the line.
WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM AT DENVER BRONCOS (-3): BRONCOSÂ
Another example here. Nobody can trust either team, but Washington looks shot and the Broncos are coming in on extra rest.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-5.5) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: BUCCANEERS
The Bucs are starting to dominate now, while the Saints are completely unreliable. They’ve lost another key offensive lineman in Andrus Peat, while Tampa Bay is getting Rob Gronkowski back. This should be at least a touchdown spread.
DALLAS COWBOYS (-2.5) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS: COWBOYS
La’el Collins and Michael Gallup could be back for the Cowboys, who are a whole lot more than a handful of points better than the Vikings. Minnesota barely beat the Lions and Panthers before its bye. Let’s not get carried away.
NEW YORK GIANTS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-9.5): CHIEFS
The Chiefs’ recent struggles and a shocking Week 7 Giants win work to give Kansas City good value here. With so much to prove, no way I’m rolling against Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid in prime time at home.
Archived Week 8 NFL Betting Picks from Nov. 1, 2021
2020 RECORD: 56-43-3
ATLANTA FALCONS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (-2): PANTHERS
I don’t trust the Falcons enough to get behind them as just a two-point road ‘dog, especially on short rest. Plus, Carolina might have Christian McCaffrey back. The Panthers should win, and I’m not getting cute with such a small line. Read our Falcons Panthers pick article for more a deeper dive into the Thursday Night matchup.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (-3) AT DETROIT LIONS: LIONS
This is certainly a low-confidence pick because the Lions aren’t trustworthy either, but Detroit has lost just once since Week 3 and has led by double digits in every game it has played this season. I’ll gladly take a field goal in the Lions’ favor at home, but watch the line moves for Indiana bettors.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (-3.5) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS: DOLPHINS
I can’t justify laying more than a field goal with an overrated Rams team that has cruised through a weak schedule. Miami is gaining steam, coming off a bye and ready to unveil Tua Tagovailoa before a top-heavy defense that has no idea what to expect. This should be close, and I’d give some thought to Miami on the moneyline.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (-2.5): BROWNS
I have zero feel for this game and wouldn’t be shocked if it went either way but the Browns are more talented and laying less than a field goal at home so the choice is obvious.