Who says you can’t go home again?
Week 8 of the NFL season is headlined by Aaron Rodgers reunion with the Green Bay Packers as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and it’s anyone’s guess as to how the former league MVP will be received.
However we’ve got some other fascinating games on the schedule in the lead up to that primetime contest starting with Friday’s clash between the Chargers and Vikings with both sides desperate for a win.
Then on Monday the Broncos will try and back up their epic win over the Giants with another home game against the Cowboys.
It’s all happening over the next few days in the NFL and we’ve got you covered with our Week 8 preview below.
Injuries have derailed both of these teams seasons as they try to keep pace with their fast moving divisions.
LA is at 4-3, the same as Kansas City and one game behind Denver, while Minnesota at 3-3 is at the foot of the NFC North, a game and a half behind Green Bay at 4-1-1.
It sounds like the visitors will be starting Carson Wentz again but that’s not exactly a bad thing as he has gone 2-2 and lead the Vikings to at least 20 points in all four of his starts.
The Chargers have come unstuck with injuries all over the place but Justin Herbert has been moving the ball at will no matter who is playing, especially in the last two weeks beating Miami and struggling to keep up with the red hot Colts.
I’m expecting points in this game, not entirely sure from who exactly but we should see both teams finding the end zone with some regularity.
Jordan Mason and Keenan Allen have combined for eight touchdowns on the season with both scoring touchdowns last week.
Let’s be honest, the Ravens season is pretty much over and done with, needing to win nine of their last ten to have even an outside shot of making the playoffs.
But let’s just play a game, it sure sounds like Lamar Jackson is going to return to the lineup for the first time since September 29 and he might just be the spark that give their stagnant offence life.
It won’t come easy against the red hot Bears who have won four straight and are in the ultra-competitive AFC North.
I’m not entirely sure if Chicago is ready to win a game like this in a hostile environment, and Baltimore will get a boost from Jackson’s return.
But the Ravens defence is just awful at the moment, and there is value to be had in the Bears capitalising on a run defence that has been gashed in just about every game.
D’Andre Swift has been on a hot streak out of the bye for the Bears with 232 rushing yards and another 81 receiving plus a touchdown in each game.
His stat markets might be the best options in a game where we should see plenty of hand offs.
Carolina is one of the biggest enigmas in the NFL, winning their last three and four of their last five but questions still remain over whether or not they are good.
Are we going to get the team that ran over Miami and Dallas or the one that had a no-show in New England?
No Bryce Young is worth taking note of, but there is not a huge drop off to Andy Dalton.
We know Buffalo is good, but they have been playing well below their expected level the last few weeks and the hope in western New York is that the bye week will help them straighten things out.
One of their biggest concerns is a run defence that has only really stopped the Jets so far this season, which is not a good lead in to face Rico Dowdle who has been one of the breakout players of the last month.
That line market looks about right and I like the Bills to win a close game, but Dowdle could be set for another big day on the ground as Carolina keeps it close.
Cleveland’s defence will determine how this game unfolds because if it shows up to play, they are a real chance of upsetting New England.
Turnovers are the one thing that has brought the Patriots undone this season and that Browns defensive line will be liking their chances of not only containing the run game, but keeping Drake Maye in check.
The Browns will have to find a way to keep New England under 20 and create some scores on their own either through defensive touchdowns or just giving Dillon Gabriel possession in field goal range.
It is a lot of pressure to put on one unit and it might be too much for the Browns against a disciplined New England team.
Points will be at a premium because the Browns will keep it close but I can’t back against New England at the moment.
Atlanta couldn’t back up their big win over Buffalo last week, producing a no-show in their 20-10 loss in San Francisco.
But they have the perfect opportunity to bounce back against a hapless Miami team that already looks like they want the season to come to an end.
Let’s not overcomplicate this one, Atlanta is going to ride their stars to a big win in this game and I’m not expecting this to be overly competitive.
The Giants are a fun team to watch, but boy would you hate to be a fan of them over the last ten years.
Last week in Denver they perfectly summed up their problems, blowing a three score lead in the fourth quarter with a historic collapse.
Granted, the Eagles might be one of the most dysfunctional defending champions we have seen, but this seems like a really bad spot for the Giants.
There has to be some sort of lingering hangover and I think this might be the perfect spot for the Eagles to exact some revenge after their 34-17 defeat in the Meadowlands two weeks ago.
The Jets suck, but for a while they might have thought this was their best chance at the first win of the Aaron Glenn era.
That was until Joe Flacco tore up the Steelers defence last week and all of a sudden this Jets team is hoping that Tyrod Taylor is the saviour at quarterback.
We all know that’s not going to happen, the Bengals might not be that good but they are capable of handling this hapless Jets team.
Punters are flocking to San Francisco already with the 49ers dropping from $2.10 to $1.94 a long way out from kickoff.
Despite an injury depleted roster, the 49ers are 5-2 and are (slight) outsiders against a 2-4 Texans team that appears to be sleepwalking through their schedule.
It sure looks like those two wins over the atrocious Titans and Ravens in back to back weeks were a false dawn and they can’t compete with even average teams.
Will happily jump on the 49ers and if they move into favouritism I’d be happy to bet them up to -2.5 without a second thought.
I’m willing to forgive Tampa’s loss in Detroit last week, it was a rough night against one of if not the best team in the NFC and the Bucs also lost a couple of key contributors during the game.
It sucks to see Mike Evans lose his streak of 1000 yard seasons but that receiving group is going to get healthier as the season goes along.
It does open up more opportunities for their young receivers who will get to develop with Baker Mayfield who just keeps producing each week.
Those injuries might stop this one being a blowout but Mayfield should be able to pass Tampa to victory.
It might not be time to completely buy in on Denver but we’re getting pretty close after that epic come from behind victory last week.
You can ignore all of the criticism saying they got lucky or the Giants stuffed it up, those don’t happen by some weird fluke.
The Broncos showed just how explosive their offence can be and it will have to be firing on all cylinders as they take on a Cowboys team that seems destined to play in high scoring contests every single week.
Dallas has scored 26 touchdowns this season and let up 24 so getting this price on both teams to score three in this game looks like the best bet in the market.
Another game there is no need to overthink, this one could get very ugly very quickly.
We have to start treating the Colts like a good team and at 6-1 they deserve the benefit of the doubt.
Tennessee is not a good team and they just had their run defence gashed by New England, so it could be a huge day for Jonathan Taylor.
Well this won’t be awkward at all, two and a half years after exiting the hallowed halls of Lambeau Field, Aaron Rodgers will face the side he won a Super Bowl and multiple league MVPs with.
The Steelers are 4-2 at the moment, but it does feel like they are a bit of a paper tiger who are not as good as their record might suggest.
Meanwhile, Green Bay is battling through games but they don’t quite look like the Super Bowl contenders some feel they should be with this roster.
In a situation like this I’m going to side with the better team that has room for improvement rather than the one that feels like overachievers.
Rodgers will make enough plays to keep the Steelers in it but Green Bay will find a way to win a close one.
Kansas City is back and they looked scarily good against Las Vegas last weekend.
Now they welcome a Washington team that is missing its quarterback again and we’re somehow expecting the Commanders to be competitive.
Ahead of next week’s massive clash with the Bills, I’m expecting a statement of intent from the reigning AFC Champions.
Chiefs by a lot.
2024
A full slate of 16 games awaits us for Week 8 of the NFL season with plenty of intriguing matchups in a week that is lacking a true blockbuster bout.
Friday’s all-NFC clash between the Rams and Vikings might wind up being the best game of the week with the Rams set to welcome Cooper Kupp back and Minnesota looking to rebound from their first loss of the season.
Monday wraps up with the Cowboys visiting the injury ravaged San Francsico 49ers in a game that has no shortage of history behind it.
Check out our full Week 8 preview and best bets for every NFL game below.
Undefeated no more, the Vikings have no time to dwell on last weekend’s game as they have a quick turnaround to take on the depleted LA Rams.
On the plus side, Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford will be very happy to see Cooper Kupp return to the lineup, but before you decide to go back him for 10 catches, 100 yards and a touchdown, it sounds like he will be on a restricted snap count.
LA’s defence is not awful by any means, but there might have been a false dawn against Vegas last week, forcing four turnovers against that awful Raiders team.
Minnesota on the other had a decent game and just fell short against another very strong team in Detroit.
There is a bit of a concern about their defence getting torched by the Lions and that brings the over into play if the Rams can find a way to 20+ points, something they can do if Stafford and Kupp can link up for a couple of big plays.
However the Vikings are just the better team and if they can keep things balanced, they should be able to outscore this version of the Rams.
SGM: Minnesota to Cover -3, Over 48 Points, Aaron Jones 60+ Rushing Yards, Justin Jefferson 75+ Receiving Yards @ $6.50
In a bizarre scheduling quirk, the 4-3 Bucs and 4-3 Falcons face off for the second time this month and we can only hope it is half as entertaining as their 36-30 overtime thriller.
That game began a rough stretch for Tampa’s defence which gave up 27 to a wretched New Orleans team in one quarter (aided by a few turnovers from Baker Mayfield) and 41 to Baltimore last week.
Kirk Cousins torched Tampa for over 500 yards last time out and while he probably won’t need to throw for that many yards this time around, he has to be relishing the opportunity to go at this team once again.
It’s tough to see a way the Bucs stay competitive in this game with their receiver room losing its two stars in Mike Evans (hamstring) until Week 11 and Chris Godwin (ankle) for the season.
Baker Mayfield will find a way to move the ball and put up some points, but with a depleted supporting cast that will only take them so far.
SGM: Atlanta to Cover -2.5 & Over 46 Points @ $3.36
No player is under more pressure this week than the returning Tua Tagovailoa, as he has been anointed the saviour of the Dolphins offence that has collapsed in a heap in his absence.
We all know his history with concussions and the risk he is accepting going back onto the field, but from a pure game perspective, it is tough to expect him to come back and not need a re-acclimation period.
Arizona has shown itself to be a stubborn and tough team that can scrap their way through most games, even if they come out on the wrong side from time to time.
There is the concern about travelling cross country on short rest but the confidence of last week’s winner over the Chargers should give them a real confidence boost heading into this game.
Arizona to Win @ $2.45
Cleveland got the quarterback change they desperately needed although it has come a few weeks too late to save their season.
Jameis Winston will start this divisional game and he brings a wildcard element to the Browns offence, as they try to break 20 points for the first time.
However they will need to score a lot more than 20 to have any chance against this red hot Baltimore offence.
Lamar Jackson threw for five touchdowns in a blowout win in Tampa on Monday Night Football with Derrick Henry rushing for 169 yards.
The Browns have had a couple of decent defensive performances this season but the Ravens are just too good at the moment.
Baltimore to Cover -13.5 @ $2.40
Green Bay had their hands full with Houston last week but found a way to win and they should feel pretty good about how they came out of that game.
Meanwhile, Jacksonville comes back from a fortnight in London with just their second win of the season, although it might have come at a cost, realising they have saved Doug Pederson’s job for the next few weeks.
But that win came over a dysfunctional and rubbish Patriots team so let’s not pretend the Jags have suddenly turned the corner.
Green Bay is the better team and they should easily account for a Jags side that still has a lot to work out.
Green Bay to Cover -4 @ $1.90
The Colts might have won their last two and four of their last five, but they have not exactly inspired a lot of confidence during that run.
They might get put in their place over the next three weeks with away games in Houston and Minnesota followed by a visit from Buffalo.
That has all the makings of a three game losing streak and a season that has offered some hope for the future.
But their chances of beating Houston this weekend are miniscule at best, with the Texans coming off a frustrating loss, they seem primed for a bounce back here.
Houston to Cover -5 @ $1.90
If you are sitting through all four quarters of this game you deserve a personalised letter from Roger Goodell, Robert Kraft and Woody Johnson because you have to be a dedicated Pats or Jets fan.
Back in Week 3 the Jets manhandled the Patriots in a 24-3 win and they head into this game as deserved favourites, but with they way they are playing it is tough to back them to win by more than a touchdown.
That is of course until you realise just how bad New England has been in the last couple of weeks, especially defending the run.
Breece Hall put up 178 yards in a snowstorm during his last visit to Gillette Stadium and that total looks like a good over/under line.
The Pats can’t stop the run and Hall might set a record for most carries in a game as the Jets roll.
NY Jets to Cover -7 @ $1.90
In the ultimate sign of disrespect, this game was originally set for a featured late-afternoon timeslot before it got moved to the early window.
With the way both teams have underachieved this season, it kind of makes sense and it’s hard to see either team recording a convincing win.
Cincinnati just has not been able to click and it showed as they ground out a win over Cleveland last week, while Philadelphia destroyed the Giants thanks to the added motivation of Saquon Barkley’s return to the Meadowlands.
The latter result does come with the asterisk of the revenge game, something that is lacking here and we might see the Eagles return to their old dysfunctional selves.
Both teams need this game in the worst possible way but the Bengals need it a bit more and that might be the difference in a game of inches.
Cincinnati to Win by 1-13 Points @ $2.25
Fresh off beating the Vikings in Minnesota, the degree of difficulty for the Lions drops significantly with the Titans coming to town.
Tennessee traded away their one capable receiver in DeAndre Hopkins and the rest of their offence looks thoroughly underwhelming.
No need to overcomplicate this game, Detroit by a lot.
Detroit to Cover -13.5 @ $2.10
If there is a case to be made for New Orleans to win this game, I am yet to discover it.
Their long list of injuries means they are essentially fielding a team of backups and XFL level players and they look like they are on the verge of quitting this season.
They did nothing at home against Denver in Week 7 and this Chargers team should see this as a great way to bounce back from a disappointing loss against Arizona.
If they can’t win this one, then alarm bells should be sounding on Jim Harbaugh.
LA Chargers to Cover -7.5 @ $1.94
It is easy to see why Buffalo will start this game as a slight favourite in the market, but this has all the warning signs of a potential trap game.
For starters, this is a long cross-country flight and their fourth away game in five weeks and travel fatigue might be a factor.
Not to mention, Seattle has scored 20 or more points in every game this season and they have the capacity to match Buffalo point for point.
In a straight up pick, Buffalo is still a worthwhile choice, but with both teams having potent offences (even if DK Metcalf misses this game), the over looks like a far safer bet.
Over 47 Points @ $1.90
Bryce Young is back for Carolina this week and he has been handed a nightmare first start back.
Denver just demolished the Saints who are one of the few teams battling as much as Carolina is at the moment, except New Orleans has the excuse of injuries.
The Broncos defence might outscore the entire Carolina team this week.
Denver to Cover -10 @ $1.90
What was supposed to be a battle between the top two picks in the draft might be a bit of a ho-hum encounter with Jayden Daniels under a massive injury cloud.
For the sake of clarity, let’s assume the Commanders rookie is going to miss this game since it seems like that is what the market is assuming.
Chicago is on a whole other level to the Carolina team Washington destroyed last week and Caleb Williams continues to go from strength to strength in his rookie campaign.
Coming into this game fresh off the bye, Williams has a chance to build on his four touchdown day in London in his last start and if Washington is starting Marcus Mariota, help the Bears to their fourth straight win.
Chicago to Cover -2.5 @ $1.90
This is not meant to be a pun about the Chiefs tight end’s girlfriend, but the visitors being double digit favourites in this market comes down solely to reputation, rather than production this year.
Yes, they are 6-0 but they have not played well at all on offence and their highest score to date is 28 points.
Not to mention, the last team they lost to was Las Vegas and this game has all the makings of a back door cover with a garbage time Raiders touchdown.
With all of that being said, I’m going with the reputation of the reigning champs and will back them to win big in Vegas.
Kansas City to Cover -10 @ $1.90
This pick is almost destined to fail, but this version of the 49ers should not be favoured right now.
In the interests of brevity, let’s just say a lot of key players are injured and Dallas is coming into this game with a point to prove.
Mike McCarthy is coaching for his job and as we have seen in the past, desperation is a wonderful motivator.
At 3-3 the Cowboys need to start winning games and they have had a fortnight to stew over their last up embarrassment at the hands of Detroit.
Dallas to Win @ $2.60
Taking the Steelers with any handicap seems like a massive risk and it probably is.
However they looked good with Russell Wilson running the offence against the Jets, posting their best offensive day of the season as well as their highest score.
If that was not enough, then perhaps backing against the Giants is the better logic for this pick, with the visitors getting humbled in their last game against the Eagles.
Daniel Jones is still starting and he just does not have the supporting cast he needs on offence.
Pittsburgh to Cover -6.5 @ $1.90
2023
It’s a full weekend on NFL action with all 32 teams on deck, starting with Friday’s cross conference clash between the Bills and Buccaneers.
Monday’s action is headlined by two Super Bowl contenders Cincinnati and San Francisco facing off in the 7:25am (AEDT) window, in what could be a preview of February’s title game in Las Vegas.
Week 7 produced plenty of upsets and drama, will Week 8 be able to top it?
We’ve got you covered as always with our best bets below!
Something is definitely off with the Buffalo Bills at the moment, with the team really struggling to go on with their 3-1 start.
It’s not as though they have had the toughest schedule either, losing to the Jets in the game they lost Aaron Rodgers, the Jaguars in London and last week against a Patriots team they have owned for the last few seasons.
In their defence they did record convincing wins over Las Vegas, Washington and Miami, the latter being their best performance of the season.
On paper they should absolutely blow out this Buccaneers team but based on recent results, it’s hard to have any confidence in their ability to do what is expected of them.
Tampa has a couple of players battling injuries including Baker Mayfield, Chris Godwin and Vita Vea, the latter could be the biggest absence as the Bucs try to slow down Buffalo’s offence.
I’m steering clear of the result market here, this game just has too much up in the air to settle on a likely outcome, instead I’ll have a SGM on the Bills passing attack which has been able to move the ball in spit of the scoring woes taking on a vulnerable Bucs secondary.
Josh Allen has had at least 225 passing yards in five of his seven starts and multiple touchdown passes in the same rate, with Stefon Diggs his go-to receiver, going over 100 yards in five of his last six games.
SGM: Josh Allen 225+ Pass Yards & 2+ Pass TD, Stefon Diggs 90+ Receiving Yards & Anytime TD @ $3.26
Could the fire sale be on in Tennessee?
After trading impact safety Kevin Byard to the Eagles during the week, it’s fair to wonder if this is going to be a farewell game for a few key players.
Running back Derrick Henry has been the face of the franchise for almost 9000 yards and 81 touchdowns but his name keeps popping up in trade discussions and he could be shipped out after this one.
He will have his work cut out for him with the Falcons giving up under 70 yards per game on the ground in the last three weeks.
While the Falcons have lost eight of their last nine away games, Tennessee is going to be asking a lot of Malik Willis or rookie Will Levis who will be starting at quarterback in place of Ryan Tannehill.
Atlanta still has some issues on offence as well but they have the talent with Kyle Pitts and Drake London to have success against a Titans secondary that has lost its leader.
I’ll take Atlanta to win a close one in spite of their poor road record.
Atlanta to Win by 1-13 Points @ $2.25
The top two picks in the 2023 NFL Draft face off in the pros for the first time and… it probably will be on a slightly less glamourous stage than their college days where they made their names despite never playing one another.
Carolina just isn’t having a good season, going 0-6 to date and having their issues exposed for all to see.
Houston won three of its last four heading into their bye and most impressively, it came against a couple of other decent teams.
Nobody is going to think the Texans are Super Bowl contenders all of a sudden but DeMeco Ryans has them pointing in the right direction and I like them to win and cover here.
Houston to Cover -3 @ $1.90
The Jags are starting to find an identity thanks to a fortnight in London that helped kick start their four game winning streak.
Heading into their Week 9 bye will feel a lot better if they are able to make that a five game run rather than dropping this game against Pittsburgh.
Perhaps the only question hovering over them entering this game is on the injured knee of Trevor Lawrence, although he looked alright against the Saints in their win last Friday (AEDT).
The Steelers will have to hope their defence has the recipe to slow down the Jags offence because if this one becomes a shootout, they just won’t be able to keep up with an offence that looks like it’s moving in mud more often than not.
Assuming Lawrence is good to go and he can keep away from TJ Watt, I like Jacksonville to come away with the win.
Jacksonville to Cover -2.5 @ $1.83
On paper this should be Dallas by a lot, but the Cowboys’ form leading into their bye did not exactly inspire confidence.
After getting blown out by the 49ers, they stayed in California and were able to just get by the Chargers in an ugly game.
Not exactly the same team that blew out the Giants, Jets and Patriots in the opening month.
As for the Rams, they are better than plenty expected them to be this season, in large part because they just have too much talent to bottom out completely.
Outside of one bad game against the 49ers, they have kept every other opponent to 24 points or less including the Seahawks and Bengals to under 20.
Offensively the Rams have been moving the ball but the points are not there although their ground game is starting to generate some movement.
Dallas should win this game but the under is where the value looks to be, Aaron Donald and company look like they’ll be able to slow down the Cowboys just enough to give themselves a chance.
Under 45.5 Points @ $1.90
This might be an overreaction to Kirk Cousins lighting up the 49ers defence on Monday Night Football last week, but the Vikings suddenly find themselves in an advantageous position.
Even though that win probably ruined a few multis and survivor pools, it showed that the Vikings still have some fight even without their best offensive player Justin Jefferson.
Now they have a chance to go on a decent winning run with a soft schedule coming up and get back into playoff contention.
Green Bay on the other hand might not have it this season and falling to 2-5 with a loss here might be the final nail in their 2023 coffin.
It’s a bit of a surprise to see this game as a pick but I’m not complaining about the Vikings value.
Minnesota to Win @ $1.90
Speaking of teams that ruined plenty of multis last week, the New England Patriots had their best win of the Mac Jones era.
It really doesn’t change a whole lot in terms of evaluating the Patriots for the rest of the season, they still don’t look that good.
Miami will be fuming after a frustrating loss in Philadelphia last week and they have the comfort of knowing Tua Tagovailoa has never lost to Bill Belichick in his NFL career.
The Dolphins also took the Week 2 game in Foxborough 24-17 and it could have been by a lot more if they needed it to be.
Miami to Cover -8.5 @ $1.90
One of these teams will surprisingly end the week at 4-4 and very much in the hunt for a Wild Card spot.
The Saints finally found some offence last week, and based on the problems the Colts had slowing down a PJ Walker lead Browns team, they should be able to move the ball here.
Same goes for Indianapolis who are working Jonathan Taylor back into the lineup after his contract dispute, last week we went for 75 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
I think the head to head market is spot on, this is basically a toss up but whoever wins is going to need to find a way to get into the mid-20’s if not higher.
Over 43.5 Points @ $1.90
Local derbies in the NFL don’t quite have the same fire as they do in the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga because of the conference structure Stateside.
However both teams will be desperate to pick up a win in this game and keep their respective seasons alive.
The Jets sit at 3-3 with surprising wins over the Bills and Eagles thanks in large part to their defence.
As for the Giants, they have endured a nightmare campaign with injuries at just about every position on the roster and still have a slim path at 2-5, but these are the games they have to win.
Unfortunately for the team in blue, that Jets defence looks poised to feast on the undermanned Giants line and this one could get ugly.
NY Jets to Cover -3 @ $1.98
Some teams just match up better with others, allowing them to stay competitive despite a massive gap in talent.
Washington should have no chance against Philadelphia but they keep finding ways to give them fits, taking them to overtime in Week 4 at the Linc.
If there is one more game the Commanders will get up for this is it, then it might be all downhill for the rest of the season.
While they might have to do it the hard way, I like the Eagles to win and keep their momentum going.
Philadelphia to Win by 1-13 Points @ $2.05
Maybe it’s a stretch but right now, the Cleveland Browns do not make sense in the modern NFL.
Despite their all star quarterback struggling with a shoulder injury and having to turn it over to a backup who has been rather underwhelming in his career to date, they are 4-2 and very much in the mix for a playoff berth and the AFC North crown.
That boils down to the play of Myles Garrett and the Browns defence which is as good as it gets on its day.
Seattle can beat bad teams and even though their stadium is not quite the imposing venue for visitors it was a decade ago, it is still a tough trip to make.
However their offence is struggling with turnovers, committing five in their last two games and if they give the Browns extra possessions, it is a recipe for disaster.
Even in 2023, defensive players can be difference makers and Garrett is as good as it gets, he could single handedly win this one for the Browns.
Cleveland to Win @ $2.55
Let’s keep this one nice and simple, it looks like Arizona’s early season fight is starting to evaporate with four straight double digit losses dropping them to 1-6.
This is not a good team and the water is finding its level.
Baltimore might be the most in form team in the AFC and they just had their best performance of 2023, dismantling Detroit thanks to Lamar Jackson’s MVP-level performance.
I’m not expecting this to be close.
Baltimore to Win by 14+ @ $2.50
While the popular Super Bowl pick is Kansas City and Philadelphia (again), these are two teams that are more than capable of making it to Las Vegas in February.
In most instances a team losing their starting quarterback to a concussion should see the market swing the other way, but San Francisco is so stacked across the board the potential absence of Brock Purdy resulted in only a minor movement of the line.
With Purdy playing a supporting role, the potential drop off to Sam Darnold might not be that drastic.
Where San Francisco really has to worry though is on the defensive side of the ball, with the Browns running over them in Week 7 before Kirk Cousins shredded their secondary in Week 8 as they dropped both games.
Joe Burrow looks like he is back to full health after his preseason calf injury and he will be eyeing off a big day against the 49ers.
With both offences set to move the ball, I’m liking the over in this market.
Over 43.5 Points @ $1.90
It feels like it’s almost a compliment that the Chiefs are at 6-1 and nobody feels like they are playing anywhere near their best.
They are grinding out wins by relying on their key players in big moments and just doing enough, like they did against Denver a fortnight ago.
That was far from their best game and they still won it 19-8, although Denver’s struggles probably played into that.
With a game against Miami on the cards for Kansas City in Week 9, maybe Kansas City gets caught looking ahead, which at least gives Denver a chance of keeping it close.
But you have to go with the Mahomes and Kelce combination because they just always seem to find a way to get the job done.
Kansas City to Cover -7 @ $1.87
The schedule bot has not served up a lot of great games this week, but leaving this one as the prime time feature really should be considered a violation of the broadcasting laws.
LA should be in a much better spot than 2-4 but their innate ability to get in their own way makes them a frustrating team to follow and bet on.
As for Chicago, well there was a slim chance they were going to be alright this year but that chance did not involve Tyson Bagent starting at quarterback for an injured Justin Fields.
You can’t even take that win over Las Vegas last week as anything noteworthy considering the visitors were playing Brian Hoyer at quarterback.
It’s with a whole lot of trepidation but the expectation here is for the Chargers to actually look like a good team and stomp the daylights out of the hapless Bears.
LA Chargers to Win by 14+ @ $2.40
Just like one win does not make the Bears a decent team all of a sudden, one loss (albeit a big one) does not mean fans should be jumping off the Lions bandwagon.
Unless the come out and produce a no-show at home in primetime (which seems unlikely), the plan is to chalk that loss in Baltimore up to a bad day at the office, everyone has those.
It sounds like things are going from bad to worse in Las Vegas with rumours coming out now that Josh McDaniels has lost the locker room and is headed for the exit door, likely by force.
At least when they scheduled this one it looked like it might be a decent game, but Detroit will have this one covered.
Detroit to Cover -8 @ $1.90
2022
As we approach the midway point of the 2022 NFL season, plenty of teams are now facing major dilemmas about how to approach the rest of the campaign.
16 clubs, or half the league has either three or four wins and outside of the big three, we are seeing that anybody can beat anybody depending on who shows up on the day.
The results of Week 8 will give a few teams a push one way or another with the trade deadline looming and some may opt to go for it while others may decide to focus on 2023.
Before that though there are plenty of big games to get through, starting with Tampa Bay taking on Baltimore on Friday (AEDT) and the action wraps up on Melbourne Cup Day with the battle of Ohio that should be finished before Race 7 at Flemington jumps.
Read on for our previews and best bets for every NFL Week 8 game below!
Quite a lot has changed since Baltimore last came to Raymond James Stadium in October 2014.
On that day, the Joe Flacco lead Ravens put up five passing touchdowns in the opening 16 minutes of the game on their way to a 48-17 win over the Mike Glennon Quarterbacked Bucs.
Now it’s Tom Brady and Lamar Jackson in charge of their respective offences and all you can really say about this market is that the Brady name still carries plenty of respect.
Despite losing four of their last five and managing a paltry three points against the Carolina Panthers, Tampa has shifted into (slight) favouritism at publish.
Baltimore on the other hand has looked much better at time, but cannot seem to escape their frustrating inconsistency, repeatedly blowing big leads.
There is a real temptation to back Tampa Bay because common sense would suggest that at some stage Tom Brady is going to look like Tom Brady and get this offence going.
However the Bucs have given up over 150 rushing yards and if there is one thing Baltimore knows how to do, is run the ball.
This has all the makings of a primetime Lamar Jackson game where he takes over and single-handedly carries the Ravens to another win.
SGM: Baltimore to Win, Lamar Jackson Over 62.5 Rush Yards and Anytime TD Scorer @ $5.86
The people of London may look to ban the NFL from ever playing at Wembley again after this matchup between teams with a combined 4-10 record.
Jacksonville has shown flashes but continues to be plagued by turnovers and other assorted mistakes while Denver is turning into the league punchline after acquiring Russell Wilson.
Neither team has been that kind to punters either, each going 2-5 against the spread and anything relating to the winner of the game just screams stay away.
Six of Denver’s seven games have gone under the total points line and even if Wilson returns from injury, it’s not like he’s orchestrated a high flying offence when he’s been playing.
First team to 17 wins this.
Back Under 39.5 Points @ $1.90
The story has been out there for a while, the jokes have been made and this is the week to decide if you want to buy in on the Kyler Murray-Call of Duty connection.
With the new game coming out this week, there is statistical evidence that his performance drops off whenever the new edition is released.
Not to mention a lunchtime kickoff against day game specialist Kirk Cousins suggests everything is working against the Cardinals here.
Getting DeAndre Hopkins back was a big help for the Cardinals offence and should make Murray’s life a bit easier, but their defence gave up 34 in defeat to the Saints and the Vikings have an offence just waiting to explode.
This could be the game that comes and we see them going up and down the field.
Back Minnesota to Cover -3.5 and Over 49.5 @ $3.70
Two teams that were expected to be in the mix for the first overall pick this year could be facing off for first place in the NFC South.
Atlanta’s run of covering in every game this season came to an end in Cincinnati last week but they still have the offence to give them a realistic shot in games against teams like Carolina.
The Panthers put a week of turmoil behind them, putting in their best performance of the season in a 21-3 win over Tampa Bay, however it’s tough to see them being able to keep pace with the Falcons here.
It might not always be pretty but the Falcons firepower will be enough to get them home against the Panthers.
Back Atlanta to Cover -4.5 @ $1.90
While plenty of blame went towards the Patriots no-show performance, some credit has to go to a stifling Bears defence and Justin Fields taking control in their Week 7 win.
Seeing how they back it up against a Cowboys team that is lead by a ravenous defence and complemented by an explosive offence will be very interesting.
Dak Prescott’s return went as well as the Cowboys could have hoped and he will have to be on his game against a stout Bears secondary.
Not to mention Justin Fields having to deal with the headache known as Micah Parsons, this should be a low scoring defensive oriented battle.
That makes the 9.5 point line just a bit too high for comfort and instead I’ll settle on the under.
Back Under 42.5 Points @ $1.90
Despite his meltdown in Arizona last week, New Orleans appears to be sticking with Andy Dalton as the starting quarterback despite Jameis Winston returning to health.
It was the worst performance Dalton has had in relief but it’s still somewhat surprising that he has held onto the job.
On the plus side they are still have enough healthy stars to make things happen with the likes of Alvin Kamara, Taysom Hill and the emerging Chris Olave.
As for the Raiders there’s a number of question marks coming from their first practice report of the week but chances are they will still be able to play with Hunter Renfrow, Davante Adams, Darren Waller and Josh Jacobs.
If anything changes with their availability it will alter the pick but assuming they are good to go we’re going to see plenty of points.
Back Over 49.5 Points @ $1.90
It took a few weeks but it seems like the Lions offence has been figured out by the rest of the NFL.
After averaging 35 points per game in Weeks 1-4, the Lions have amassed a grand total of six points in their last two games.
Miami is good enough to keep that trend going and even if there are a few misfires from Tua, all they will need to do is get into the high teens with the help of a few turnovers from their defence.
Back Miami to Cover -3.5 @ $1.90
This is easily the biggest game between the Jets and Patriots since Week 16, 2015 when the Jets won 26-20 in overtime to keep their playoff hopes alive (before they were extinguished the following week).
At 5-2, the Jets have every right to feel disrespected as underdogs against a Patriots team that barely fired a shot in anger against the Bears last week.
Admittedly losing rookie running back Breece Hall to a torn ACL is a big blow however they went out and addressed that instantly with a trade for James Robinson from the Jaguars.
It might put a bit more pressure on Zach Wilson who still looks like he has a way to go as a starting quarterback, but he brings a wildcard element to the team that will make their life a lot easier.
Meanwhile Bill Belichick is still trying to work out which of his two quarterbacks he wants to go with but until he settles on one starter and stops trying to overcomplicate things, it’s tough to expect much from the Patriots.
Back the NY Jets to Win @ $2.15
It’s the battle of Pennsylvania as the Eagles look to move to 7-0 on the season.
Perhaps the only concern is that their Week 7 bye might have stalled a bit of the momentum they have been building but the quotes from Jalen Hurts have only been encouraging this week.
Not to mention the bolstering of their pass rush with a trade for Robert Quinn from the Bears suggesting they are more than happy to go for it this year.
This is a game you can look to buy a few extra points and take the Eagles to run away with this one as the Steelers try and keep the reigns on Kenny Pickett.
Back Philadelphia to Win by 14+ @ $2.15
Questions have to be asked about why this game is being played in the late afternoon window considering one of the participants.
There may also be a few questions getting asked of the line being less than a field goal in favour of the Titans.
Tennessee is an impressive 4-2 against the spread and will be one of if not the best bets of the entire week.
Short of Derrick Henry getting lost and winding up in San Antonio, the Titans should easily run away with the game.
Back Tennessee to Cover -2 @ $1.90
There was always going to be a game between teams with a winning record in Week 8, but few would have expected it to be between the 4-3 Seahawks and the 6-1 Giants.
Most will feel like they are both overachieving and at some point the bubble is going to burst for one if not both teams.
Despite their impressive record, the Giants are once again underdogs on the road and are at a similar price to last weekend’s win in Jacksonville.
Seattle is not an easy place to travel to but the Giants just seem to have something about them and the way to go is to ride the hot hand.
Back NY Giants to Win @ $2.30
If you compare both of these teams, you will find a disturbing amount of similarities between the stories of their seasons so far.
Both have three wins despite being expected to be amongst the contenders once again, both are dealing with major injuries and both will be hoping to go on a run in the second half of the season.
The Rams have looked incredibly clunky in their Super Bowl defence, struggling to shut down teams on defence while also seeing their offence look out of sync.
However they are coming off a bye where they will be hoping that a lot of their ailments will have cleared up and they will be able to exact revenge on a 49ers team they have already lost to once this year.
San Francisco sought to improve their offence with the trade of Christian McCaffrey, but it did not help a depleted defence that was torched by Patrick Mahomes last week.
Those absences should be able to be exploited by Sean McVay and when you’ve got two evenly matched teams, the home underdog offers value.
Back LA Rams to Win @ $2.02
If you had seven games in the “How Long Would Matt Ryan Last as Colts QB” sweepstakes you can cash that ticket.
Benched allegedly for injury, it seems like the former Falcons signal caller is done in Indianapolis with Sam Ehlinger thrust into the starting role.
He will face off with Washington’s replacement quarterback Taylor Heinicke and it’s shaping up as a low scoring battle between two struggling offences.
Sure Brian Robinson will be worth tuning in for when Washington has the ball but beyond that, just check the box score at the end of the game.
Back Under 39.5 Points @ $1.90
Nobody can blame the NFL for putting this game on in primetime when the schedule came out, but they cannot catch a break here.
Green Bay is struggling in every imaginable way, Aaron Rodgers is calling out his teammates in the media and they just look disjointed.
Buffalo is one of the three best teams in the NFL and on their day, is impossible to stop.
Having had a bye to celebrate their win over Kansas City, the Bills can now turn their attention towards securing the top overall seed in the AFC and they should destroy the Packers.
Back Buffalo to Win by 14+ @ $2.05
It looked like things are turning around in Cincinnati with Joe Burrow absolutely torching the Falcons last week for the second straight 30+ point game.
Now he gets to turn his attention to a Browns team that has lost four straight and is giving up 26.5 points per game on the season and 28.5 over their last four.
Unfortunately for him, he will have to do it without his favourite target Ja’Marr Chase who has been ruled out for at least a month with a hip injury.
Even so, you still have to like Burrow’s chances against a struggling Browns secondary with the likes of Tee Higgins etc still taking to the field on Monday Night Football.
Back Cincinnati to Cover -3.5 @ $1.90
2022
A massive 15 game slate makes up Week 8 of the 2021 NFL season.
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers’ trip to the Caesars Superdome headlines what promises to be a very competitive weekend of action.
But before we reach our massive Monday slate, we have a possible preview of the NFC Championship Game as Arizona hosts Green Bay.
We’ve previewed every game below so read on and see who we are backing.
While a 31-5 win over Houston probably didn’t help or harm their case either way, the Cardinals right now are the best team in the National Football League, at least by record.
They put their unbeaten start to the season on the line when they host a Green Bay team likely missing one of its premiere offensive weapons.
Receiver and punters’ favourite Anytime Touchdown Scorer DaVante Adams is currently on the Covid-19 reserve list and seems unlikely to be able to test out of the protocol and be cleared to play.
On the plus side, they do still have the Aaron double act with Rodgers and Jones still set to take to the field.
That should allow them to keep it close against a side they will have to go through in the playoffs.
Expect them to go heavy on the ground game to try and keep it away from Kyler Murray and ask the Cardinals to execute at a consistently high level.
Back Green Bay to Cover +6.5 @ $1.90
It was fun while it lasted but it certainly looks like the Panthers have entered “stay away” territory, at least until Christian McCaffrey returns from his hamstring injury.
Since that evening in Houston when they went to 3-0, the Panthers have floundered badly, losing their next four games including an embarrassing 25-3 defeat against the Giants last week.
There will be no respite anytime soon with their bye not coming until Week 13 so Matt Rhule and company will just have to grit their teeth and get through it.
Atlanta on the other hand is starting to click thanks to the emergence of rookie tight end Kyle Pitts.
They have won three of their last four and all of those games have been decided by four points or less, so I’ll back another close contest as these NFC South rivals add another chapter.
Back Atlanta by 1-13 @ $2.40
The NFL has taken notice of Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
For the bulk of the last 10 years, would have been a “don’t watch, don’t bet” game but now you can’t wait to see what the Bengals will do to their opponents.
A week after giving up 54 points to a limited Patriots team, it does not get any easier for the Jets, who do not have anyone capable of covering Ja’Marr chase.
New York has struggled against the line this season, only covering once so far and I’ll back not only a Bengals cover but record a big win against an overmatched team.
Back Cincinnati by 14+ @ $2.20
It’s not very often a nine point win would be considered a “lucky escape” but in a mismatch of epic proportions, the Lions threw everything they had at the Rams who came through for the win.
Houston is the other kind of overmatched team that is not that good, but doesn’t have a coach that has motivated his team to actually try.
Go all in on the Rams to come away with a massive win as they belt a Texans team that is already thinking about the draft.
Back Los Angeles to Cover -14.5 @ $1.94
It’s no surprise to see Buffalo favoured by two touchdowns in this game, but the Bills off a bye against a division rival is far from a sure thing.
The Dolphins are coming off a tough loss against Atlanta but they are very familiar with this weekend’s opponent.
A win might be asking a bit much of the Dolphins but if they can find a way to move the ball on a hot and cold Bills defence, a single digit defeat is certainly possible.
Back Miami to Cover +14 @ $1.87
This is the bet for the brave.
For the last two months, the Lions have toiled away, losing seven from seven, some in heartbreaking fashion and in one instance, bringing their coach to tears.
Common sense would dictate backing against them every week, but it’s hard to count out a bad team that just doesn’t want to give up.
Detroit is not a very good side but they are not 0-17 bad, they will win one.
This might be the week it comes, they will be feeling good after putting a scare into the Rams last weekend and take on an Eagles side that has not been impressive at all.
I’m taking the Lions to break their duck this week.
Back Detroit to Win @ $2.40
In all honesty, a cursory look at the line for this game should have had most punters jumping on the Browns favoured only by a field goal.
Then you remember the messy injury state of the Browns roster and until you get the final inactives before kickoff, it makes a bit more sense.
It sounds like Baker Mayfield will miss another game which means you will have two very limited quarterbacks taking to the field, but the Browns stable of running backs continues to produce although life might be a bit tougher against a stingy Steelers front.
While this might not be the most confident play of the season, I’ll have a punt on the Browns getting Nick Chubb back and the combination of him and D’Ernest Johnson should be able to grind out a win for the Browns.
Back Cleveland to Cover -3.5 @ $1.90
For just the third time this season, the total points number in a game will sit under 40 points.
Usually when it is that low it is down to one or two reasons, you have a pair of very limited offences of apocalyptic weather.
In this case it is the former as we have two sides that really can’t move the ball, Chicago has only scored more than 20 points once while the 49ers have picked a bad time for a case of the turnovers.
While the other two games that have had points totals in the 30’s went over, it is hard to see either team managing to reach 20 points in this game.
Back Under 39.5 Points @ $1.90
Something is being missed with this market to have the Colts as favourites over the red-hot Titans.
Perhaps Tennessee is trending towards a letdown, but after recording massive back to back wins over AFC rivals the Ravens and Chiefs, they can take full control of the AFC South with a win over their nearest contender here.
At 5-2 they are tied for the best record in the entire conference and would open up a nearly unassailable lead in the division.
I’m not buying the Colts just yet, even after winning three of their last four games and the price here seems completely wrong.
Back Tennessee to Win @ $1.94
Seattle struggled in defeat against New Orleans last week, but Geno Smith could be in for a big day against a porous Jaguars defence.
If he is able to play a clean game and avoid turnovers, the Seahawks should be able to take care business at home and pick up a much needed win at 2-5.
Of course that also involves having faith in Geno Smith, a quarterback who has not been credited with a win as a starter since October 2016, and in that game he only played into the second quarter.
His last win and complete game came in Miami in December 2014, when he was with the Jets.
On second thought, take the over.
Back Over 43.5 @ $1.90
Less than 12 months ago the Patriots came into SoFi Stadium and blasted the Chargers off the turf, winning 45-0.
Quite a bit has changed for both of these teams since that one sided affair and now, even with the Patriots scrapping to get every little bit out of their middling talent pool, this line seems generous for Chargers punters.
The home side have had a whole fortnight to dwell on their reality check defeat in Baltimore before the bye and seem primed for a bounce back game.
New England will be feeling good after putting up 54 points on the Jets and looking forward to taking on a vulnerable Chargers run defence but Justin Herbert will be equally confident facing a Patriots secondary that has had its struggles this year.
New England will keep it close for a while but Mac Jones will just not be able to keep up with Herbert.
Back LA Chargers to Cover -5 @ $1.90
Tom Brady came into the Superdome last season and ended the career of Drew Brees, before overtaking him as the NFL’s all time passing yardage leader.
Tampa Bay is scoring for fun and even against a stout Saints defence, Brady should have no trouble picking them apart.
He has thrown for at least three touchdowns in four games so far this season and I’ll back him to make it five against his division rival.
Should he have another big day through the air, the Saints won’t be able to keep pace with Tampa’s offence.
SGM: Buccaneers to Cover -5.5, Tom Brady 3+ TD Passes
On a four game losing streak with Dallas up next, Denver will need a big confidence boosting win from this game if they are to have any hope of salvaging their season.
Washington has a limited offence that has scored a grand total of 23 points over the course of their last two quarters.
This will be a defensive battle with both teams desperately trying to get into scoring range.
If either team hits 20 it would be a big surprise.
Back Under 44.5 @ $1.90
Get ready for a Sunday Night Football shootout as Dallas heads into the dome in Minnesota.
With both teams coming off a bye we should be in for a high quality feast of offensive play, especially with Dallas having scored at least 35 points in each of its last four games and the Vikings playing a very hit or miss style of defence.
On the other side, Minnesota had its best performance of the season putting up 34 points in an overtime win in Carolina.
Having had a week to get healthy, Minnesota will push the Cowboys all the way but Dallas might just be the best team in the NFC and I’m not backing against them.
Back Dallas to Cover -1.5 & Over 55.5 Points @ $3.75
The Chiefs are not the Chiefs we have become accustomed to over the last few seasons but they still have the talent to take care of the Giants.
It was a huge boost for them when the news came through that Patrick Mahomes had cleared his postgame concussion test and would be good to go this week.
While they did manage to hold Carolina to just three points last week, the Chiefs talent should see them move the ball at will.
As long as this line stays in its current range, I’ll take the Chiefs.
Back Kansas City to Cover -9.5 @ $1.94
2020
We’ve officially reached the midway point of the 2020 NFL season as we begin to gain a clearer understanding of which teams might be left standing come January.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are the only remaining undefeated team heading into Week 8 as Mike Tomlin’s side prepares for a pivotal game against the rival Baltimore Ravens on Monday.
Seven other divisional rivalry games make up the bulk of this week’s slate, the most intriguing of which comes in the late window between the Seahawks and the 49ers from Seattle.
With plenty to dive into, we’ve analysed all 14 games in our 2020 NFL Week 8 Preview below.
The Falcons and the Panthers kick off one of seven division rivalry games this week with both sides looking to bounce-back from a pair of respective losses.
Carolina has lost back-to-back games to Chicago and New Orleans and are basically fighting for life now at 3-4 behind the Saints and the red-hot Buccaneers.
Atlanta, meanwhile, managed to blow a lead for the third time this year in a last second loss to the Detroit Lions last week at home.
Christian McCaffrey remains a question mark to play at time of publish, and despite practicing throughout the week, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Panthers chose to rest him again with a game against the Chiefs ahead in Week 9.
The Panthers also defeated the Falcons 23-16 when these two sides met only three weeks ago in a game Teddy Bridgewater dominated throwing for over 300 yards and a pair of scores.
Like we saw last week, the Falcons are capable of challenging just about anyone offensively, but this Panthers secondary is much tougher than Detroit’s.
Carolina has sneakily been tough to score against through the air, but where the Falcons might have the advantage is on the ground.
Todd Gurley was enormous last week against the Lions, while the Panthers also rank Top 10 in rushing yards allowed.
There’s a very good chance this game turns into a shootout, so go ahead and take Gurley to score.
Tip: Todd Gurley Anytime Touchdown Scorer @ $1.70
It’s always a special occasion when the Bills and the Patriots get together, only this time around, things are a little different.
New England has dominated this fixture winning 10 of the 12 meetings dating back to 2014, but with Tom Brady gone and the offence struggling to find points, the Bills suddenly have a great opportunity to buck the trend.
Sean McDermott’s side is desperate to return to the form that saw them open the season 4-0.
The Bills lost back-to-back games to the Titans and Chiefs last month, while their 18-10 win over the hapless Jets last week left a lot to be desired.
New England, on the other hand, are in all sorts of trouble.
After showing so much promise to start the season, Cam Newton has suddenly reverted back to his old ways throwing a bunch of interceptions, which in turn has placed the defence under enormous pressure in back-to-back losses to the Broncos and Niners.
That being said, this does shape up as a potential trap game for Buffalo based on how they’ve defended the run recently.
The Bills were gashed by the ageing Frank Gore last week and have now allowed the eighth-most rushing yards in the league.
Bill Belichick tends to save his best coaching for division opponents, so all it might take is Newton to find his feet and a concerted effort from the Patriots’ running back committee to keep this game close.
Tip: Back the Patriots to Cover the Line (+3.5 Points) @ $1.90
The Packers got back on track last week with a big win over the Texans after being embarrassed by the Buccaneers the week before in Tampa Bay.
Even with Aaron Jones on the sidelines, Green Bay’s offence moved methodically down the field all day as Aaron Rodgers put on an absolute show with one of the league’s top receivers, Davante Adams.
The Packers own a win over the Vikings once already this year in what was also a dominant display from the duo.
Despite what the final score suggests, Green Bay tore apart Minnesota 43-34 back in Week 1 as Rodgers and Adams hooked up for a whopping 156 yards and a couple of scores.
As the odds suggest, it’s difficult to see the Vikings winning this one.
The Packers have won each of their last eight home games dating back to last season and have also won three straight over the Vikings.
With LaFleur dialing up a crazy amount of motion and jet sweep plays, the Packers should have no trouble tearing apart a Vikings defence that has allowed the 10th most points in the league.
Tip: Back the Packers 1-13 @ $2.25
This shapes up to be one of the most one-sided games in recent history between the 6-1 Chiefs and the winless Jets.
New York is sporting a very unflattering +19.5 head start at the line, while you can also take $10.00 about the Jets straight up.
Really though, the Chiefs should win this comfortably based on the fact the Jets rank Top 10 in points and passing yards allowed this season.
To their credit, the Jets actually gave the Bills a run for their money last week, but it’s still difficult to see New York’s offensive line coping with a Kansas City pass rush that has tallied 16 sacks in seven games.
Le’Veon Bell is also facing his former team, which stands out as the only interesting subplot worth mentioning.
Tip: Jets Under 14.5 Total Points @ $1.91
There is no love lost between the Ravens and the Steelers as both sides prepare to write another chapter in their epic rivalry.
The Ravens have now won three straight following their blowout loss to the Chiefs in Week 3, although it is a little surprising to find them so heavily favoured against the only undefeated side remaining in the league.
Taking nothing away from their 5-1 record, Baltimore has enjoyed a fairly comfortable stretch of schedule over the last three weeks with games against Washington, Cincinnati and Philadelphia.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, comes into this game a little more battle tested after holding off the Titans last week in one of the games of the season.
The Steelers were seriously undervalued last week against Tennessee and it appears the bookies still aren’t taking them seriously.
Plenty are overanalysing Ben Roethlisberger’s three interceptions last week, but so long as the Steelers continue to run the ball with ease and get big stops on defence, this team looks a shoo-in to go deep into the playoffs.
It’s worth noting the Steelers haven’t won in Baltimore since 2018, so the safest play here is definitely at the line.
When you consider Pittsburgh has allowed the fewest yards overall in the league as well as the fourth-fewest points, this really shapes up as one of the top value bets of the week.
Tip: Back the Steelers to Cover the Line (+4 Points) @ $1.91
The Titans were handed their first defeat last week in a fairly honourable loss to the Steelers.
After trailing 24-7 at half-time, the Titans roared back in the second half to lose by only three points – a performance Mike Vrabel’s side is sure to build on on their way to another division title.
Cincinnati has been a frisky team all season and they were definitely deserving of a second win last week against the Browns.
In similar fashion, the Bengals actually led 17-10 at half-time, right before Cleveland piled on 20 points in the fourth quarter to walk away with the victory.
The Bengals have definitely improved on last season and they are more than capable of putting up some points on a Tennessee defence that has struggled to contain the pass.
Cincinnati has been an outstanding bet at the line covering in five of their seven games, while they’ve also gone 7-1-3 over the last 12 months on the back of a loss.
Many teams have struggled against this Bengals receiving core, and with a big game against the Bears ahead in Week 9, there’s a very strong chance the Titans might just overlook this one.
Tip: Back the Bengals to Cover the Line (+5.5 Points) @ $1.91
It’s been tough to get a read on the Browns and Raiders this year, so this game should tell us plenty about who is contending and who might just be pretending.
Cleveland has opened at -2.5 in the early market, which seems about right based on the Raiders’ double digit loss to the Buccaneers last week.
The Browns, on the other hand, had their own struggles against the Bengals in what was a fairly unconvincing first half performance.
These two sides don’t get together very often, in fact, they’ve only met three times over the last six years.
Vegas has won two of those meetings, but with the secondary really battling to combat the pass, it’s fair to say this one might turn out close.
If you’re a Raiders fan, the good news is the Browns are now even shorter at wide receiver with Odell Beckham Jr ruled out for the year with a torn ACL.
The loss means Baker Mayfield will now be missing his favourite target, while Kevin Stefanski will also need to find a substitute on trick plays.
For as bad as the Raiders have been defensively through he air, the Browns have been just as awful in the red zone.
Cleveland has allowed the second-most points in the league behind the Cowboys, so with that in mind, the Raiders do stand out as a good value bet to bounce back.
Tip: Back the Raiders to Cover the Line (+2.5 Points) @ $1.91
The Rams managed to silence some of their critics last week with a 14-point drubbing over the Bears on Monday Night Football.
Defensively, LA was outstanding forcing two interceptions off Nick Foles, while the Rams also did well to hold the Bears to under 300 yards of total offence.
The Dolphins head into Week 7 fresh from a bye and they have to feel pretty good about themselves at 3-3 knowing they could still sneak a Wild Card berth.
To add to the intrigue, first round pick Tua Tagavailoa will also make his first start of the season after flashing some promise two weeks ago in Miami’s win over the Jets.
This is sure to be an exciting game if you’re a Dolphins fan, but there’s no denying this is a daunting task for the former Alabama star against one of the fiercest pass rushes in the NFL.
So far the Rams have accounted for 24 sacks in seven games, tied for the third-most in the league.
On the plus side, the Dolphins have allowed only 10 sacks in six games and have also held their own in both facets of the game defensively.
Better yet, the Dolphins are 3-2 since 2015 on the back of a bye, so there’s a bit to like about Miami at least keeping this interesting.
Tip: Back the Dolphins to Cover the Line (+3.5 Points) @ $1.91
This shapes up to be one of the toughest games of the week from a betting perspective.
Now at 3-3, the Lions have suddenly re-entered playoff calculations following last week’s walkoff win over the Falcons, while the Colts continue to hang tough at 4-2 coming off the bye.
Both sides rank bottom ten in points scored this year, so there’s a good chance this turns into a low-scoring day – especially if the Colts’ defence can perform at its best.
Defensively Indianapolis has allowed the third-fewest points in the league so far, largely due to the fact they’ve forced 10 turnovers in just six games.
The added rest should also benefit the Colts, especially when you consider how close the Lions came to losing to the hapless Falcons last week.
Indianapolis has gone 4-1 overall following the bye since 2015, so go ahead and back the Colts in a tight one.
Tip: Back the Colts 1-13 @ $2.45
A battle between two AFC West cellar dwellers kicks off the late afternoon window.
Both at 2-4, this shapes up as a must-win game if either side holds even the faintest hope of snagging a Wild Card spot.
The Broncos felt the full force of Kansas City last week in their 43-16 loss, while the Chargers were big winners against Jacksonville thanks to a huge 300-yard day from rookie quarterback Justin Herbert.
Denver’s long list of outs has made scoring almost impossible over the last month and it’s hard to see them turning things around against a Chargers defence that has been very tough to run against all year.
The Broncos have won their last two games against the Chargers, but this doesn’t shape up as an overly favourable game for Denver.
Los Angeles is notorious for blowing games like this, but everything points to the Chargers covering.
Tip: Back the Chargers to Cover the Line (-3 Points) @ $1.90
The Saints have steadied the ship with three cheap wins over the Lions, Chargers and Panthers, but they’re about to face a much tougher test on Monday against a Bears team hungry to bounce back
Chicago lost quite convincingly last Tuesday to the Rams, a performance Nick Foles and the rest of the offence will be looking to put behind them.
The Bears’ defence has carried them to a winning record all season, but they do look undervalued here laying +4.5 at the line.
All signs point towards Michael Thomas missing another game with a hamstring injury, a huge loss for Drew Brees when you consider the Bears have allowed the fewest passing touchdowns to opponents all season.
New Orleans actually won at Soldier Field this time last year defeating the Bears 36-25, but a lot has changed since then.
Aside from last week, the Bears typically don’t give up points very easily, so there’s a good chance New Orleans struggles to put points on the board.
Tip: Saints Under 24 Points @ $1.85
These two sides have put on three absolute classics over the last two seasons, and if this game turns out anything like last December’s meeting, we should be in for a real treat.
San Francisco’s goal line stand in the final seconds denied the Seahawks the NFC West crown, and it’s safe to say Monday’s game should go a long way to determining the division once again.
The 49ers looked done and dusted a month ago but have since risen to win back-to-back games over the Rams and Patriots quite convincingly.
Seattle remains one of the teams to beat in the NFC, although the defence does look a little vulnerable now after suffering their first loss of the season last week against the Cardinals in overtime.
Since 2015, the Seahawks have been the most profitable side to bet on following a previous loss winning 22 of their 28 games.
Considering San Francisco’s recent wins have only come against two questionable teams, you have to like Seattle to get some revenge on their rivals.
Tip: Back the Seahawks 1-13 @ $2.25
The NFC East might just be decided this week between the 2-4-1 Eagles and the struggling 2-5 Cowboys.
Philly held on for a less-than convincing win last Friday against the Giants and have the extra two days rest to their advantage coming into this game.
As a result, the Eagles have opened at -9 in the market, which might seem a little generous at first glance, at least until you factor in Dallas’ woeful loss last week against Washington.
On paper, the Eagles are set to receive a boost in the form of Miles Sanders, while the Cowboys might be forced to start Ben DiNucci under centre if Andy Dalton fails to pass the concussion protocol.
Obviously Dalton’s status will determine this game (and the spread) one way or another, but either way, the Eagles are tough to tip against.
Tip: Back the Eagles to Win & Under 43.5 Total Points @ $2.30
Tampa Bay have opened as double-digit favourites on Tuesday when they take on the 1-6 Giants at Metlife.
The Bucs have now rattled off two blowout wins over quality opponents in the Packers and Raiders, while the Giants continue to find new ways to lose.
Tom Brady was quite easily the biggest individual winner last week throwing for over 350-yards and four touchdowns against Vegas, and there is a very realistic chance he can put up similar numbers against a New York secondary that has allowed the eighth-most passing yards in the league.
Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Gronk, Scott Miller and Leonard Fournette are a tough combination for even the league’s top defences to handle, and based on everything we’ve seen from Brady in the last few weeks, this one should be nothing short of a blowout.
Tip: Back the Bucs to Win & Over 46.5 Total Points @ $2.20
2019
We’ve officially reached the midway point of the season as several contenders continue to emerge. On paper, this mightn’t be the most exciting slate, but we should learn plenty more about the NFC with a key game between the Panthers and the Niners on Monday morning.
Bookending Week 8 is a pair of not-so exciting primetime affairs. This week’s Sunday Night Football game at Arrowhead holds plenty of playoff implications in both conferences, although we have been robbed of an Aaron Rodgers v Patrick Mahomes duel.
There’s certainly a lull in terms of excitement, but typically speaking, these are the kind of weeks that bring upsets with teams coming off the bye or needing a rest. So, if you’re looking to back a winner, be sure to check out our entire NFL Week 8 Preview below.
It might feel as though the Packers are running away with the NFC North, but the Vikings are hot on Green Bay’s heels with a 5-2 record.
Minnesota has now won three-straight games as they prepare to face the 1-6 Redskins at home on Friday. For the third straight year the Vikings’ run defence has been superb, while the suddenly in-form Kirk Cousins continues to throw dimes.
The Redskins are a moral for a top three pick this season with injuries mounting. Last week’s 9-0 loss to the Niners came as no shock, and with only two rushing touchdowns to their name through seven weeks, it’s difficult to see Washington mustering much offence in this one.
Mike Zimmer’s defence is tied with San Francisco for the fewest rushing touchdowns allowed this season. Considering the Redskins ran for only 104-yards total last week, we should see much of the same from Washington on the stat sheet and the scoreboard.
Tip: Back the Vikings to Cover the Line (-16 Points) @ $1.92
The Jaguars have opened 6-point favourites this week as they hope to improve to a .500 record.
Jacksonville’s 10-point win over the Bengals last week puts them right back in the hunt for a Wild Card spot. The same can’t be said for the Jets though, as a 33-0 shutout loss against the Patriots left absolutely nothing to celebrate.
The Jets are 3-8 against the spread in their last 11 games against the Jaguars. These two sides have split their last 10 games five wins apiece, but if New York can establish the ground game early, they might pick up another win on the season.
We’re yet to see Le’Veon Bell at his best, but against a Jags defence that ranks 10th in rushing yards allowed, this could be the week.
The Jets, meanwhile, have allowed fifth-fewest rushing yards, so if New York can win the battle on the ground, they should win the game.
Tip: Back the Jets to Cover the Line (+6 Points) @ $1.92
Who had the Bills to have a better record than the Eagles at the midway point of the season?
Buffalo took care of business last week against the Dolphins winning 31-21. The Bills now look a strong chance to make the playoffs at 5-1, but you certainly can’t say the same for the Eagles.
Philly’s blowout loss to the Cowboys last week is a real cause for concern. The Eagles now find themselves sitting 3-4, and while there’s still plenty of time to make up ground, the defence looks a real problem long term.
The Eagles have allowed the third-most passing yards in the league and the fifth-most points. None of that screams confidence on the road in Buffalo, but this kinda feels similar to the spot the Cowboys found themselves in a fortnight ago.
Philly’s defence might be struggling, but keep in mind, this team is no stranger to pulling off big wins on the road. The Eagles found themselves in a similar spot heading to Lambeau Field on the back of a loss in Week 4, so with a point to prove, back Philly outright at value.
Tip: Back the Eagles to Win @ $2.10
If you haven’t caught a glimpse of the Falcons this season, here’s all you need to know: the defence stinks.
Atlanta leads the league in points against, which explains their 1-6 record through the first seven weeks of the season.
With the Seahawks coming to town, things aren’t about to get any easier moving forward. Seattle suffered a blowout 30-16 loss at the hands of the Ravens last week, which was highlighted by a rather quiet 241-yard, one touchdown game from Russell Wilson.
Pete Carroll’s side has won only four of its last 10-games against the Falcons, but they’ll be eager to bounce-back as the Niners now hold a two-game lead in the NFC West.
Seattle holds a perfect 3-0 record on the road, and if they can establish a good mix of run and pass, they should run all over the Falcons this week. Atlanta has struggled to defend both the air and the pass all season, which spells bad news against a Seahawks team that hasn’t lost back-to-back games since Weeks 9 and 10 last year.
Tip: Back the Seahawks to Cover the Line (-3.5 Points) @ $1.91
These two teams continue to frustrate fans and punters alike.
The Bucs return from the bye with plenty of work to do if they wish to make something of the season, but at 2-4, time is starting to run out in the unforgiving NFC South.
Tennessee continued its maddening run of inconsistency last week pulling off a big upset over the Chargers. It feels like the Titans are in the playoff mix each and every year, but it’s so difficult to get a read on this team from week to week.
To their credit, the Titans have won six of their last seven games over the Bucs, although these two teams haven’t met since 2015.
Considering how difficult it is to get a read on either side, your best bet is to steer clear of the head-to-head market. The Total has gone Under in four of Tennessee’s last five games and considering these are two of the better teams against the run, it’s likely this turns out to be low scoring.
Tip: Under 45.5 Total Points @ $1.92
Detroit looked a serious threat in the NFC North prior to a blowout loss to the Vikings last week.
The Lions had plenty of opportunities to convert chances into points, but the same old problem – penalties – again played a part.
Now at 2-5, the Giants also find themselves in a similar spot. New York has lost three straight games following last week’s defeat to the Cardinals, largely due to turnovers and an offensive line that gave up eight sacks.
Detroit are much better than their 2-3-1 record suggests, especially on defence. They’ll need to dig keep with Kerryon Johnson on the sidelines for the remainder of the season, but this is still a team stacked with dangerous weapons on offence.
Marvin Jones Jr and Matthew Stafford showed some real chemistry last week hooking up for 93-yards and four touchdowns. This is a tough game to get a feel on, so stick with the Anytime Touchdown markets.
Tip: Marvin Jones Jr Anytime Touchdown Scorer
You hate to call a midseason game a must-win, but that’s kind of the situation now for the Bears and Chargers.
Chicago’s wishful thinking on quarterback Mitchell Trubisky continues to haunt them as the 25-year-old struggled in his return from a shoulder injury last week. The running game showing no signs of life either against New Orleans, which ultimately resulted in a 36-25 loss and a 3-3 win/loss record.
Things are looking much bleaker in Los Angeles as the Chargers continue to find new ways to lose. Last week’s 23-20 loss to the Titans leaves Anthony Lynn’s team with plenty of work to do at 2-5, especially with a trip to Soldier Field upcoming.
The Bears have won five of their last six games over the Chargers with their last meeting coming way back in 2015. If Chicago is to win this game, it will likely come down to the defence as Trubisky showed signs of rust both in the pocket and mechanically last week.
The Chargers are currently tied for eighth in offensive turnovers, while the Bears have recorded 10 defensive takeaways in six games. Nearly 72% of Charger games have gone Under the Total this year, so don’t expect this one to be pretty.
Tip: Under 41 Total Points @ $1.88
The Rams improved to 4-3 last week with a bounce-back win over the Falcons in Atlanta. It wasn’t a huge day on offence for Los Angeles, but the defence did enormously well to force three turnovers and hold the Falcons to just three third down conversions.
The Bengals are still searching for their first win of the season with pressure mounting on first year head coach Zac Taylor. Quarterback Andy Dalton threw three interceptions during last week’s 10-point loss to Jacksonville, and things aren’t about to get any easier with wide receiver A.J. Green expected to miss another week.
Jared Goff has likely had this game circled on his calendar as he still looks to get his season (and his career) back on track. The highs of last year’s Super Bowl run were shortlived as the 25-year-old has thrown only nine touchdowns this season and seven interceptions.
Fortunately, the Bengals pass defence is among the worst in the league, and the pass rush is almost non-existent. These two sides haven’t met since 2015, so back the Rams to win big.
Tip: Back the Rams to Cover the Line (-13.5 Points) & Under 48.5 Total Points @ $3.80
The 6-1 Saints are currently toying with the idea of Drew Brees starting this week, but with the bye to follow, there’s no point rushing the future Hall of Famer back with Teddy Bridgewater in sparkling form.
Not that we needed further convincing, but New Orleans’ huge win over the Bears in Chicago last week was a real statement. Down Brees and Alvin Kamara, the Saints somehow managed 424-yards on offence against a very dangerous Bears defence.
The Cardinals also pulled off a big win, albeit over the Giants at the Meadowlands. Much to the chagrin of fantasy owners, Chase Edmonds went off on the ground rushing for over 100-yards and three scores.
Kamara has been limited in practice all week, which is bad news for the Saitns considering the Cardinals can’t stop the run defensively. Even so, with home-field advantage and an agile quarterback, New Orleans should have no trouble adding to their impressive record.
Tip: Back the Saints 1-12
The Niners return to San Francisco on Monday hoping to extend their perfect 6-0 record to seven.
Punters on board the 49ers will know how frustrating the team has been when it comes to covering the spread. As the home favourite, the Niners have covered only twice in their last 16 games dating back to last season, which instantly makes the Panthers a strong play.
Carolina had the option of naming Cam Newton as the starter this week but have instead opted for another game with Kyle Allen under center. The 23-year-old has shown no signs of struggle through four games throwing seven touchdowns and zero interceptions, but most importantly leading the Panthers’ impressive four game winning streak.
San Francisco’s defence deserves tremendous credit having just held the Redskins scoreless in horrible conditions. The Niners have been almost impossible to run the ball against, but this will be the teams first big test against MVP contender Christian McCaffrey.
On the other side, Carolina’s defence isn’t anything to sneeze at, either. Luke Kuechly continues to put in work against the pass, as the Panthers have allowed the fifth-fewest yards through the air and only seven touchdowns.
Carolina are 7-1 against the spread in their last eight games against the Niners. The Panthers’ biggest loss so far has been six points, so back Carolina to Cover a generous line.
Tip: Back the Panthers to Cover the Line (+5.5 Points) @ $1.96
The Texans and the Raiders meet in Houston this week with both sides reeling from a pair of road losses.
Houston fought tooth and nail against the Colts last week only for the defence to let them down. The Texans allowed four touchdowns to quarterback Jacoby Brissett in a 30-23 loss, which puts the pressure squarely on head coach Bill O’Brien to turn things around.
The Raiders now travel south fresh from a blowout loss to the Packers at Lambeau. There was plenty to like about Oakland’s offence though, which makes the Raiders an intriguing upset pick this week.
Running back Josh Jacobs looks a serious Rookie of the Year contender fresh from another 100-yard rushing game. So far, the Texans have defended the run well, but they’ll face a big test against Jacobs’ power at the line of scrimmage.
The last time the Raiders won a game against the Texans came back in 2016, but with a touchdown to play with at the line, there’s nothing stopping Oakland from keeping this close.
Defensively the Raiders are no slouch, particularly against the run where they’ve allowed the second-fewest yards. That should help keep Deshaun Watson in the pocket and also improve on their 7-2 record against the spread vs AFC South teams.
Tip: Back the Raiders to Cover the Line (+7.0 Points) @ $1.92
Bookmakers have wasted no time installing the Patriots as double-digit favourites this week.
The visiting Browns return from a bye week well-rested as they hope to improve to 3-4. The AFC North is quickly slipping away from Cleveland, and with a trip to Foxboro up next, things aren’t about to get any easier.
The last time the Browns beat the Patriots was way back in 2010. These two teams don’t meet very often, but when they do, it typically results in a New England victory.
Defensively the Patriots are the best team in the league this year, and the secondary should relish a chance to match up with Odell Beckham Jr and Jarvis Landry. New England spent most of last week blitzing Sam Darnold into submission, but we should see the Patriots play more of the coverage game this week in an attempt to force Baker Mayfield into throwing.
On paper, the Browns defence could create some problems for Tom Brady, especially with the pass rush showing signs of life in recent weeks. The bye should help Cleveland keep this game somewhat close, but it’s not enough to back against New England.
Tip: Back the Patriots to Win & Under 46 Total Points @ $2.27
The Broncos are in the midst of a fire sale as the front office looks to press the reset (and possibly the rebuild) button with an eye towards the future.
Even without Patrick Mahomes on the field, Denver still managed to lose a blowout last week at Arrowhead to the Chiefs. The Broncos find themselves 2-5 on the season – hardly an ideal spot ahead of a big road trip to Indianapolis.
Frank Reich looks to be among the favourites for Coach of the Year as the Colts continue to improve. For now, last week’s big win over the Texans has Indy in control of the AFC South, and they should feel confident with Jacoby Brissett showing real promise under center.
The Colts offensively are a real handful. Brissett has shown he’s capable of torching defences down the field, while Marlon Mack continues to move the chains on first down.
Indy has won seven of their last 10 games over the Broncos and are also 4-1 against the spread in their last five games. With the offence firing, back the Colts to win big.
Tip: Back the Colts to Cover the Line (-5.5 Points) @ $1.90
NFL fans were eagerly awaiting this matchup when the schedule was first announced. Some of the excitement has since died off with Patrick Mahomes set for a stint on the sidelines, but this should be a telling game between two Super Bowl contenders regardless.
The Packers improved to 6-1 last week with a 42-24 win over the Raiders. The Aaron Rodgers of old turned up in a big way throwing five touchdowns, which not surprisingly, vaulted No. 12 back into the MVP conversation.
Kansas City still belongs among the elite Super Bowl contenders, but things are about to get interesting with Mahomes nursing a knee injury. At time of publish, there is a slight chance Mahomes plays, although the Chiefs would be wise to rest the 2018 MVP with the bye week fast approaching.
Matt Moore will get the start should Mahomes spend the week on the bench. Moore completed 10 of his 19 passes for 117-yards and a touchdown last week once Mahomes left the field, but he too will receive a big test against a scary looking Green Bay defence.
The Packers have enjoyed an easy run of home games to start the season. Green Bay does look a little over the odds, but after changing up the offensive scheme under new head coach Matt LaFleur, things are really starting to click into gear.
There should be no shortage of points with two talented receiving teams on the field, but Aaron Jones gives the Packers an edge against a struggling Chiefs defence.
Tip: Back the Packers to Win & Aaron Jones Anytime Touchdown Scorer
Far and away the least exciting Monday Night Football game of the entire season.
The Dolphins put up a fight last week in Buffalo but ultimately fell 10-points short to keep their winless streak alive. The Steelers, meanwhile, return from a bye hoping to salvage something of a very lost and unfortunate season.
Despite their 2-4 record, the Steelers are still two touchdown favourites against the Dolphins at home. Pittsburgh has won two of their last three games over the Dolphins, with their last loss to Miami coming back in 2016.
There’s not much to get excited about in this game other than full safety Minkah Fitzpatrick facing his former team. The Steelers’ defence has played above expectations through the first seven weeks, so don’t rule out a defensive touchdown at any point.
Tip: Back the Steelers to Win and Pittsburgh D/ST Anytime Touchdown Scorer
2018
Sometimes it comes down to luck, and sometimes it comes down to kickers, as we found out the hard way last week.
Don’t look now, but it’s like splitting hairs this week with a handful of very evenly contested match ups on offer.
And as always, we’ve done our best to try and tip you a winner, which you can find below in our very detailed 2018 NFL Week 8 Preview!
Houston Texans (4-3): The Texans lead the AFC South, but that’s about all you can say right now.
Quarterback DeShaun Watson was forced to take the bus to Jacksonville last week due to lingering injuries, most of which were caused by six straight weeks of poor pass protection and thuds with the turf.
Full credit where it’s due though, Houston made short work of the Jaguars last week. Against a team that was supposedly ‘elite’ on the defensive side of the ball, Jacksonville managed just one sack against the Texans’ dreadful line, while Lamar Miller also enjoyed a day out rushing for 100-yards and a score.
As far as Thursday Night games go, this could easily be one of the worst this season. This is basically a match-up between two beards – the Dolphins hoping to cover up Osweiler’s lack of accuracy, and the Texans hoping to cover up their overall lack of pass protection.
Defensively the Texans have been sound though, holding teams to just 20.6 points-per-game, good for the eighth lowest total in the league. The winning formula is simple this week: limit Kenyan Drake up the middle, and rely on another big week from Lamar Miller.
Miami Dolphins (4-3): Not a whole lot wrong with the Dolphins last week.
Brock Osweiler did his job, the running game showed up for the first time in weeks, and overall, Miami played pretty disciplined football when it came to penalties and turnovers.
So what went wrong?
It’s hard to win games when you give up 248-rushing yards, let alone to a team like Detroit. Kerryon Johnson left his mark on Miami’s defensive line, and when veteran players like LeGarrette Blount chip in for 50-yards and a score themselves, suddenly things get a little out of hand.
To make matters worse for the Dolphins, life will now continue without wide receiver Kenny Stills, who has reportedly suffered a groin injury. That leaves the bulk of the receiving work in the capable hands of Danny Amendola, although against a very hit and miss secondary like Houston’s, there’s certainly room for guys like Mike Gesicki and Jakeem Grant to step up.
Likewise on the other side of the ball, the Texans’ miserable offensive line might actually help the Dolphins re-discover their pass rush. So far they’ve accounted for the fourth fewest sacks in the league, which was part of their undoing last week against the Lions.
Sometimes stats can scare you, and the Dolphins being 1-7 in their last eight games in Houston is one of them. It feels like this Osweiler thing is a ticking time bomb, alongside a defence that has allowed the third most rushing yards in the league so far.
Tip: Back the Texans 13-18 @ $5.00
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4): Safe to say the Jaguars are probably wondering what could have been.
Let us remind you this is a team that passed on Patrick Mahomes in the 2017 draft, placing all their faith in Blake Bortles, which has already proven to be a pointless exercise.
Bortles will start in Week 8 against the Eagles, and he should be helped out by recent trade acquisition Carlos Hyde.
On the flip side though, the air really looks like it’s been let out of Jacksonville’s balloon. Having now lost two home games to division rivals, the belief just isn’t there anymore, and it translated into a sloppy defensive effort against Houston last week, a team an ‘elite’ defence really should have handled.
If it means anything, the Jags have won three of their last five against the Eagles, and again, the London factor needs to be taken into account. Given just how blurry these two teams look however, the points market is the play this week.
Philadelphia Eagles (3-4): Are the Eagles a one hit wonder?
Last week Philly blew a 17-0 lead to the Panthers in what was a rather strange and fast-tempo kinda game.
For a team that dazzled the Patriots’ secondary with trick plays and dynamic throws over the middle during the Super Bowl, its left a lot of folk wondering where the Eagles’ offense of old has suddenly disappeared to.
Philly played a very conservative game against Carolina, relying predominantly on screen plays and delayed handoffs up the middle. For the most part, the Eagles’ offense is entirely healthy, but it appears head coach Doug Pederson is opting to stay away from deep throws down the sidelines.
Of course, it doesn’t all just boil down to offense. Kicker Jake Elliott missed a crucial field goal on the first drive that probably would have made the difference, while the defence scrambled for answers after the Panthers threw a bunch of play-action passes and sweeps at them in the fourth quarter.
The task ahead this week is the Jaguars, which is a very winnable game. That is if you discount the fact the game is in London.
Head-to-head, the Eagles are 2-4 in their last six games, but again, this is basically a home game for the Jaguars who are England’s adopted team.
Tip: Back Over 42.5 Total Points @ $1.91
Kansas City Chiefs (6-1): The Chiefs shredded the Bengals last week in more ways than one. The defence held Dalton to 148-yards and a touchdown in the air, while Patrick Mahomes went bananas throwing for 358-yards and four scores.
Head coach Andy Reid has the team running like a well-oiled machine, even if his game management wasn’t quite on point last week.
The Chiefs continue to be a solid value pick for punters this season, especially at the line, where Kansas City have been a perfect 7-0 so far.
While guys like Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce can make like difficult on passing downs, this game will be all about Kareem Hunt. The Broncos have allowed the second-most rushing yards in the league this year, and for a Hunt on a more personal level, he’s enjoyed facing the Broncos, having rushed for an average of 4.81 yards per-carry.
The overs is a good bet in this one since the Chiefs don’t hold a lot of value in the head-to-head market. If you’re looking for to multi up, the Chiefs are also 6-4 in their last 10 games against the Broncos.
Denver Broncos (3-4): The Broncos had to make a statement last week against the Cardinals if anyone was to consider taking them seriously, and they did just that, pounding Arizona 45-10.
On paper, the scoreboard was convincing, but the jury is still out on the Broncos. Quarterback Case Keenum threw the ball only 21 times and still managed to throw a pick, while the decision to hand the ball to Royce Freeman over Phillip Lindsay is mind boggling.
Defensively the Broncos were killer though. Josh Rosen endured a day to forget throwing for just 194-yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, while running back David Johnson was held to a very quiet 39-yards.
Let’s face it, the Broncos are probably already out of the running in the AFC West, but if they are any hope of a Wild Card spot ahead of the second-place Chargers, they’ll need to find a way to contain the Chiefs’ high-scoring passing attack.
Home field advantage is nice, and so is a 5-2 head-to-head record over Kansas City at Mile High. Considering the Chiefs just piled on a 45-10 scoreline themselves over a similar defensive front like the Bengals last week, it’s tough to see them lasting the journey.
Tip: Back Over 54.5 Total Points @ $1.87
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2-1): Bye week done and dusted, but it will be business as usual for the Steelers?
If you thought running back Le’Veon Bell was ready to call it quits on his contract holdout, think again, because the future Hall of Fame running back won’t be reporting for practice this week.
That probably suits the Steelers just fine considering James Conner ranks second in the league behind Todd Gurley in rushing touchdowns. Better yet, the Steelers also hope to improve on their 8-1-1 record against the Browns in their last 10 games, and with home field advantage, it’s no wonder they come in as the favourite.
But who are we kidding, these two finished all square in Week 1, so will we see anything different this week?
On any occasion, Heinz Field is a fortress, however the Steelers haven’t exactly been a sure-thing at home.
In their three games at Heinz, Pittsburgh have won just once, and let’s not forget, they did allow 106-yards to Jarvis Landry during their first meeting.
Still, the Steelers lead the division for the reason, even if it hasn’t been convincing. A week off should have given the Steelers’ sloppy secondary a chance to recoup, and against a Browns team down on confidence, and high on fatigue following another overtime loss, stick with the yellow and black.
Cleveland Browns (2-4-1): Four straight visits to overtime, and very little to show for it.
The Browns squandered opportunity after opportunity last week against the Bucs, and in typical Cleveland fashion, the blame game has already begun.
Last week’s loss was completely avoidable. Head coach Hue Jackson chose to play Superman right before halftime, opting to go for it less than a minute on the clock instead of kicking the field goal.
Trusting your offense is one thing, but a sack with a wide open Nick Chubb on a swing route is inexcusable. Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield continues to make strides, but after Jackson openly blamed the offense after the loss, it’s really tough to buy into what the Browns are selling.
On the field there’s issues, and off the field there’s little work being done to rectify the problems week to week.
But of course, did we really expect anything more?
Tip: Back the Steelers to Beat The Line (-7.5 Points) @ $1.91
New York Giants (1-6): One word: schmozzle.
Big Blue have entered full meltdown mode, and after trading cornerback Eli Apple to the Saints midweek, it appears as though the team might be headed toward an all-out fire sale.
Last week’s loss to the Falcons was a low point for this storied franchise, who have now gone 4-20 in their last 24 games.
At the top, quarterback Eli Manning is past it, something we’ve all known for the last two years. And at the very bottom, the playcalling his horrendous, with many for the firing of Pat Shurmur after opting to go for two following a touchdown last week.
In his defence though, there’s only so much Shurmur can do with the weapons he has. If you thought this team was going to be good, you were grossly misled, and even with home field advantage this week, this trainwreck of a season is only going to grow worse for the Giants as they head toward’s a serious rebuild.
Washington Redskins (4-2): The Redskins were quite literally handed the game last week against the Cowboys, which suits the NFC East leaders nicely.
We’re still waiting to get a serious read on this Washington team though, especially after another quiet game last week. The Redskins converted just three of their 12 third down conversions, while quarterback Alex Smith completed only 14 passes for 178-yards and a touchdown.
On the plus side, Adrian Peterson is doing things. The 33-year old endured a slow start to the season due to injury, but he exploded for 99-yards last week against a very underrated Cowboys defence.
Betting wise, the Redskins have struggled against the Giants, winning just three of their last 10 meetings. The total has gone Under in 12 of their last 15 games in New York, so that looks like the play this week.
Tip: Back the Redskins To Win @ $1.91
Detroit Lions (3-3): We’ve already touched on Detroit’s running game, but is there any other way they can punish the Seahawks?
For all of Detroit’s strength running the football, their defence lets them down in the same area. Defending the run has been tough this season for the Lions, who have allowed the seventh most rushing yards so far this season.
Fortunately for Detroit, Seattle’s running game hasn’t quite found itself. Mike Davis continues to receive handoffs while first round draft pick Rashaad Penny takes a seat, but if Seattle can utilise some screen routes and delayed handoffs, they should be able to pound their way into the red zone.
Detroit’s season has taken a turn for the better, and with the Packers, Bears and Vikings all looking suspect in different areas, the NFC North title is still up for grabs.
As far as picking a winner goes, it’s a coin flip. The Total has gone Over in nine of Detroit’s last 12 home games, so keep it safe this week as these two inconsistent sides duke it out.
Seattle Seahawks (3-3): For what was supposed to be a ho-hum sort of year for the Seahawks, things haven’t turned out quite so bad as we approach the midway point.
Well rested following last week’s bye, the Seahawks will be hoping to improve on their 27-3 win over the Raiders in Week 6, a game that saw Russell Wilson dish out three touchdowns and 222-yards.
Not to be outdone, Seattle’s defence has quietly been going about their business this year, allowing the fewest yards and the third fewest touchdowns through the air.
With the secondary proving strong, the key to taking care of Detroit will be stifling the run game. Kerryon Johnson continues to improve in his rookie year, and if Seattle’s young defensive line isn’t up for the challenge, the Lions will run straight over them.
Impressively, the Seahawks are 7-3 head-to-head on the road dating back to last season, and are 5-1 in their last six games in Detroit.
At handy underdog odds, this is your upset of the week.
Tip: Back Over 49.5 Total Points @ $1.91
Cincinnati Bengals (4-3): The Bengals were no match for the Chiefs last week, surrendering 45-points to Kansas City on the road.
It was a dust up against one of the AFC favourites, one that showed just how far behind the Bengals are compared to the league’s elite.
Still, the Bengals aren’t to be taken lightly. Andy Dalton might’ve had a day to forget last week, but wide receiver A.J. Green ranks seventh in the league in receiving yards.
For the Bengals to win this one, they’ll simply need to turn up the tempo on the Bucs. Tampa’s secondary is one of the worst in the league, and has proven very susceptible to four wide receiver formations.
The Bengals are 6-3 in their last nine games at home, and have the weapons to mix it up both in the air and on the ground. This should be a staple win for Cincy as they continue in their hunt for the division title.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3): It took the Bucs five quarters to polish off the Browns last week, but hey, here they are at .500 again after a pretty tumultuous month.
After missing the first four weeks of the season, Tampa have done themselves no favours by throwing Jameis Winston in the deep end. The lack of a running game doesn’t help, but having Winston attempt 52-passes last week, two of which went for interceptions, isn’t the way to win.
Now heading back on the road, the Bucs will need to find some composure against a Bengals defence that has been one of the worst in the league.
Cincinnati have allowed the fifth most rushing yards and the third most passing yards this season, so expect Winston to air it out again with plenty of deep routes to Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson.
History suggests the Bucs are good value this week, and their 5-1 head-to-head record in their last six games against Cincinnati is very persuading.
When you consider the Bucs defence has also ranked Top 5 in pass yards allowed though, you may want to hold your horses.
Tip: Back the Bengals 7-12 @ $5.25
Chicago Bears (3-3): Lots to like about last week, and lots to loathe.
Mitch Trubisky was the talking point following last week’s loss to the Patriots, for good and bad reasons. When it comes to scrambling and making plays, Trubisky looks great, but time and time again he’s struggled to show the accuracy required of an NFL level quarterback.
It doesn’t help though when your offensive line allows zero protection. Trubisky made over 10 throws under pressure last week, which eventually led to overthrown balls, and ultimately, two picks.
The other takeaway from last week’s loss was Tarik Cohen, who continues to show plenty of flash with the ball in hand. If the Bears can find some time for Trubisky in the pocket, they should improve on their 4-1 record against the Jets.
New York Jets (3-4): It only took the Vikings four plays and two and a half minutes to shred the Jets’ defence for six points last week.
The secondary was left scrambling after Adam Thielen went gangbusters yet again, but there were plenty of other reason for New York’s 37-17 loss.
It’s an often easy to overlook the importance of special teams, which has so far let the Jets down on more than one occasion this year. The Jets fumbled a punt in the second quarter that cost them valuable field position, which was then followed up by a shank from Lac Edwards on the same drive to gift the Vikings the ball at midfield.
There were plenty of bad plays from the Jets line as well. A bad snap from centre led to Isaiah Crowell’s costly fumble, who by the way, is still far from healthy.
On their day, New York look capable of beating anybody, but when their defence struggles to get out of the gate, bad things happen.
If they can’t establish pressure on Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky, the Jets might be staring at a two game skid.
Tip: Back the Bears 7-12 @ $4.75
Carolina Panthers (4-2): It took four quarters for the Panthers to warm up last week against the Eagles, fighting all the way back down 17-0 to leave Philadelphia with a 21-17 win.
Full credit goes to Cam Newton, who made two huge plays on the final drive to set the Panthers up for the win. A clutch throw over the middle to Torrey Smith set Carolina up in the red zone, followed up by a scramble down to the one-yard line to make it first and goal.
A comeback win is always great, but they don’t come without strings attached. Carolina’s woes stemmed from penalties and a failure to convert on third downs last week, which ultimately saw the Panthers record two three-and-outs in the first half.
To add further concern, Graham Gano had a game to forget. His first shot at a long field goal was cancelled out by back-to-back false start calls, only to go on and miss the extra point on the next drive.
Mistakes like that won’t fly against the Ravens, and neither will Newton’s run-and-dash style of offense. Baltimore lead the league in sacks (27), making the Ravens the favourites on the road for a reason.
Baltimore Ravens (4-3): Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes it’s just not your day.
Justin Tucker’s missed extra point cost the Ravens last week against the Saints, but there’s plenty Baltimore can take away from that game.
Joe Flacco played perhaps his best game of the season throwing for 279-yards and a score, while wide receiver John Brown continues to pad his stats with another 100-yard receiving game.
After fighting tooth and nail against the Saints last week, the Ravens are in for another tough one this week against a tough NFC South opponent.
Baltimore are 6-12 in their last 18 games on the road, but most importantly, they haven’t travelled to Carolina since 2010.
Tip: Back the Ravens to Beat the Line (-0.5 Points) @ $1.91
Oakland Raiders (1-5): The Raiders made a move during the week, and they have to feel pretty good about it.
Amari Cooper was dealt to the Cowboys for a first round pick, a trade that means Oakland now has three first-round picks in next year’s draft.
As far as this season goes though, there’s not a lot to like. Derek Carr was already looking mediocre with Cooper lining alongside him, and with Marshawn Lynch placed on injured reserve, it’s hard to see Oakland moving the ball at all.
The Under is a great play this week since there’s not a great deal of value in the Colts head-to-head.
Indianapolis Colts (2-5): The Colts recorded a rare win last week in what is quickly shaping up to be a lost season.
To be fair, the Colts’ 37-5 demolition over the Bills was to be expected, and now, they have another easy win lined up against the 1-5 Raiders.
Statistically speaking the Colts continue to improve after keeping Andrew Luck clean last week. The star quarterback wasn’t sacked once, which allowed him plenty of time to dish out four touchdown passes in the pocket.
The emergence of Marlon Mack also continues having rushed for 126-yards and a touchdown last week. The Raiders defence, particularly their pass-rush, has been just as average as Buffalo’s, which should spell another win for Indy away from home.
Tip: Under 49.5 Total Points @ $1.91
Arizona Cardinals (1-6): Completely outclassed by the Broncos last week, and even after a 10-day break, it looks as though Arizona are well on their way to the first overall pick.
It also appears the Cardinals might be selling, as cornerback Patrick Peterson is reportedly unhappy with the team. A trade to New England might be on the cards, but for the time being, containing Beathard and Kittle comes as the first priority.
Arizona hold a strong record against the Niners, and are 4-1 against San Francisco in their last five home games.
With quarterback Josh Rosen looking completely lost on his pre-snap reads though, don’t even bother thinking about an upset this week.
San Francisco 49ers (1-6): The 49ers are well on their way to a top three draft pick, although Week 8 presents as an opportunity to get their second win on the board.
Quarterback C.J. Beathard didn’t go down without a fight last week against the Rams. At times he tries to do too much, which eventually resulted in two picks, but against one of the best defences in the league, he did a nice job hooking up with George Kittle for 98-yards.
The line says it all in this game – zero points. This game shouldn’t be fun to watch, and for San Francisco fans, that’s been a familiar theme when it comes to facing Arizona.
The 49ers are 0-5 in their last five meetings with the Cardinals. The points market will be the play again here.
Tip: Back Under 43 Total Points @ $1.91
Los Angeles Rams (7-0): A big time beat down over the Niners last week was expected, and while the chatter surrounding Todd Gurley’s MVP-like season continues, the Rams do need to refocus with the league’s best quarterback coming to town this week.
LA forced four turnovers against the 49ers, although it’s unlikely Rodgers throws a handful of interceptions this week.
Instead, the formula for the Rams will be simple: control possession, and force the Packers defence into bringing defensive pressure up the middle.
The Gurley factor is huge for opposing teams, so much so that they tend to overcompensate. Green Bay at times can be a blitz happy team, and with Mike Pettine guessing his way through plenty of games this season, expect plenty of big plays and scoring opportunities.
The Rams are 6-3 in their last nine home games, and should enjoy a big time crowd in this blockbuster NFC clash.
With the odds heavily in favour of LA to remain undefeated, stick with the Rams at the line.
Green Bay Packers (3-2-1): How has the week off treated the Pack?
Head coach Mike McCarthy finally admits the team needs to utilise the running game a little more, which makes perfect sense considering Aaron Jones is one of the most dangerous running backs in the league after contact.
It will take more than a strong ground game to take care of the Rams though, especially on the road. Green Bay’s defence was shredded by San Francisco a fortnight ago, a team that was missing its star quarterback.
Not for the first time (or the last) the only leg Green Bay have to stand on is Aaron Rodgers. The Packers defence has actually fared okay against the pass, but they are yet to be tested by a versatile team like the Rams that can hurt you in more ways than one.
Onto simpler things, the Packers just haven’t been a good road team. They were torn apart by the Redskins in Washington, and hardly bothered to show up against the Lions in Detroit.
Unless defensive coordinator Mike Pettine has flipped a switch during the bye week, the Packers best be prepared for a shootout if they stand any chance.
Tip: Back the Rams to Beat The Line (-9.5 Points) @ $1.87
Minnesota Vikings (4-2): The Vikings defence is back, and boy is it glorious.
In their last two games, Minnesota have allowed just five first downs, which certainly helped during their close call against the Jets last week.
It only took the Vikings four plays to score from the opening kick-off, and wouldn’t you know it, Kirk Cousins found Adam Thielen in the back of the end zone one-on-one.
He may not be a popular pick, but Thielen is making a case for the MVP this year. As for this week, the Vikings defence will need to show up ready for every challenge this no-nonsense Saints team can throw at them.
Defending the pass will be crucial for the Vikings, who have the eighth lowest completion percentage so far this season. The Saints will look to test Xavier Rhodes early and often down the sidelines, which could also open up the running game for Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram.
Minnesota are 6-4 in their last 10 games against the Saints, also owning a strong 7-1 home record against New Orleans.
To add another layer of intrigue, this is a rematch of last year’s NFC Divisional Game, one made famous for Stephon Diggs’ walkoff touchdown.
Another shootout? Most certainly.
New Orleans Saints (5-1): The Saints were helped out by lady luck last week against the Ravens, but hey, that’s what good teams do.
It’s all-in for New Orleans now after the Saints traded for cornerback Eli Apple during the week, hoping to bolster their defence ahead of what should be an onslaught of passes from the Vikings on Sunday.
The Saints have weapons of their own though, and it all starts with Sean Payton. The clock management from the veteran coach was crucial last week against the Ravens, and his aggressive decision to chase the points rather than milk the clock meant the difference between winning and losing.
On the road, this is a very tough test however, one that doesn’t hold very fond memories.
Tip: Back the Vikings to Beat The Line (0 Points) @ $1.91
Buffalo Bills (2-5): The Derek Anderson experiment crashed and burned last week for the Bills as the veteran quarterback threw three picks in a dismal day against the Colts.
The Bills announced Anderson will return this week to take on the Patriots, a team nobody wants to face right now.
The only hope Buffalo have in this game is if New England psyche themselves out of it. They’ve lost twice on the road this season to Jacksonville and Detroit in back-to-back weeks, and after last week’s close shave against the Bears, there’s a very slim chance the Patriots might shoot themselves in the foot.
For that to happen though, it all depends on the Bills offense. Buffalo are 0-5 at home against the Patriots, so unless LeSean McCoy explodes for a triple-digit kind of day on the ground, good luck.
New England Patriots (5-2): It only took the Patriots four minutes to baffle the Bears at Soldier Field last week.
A few handy runs to Sony Michel paved the way to a vintage Tom Brady/Julian Edelman touchdown, but it wasn’t all happy days as the Patriots hung on for a 38-31 win.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record – ah who are we kidding – it’s the secondary.
Cornerback J.C. Jackson gave up three killer penalties before recording a crucial interception in the third quarter. And again, it was a tale of two halves as the Patriots special teams fumbled their way to disaster in the first half, only to follow it up with a brilliant blocked punt in the second.
The Patriots also got sloppy when it counted, evident in James Develin’s catch turned interception. Still, the Bills are always an easy beat for New England, and with that in mind, the odds suggest the only value is in the margin market.
Tip: Back the Patriots 13-18 @ $4.50
2017
We have almost reached the half-way stage of the NFL season and there are a host of big games this weekend.
The action begins on Friday morning when the Baltimore Ravens host the Miami Dolphins in a big game for both sides and there are plenty of teams that desperately need a victory.
We have analysed every game set to take place in the NFL this weekend and our complete 2017 NFL Week 8 tips can be found below.
The Baltimore Ravens have won five of their past six games as home favourites and they are a profitable 4-2 against the line in this scenario.
The Miami Dolphins have won three games in a row and their record as away underdogs is nothing short of outstanding – they have won five of their past seven games as away underdogs.
This is a game that the market looks to have got just about right and I am happy to stay out from a betting perspective.
No Bet
The Cleveland Browns have taken their home game to Twickenham Stadium in London and they are still chasing their first win this season.
The Minnesota Vikings have won two of their past three games as away favourites, but their record against the line on the road is extremely poor – they have covered in only one of their past seven games away from home.
It is the Under in Total Point betting markets that is the value bet in this clash.
The Under has saluted in the past nine home games played by the Browns and has also been a profitable play in Vikings games.
Back Under 37.5 Points
The New England Patriots continue to be one of the best betting sides in the NFL.
They have won seven of their past ten games as home favourites and they are 6-4 against the line in this scenario.
The Los Angeles Chargers have won two of their past five games as away underdogs and have a middling record against the line in this scenario.
Back New England To Beat The Line (-7.5 Points)
The New Orleans Saints are one of the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend.
They have won four games on the trot and they have now won four of their past six games as home favourites, while they have the same record against the line.
The Chicago Bears continue to struggle away from home and this is a clash that the Saints should be able to win comfortably.
Back New Orleans To Beat The Line (-8.5 Points)
This is one of the biggest games of the weekend and it is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that will start this clash as narrow favourites.
The Buccaneers have lost their past three games, but they have won four of their past five games as home favourites.
The Carolina Panthers have an excellent record away from home – they have won three of their past six games as away underdogs and they are 5-1 against the line in this scenario.
There is nothing between these two sides and I am keen on Carolina with the insurance of a two point start.
Back Carolina Panthers To Beat The Line (+2 Points)
The Indianapolis Colts continue to be a trainwreck and the Cincinnati Bengals will go into this clash as very short-priced favourites.
Cincinnati have struggled for consistency this season and they have won only two of their past six games as home favourites.
The Colts have won three of their past seven games as away underdogs, but it is impossible to have any faith in this team off their recent performances.
This is a game that I am more than happy to stay out of.
No Bet
At the start of the season if you said that the Buffalo Bills would start this game as favourites you would have been laughed at, but that is hard far the Oakland Raiders have fallen this season.
Buffalo have won four of their past five games as home favourites, but they are only a middling 2-1-2 against the line in this scenario.
Oakland have won two of their past six games as away underdogs and although they beat Kansas City last weekend, they still have some issues.
Back Buffalo To Win @ $1.70
The Philadelphia Eagles are the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend and they are at Winx odds to win this clash.
Philadelphia are arguably the form team in the NFL and they go into this clash on the back of five straight victories.
The Eagles have won six of their past seven games as home favourites and they are 5-2 against the line in this scenario.
The San Francisco 49ers are another side that are chasing their first win of the season and their chances of getting it this weekend are slim.
They have won only one of their eight games as away underdogs for a clear loss, but they are 6-2 against the line.
Philadelphia should win this clash, but there is no value at their current price.
No Bet
The Atlanta Falcons have lost three games on the trot, but they will still start this clash as clear favourites.
Atlanta have won their past five games as away favourites and they are 4-1 against the line in this scenario.
The New York Jets have not been disgraced in recent weeks and they have been a strong betting play this season.
New York have won three of their past seven games as home underdogs and they are 5-2 against the line in this scenario.
This is another game that the market looks to have gotten just about right.
No Bet
The Seattle Seahawks will start this clash as clear favourites.
Seattle have win three games on the trot and their record as home favourites is nothing short of outstanding – they have won seven of their past eight games as home favourites and they are 5-1-2 against the line in this scenario.
The Houston Texans have struggled for consistency this season and they have been a middling 4-4 against the line as away underdogs.
Back Seattle To Beat The Line (-5.5 Points)
This is a crucial game in the NFC East between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys.
Washington may have the home field advantage, but it is the Cowboys that will start this clash as narrow favourites.
Dallas returned to their best form with a big win over the San Francisco 49ers and they have won four of their past six games as away favourites.
The Redskins have struggled for consistency this season and they have lost four of their past five games against the Cowboys.
Washington are always a tough team to back with any real confidence and Dallas should prove too strong for their rivals.
Back Dallas Cowboys To Win @ $1.80
It is the Pittsburgh Steelers that will start this clash with the Detroit Lions as clear favourites.
Pittsburgh have found a semblance of their best form in recent weeks and their record as away favourites is excellent – they have won six of their past eight games as away favourites and they are 5-3 against the line in this scenario.
Detroit have been poor over the past fortnight and they have won only one of their past three games as away underdogs, while their record against the line is no better.
Back Pittsburgh To Beat The Line (-2.5 Points)
The Denver Broncos will have the chance to bridge the gap between them and the Kansas City Chiefs at the top of the AFC West when they contest this crucial clash.
It is the Chiefs that will go into this clash as clear favourites – despite the fact that they have lost two games on the trot.
Kansas City have won five of their past nine games as home favourites for a loss and they are only 4-5 against the line in this scenario.
The Broncos produced their worst performance of the season against the Los Angeles Chargers and their offence continues to struggle with Trevor Siemian under centre.
Denver have won only two of their past seven games away from home and their record against the line isn’t much better.
This looks set to be a low-scoring affair and it is the Under in Total Points betting markets that appeals in this clash.
The Under has saluted in six of the past nine home games played by the Chiefs and has also been a profitable play in Broncos games.
Back Under 43.5 Points
2016
We are now almost halfway through the 2016 NFL season and the standings in each division are really starting to take shape.
There will be plenty on the line when the New Orleans Saints face the Seattle Seahawks on Monday morning and the clash between the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers is also set to be a ripper.
The NFC East title could be on the line when the Dallas Cowboys host the Philadelphia Eagles in the prime-time fixture before the weekend of football concludes when the Chicago Bears face the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday.
This is hardly the most inspiring Thursday Night Football clash, but it should still be an interesting betting contest.
Tennessee had their two-game winning streak ended by the Indianapolis Colts, but they will still go into this clash as clear favourites.
The Titans have only played three games as home favourites in the past 12 months and they have won two of them, but they are 0-1-2 against the line in this scenario.
Jacksonville were no match for Oakland last weekend and their chancing of qualifying for the NFL Playoffs are now very slim.
The Jaguars have won just two of their past seven games as away underdogs for a loss and they are just 3-1-3 against the line in this scenario.
These are two teams that are very tough to trust from a betting perspective and I am happy to stay out of this contest.
No Bet
This is a crucial game for both these sides.
Cincinnati returned to winning form with a victory over the lowly Cleveland Browns and they will go into this game as favourites.
The Bengals have won seven of their past 11 games as favourites for a loss, but they are 6-5 against the line in this scenario.
Washington had their winning streak snapped by the Detroit Lions, but they have still won nine of their past 12 games as underdogs for a massive profit.
Taking on Cincinnati this season has been a profitable play all season long and the Redskins are genuine value at his current price.
Back Washington To Win @ $2.30
The Indianapolis Colts returned to winning form against Tennessee last weekend, but they will still go into this clash as underdogs.
Indianapolis have struggled badly on defence in the past 12 months, but they have still won their only game as home underdogs in that period and their record in front of their home fans is excellent.
Kansas City made it two wins on the trot with a tough victory over New Orleans and it looks as though they now have their mojo back.
The Chiefs have won their past 13 games as favourites for a massive profit and they are 5-0 against the line as away favourites.
Andrew Luck would need to be at his very best to give the Colts any chance whatsoever in this contest and the Chiefs look a good bet to cover the line of 2.5 points.
Back Kansas City To Beat The Line (-2.5 Points)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers produced their best performance of the season to score a comfortable victory over San Francisco and they have the chance to record a third win on the trot.
Tampa Bay will go into this clash as narrow favourites and they have won just one of their four games in this scenario.
Oakland have recorded four wins from their past five games and they remain in playoffs contention.
The Raiders have won four of their past six games as away underdogs and their record against the line in this scenario is a most impressive 6-0.
Oakland are simply a better football team than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and they are outstanding value to win this weekend.
Back Oakland To Win @ $2.05
Seattle travel to New Orleans for a clash with the Saints following their low-scoring draw with the Arizona Cardinals.
The Seahawks defence were putrid against the Cardinals, but have the chance to bounce back in a big way against one of the weakest defences in the NFL.
Seattle will start this game as clear favourites and they have won five of their past six games in this scenario, while they are 3-3 against the line.
New Orleans had their winning run ended by the Kansas City Chiefs and they face a tough challenge against the Seahawks.
The Saints are 1-1 as home underdogs in the past 12 months, but they have won just three of their past eight games at home for a big loss.
Seattle are easily the team to beat here and are a safe bet to get the job done.
Back Seattle To Win @ $1.69
The Houston Texans were extremely poor against the Denver Broncos, but they have the chance to bounce back against the Houston Texans.
Brock Osweiler will be under plenty of pressure heading into this game following his disastrous effort during Monday Night Football, but the Texans will still start this clash as clear favourites.
Houston have won their past six games as home favourites and they are an impressive 5-1 against the line in this scenario.
Detroit have now won three games in a row after recording narrow victories over the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins.
The Lions have won three of their past five games as away underdogs for a clear profit and they have an identical record against the line.
This is a clash that the market looks to have got just about right and I am happy to stay out of this game from a betting perspective.
No Bet
The Atlanta Falcons have stalled somewhat following their dominant start to the season and they win this to avoid their third straight loss.
Atlanta will go into this clash as clear favourites, but they have lost their past six games as the punter’s elect at the Georgia Dome.
Green Bay were not particularly impressive against Chicago, but they still managed to get the job done,
This is obviously a much tougher challenge and they are 2-1 against the line as away underdogs.
I expect this to be a tightly fought affair and I am keen to back the Packers with a start of three points.
Back Green Bay To Beat The Line (+3 Points)
The Buffalo Bills beat the New England Patriots earlier this season, but in that clash the Patriots were missing Tom Brady.
Beating the Patriots with Brady under centre is a much tougher assignment and it is no surprise that the Bills will go into this clash as clear favourites.
The Bills had their winning streak ended by the Miami Dolphins last weekend, but they have still won their past two games as home underdogs and they are 6-1 against the line in this scenario.
New England proved far too good for Pittsburgh last weekend to improve their record to 6-1.
In saying that, the Patriots have proven to be a tough team to trust as away favourites over the past 12 months – they are 4-4 in head-to-head betting for a clear loss and 3-5 against the line in this scenario.
Buffalo are a better chance in this clash than the market suggests and they are a great bet to beat the line with a start of 6.5 points.
Back Buffalo To Beat The Line (+6.5 Points)
The Denver Broncos returned to winning form with an improved performance over the Houston Texans and they go into this clash as clear favourites.
This will be the second meeting between these two sides in a month and it was the Chargers that managed to upstage the defending Super Bowl champions the last time that they played.
Denver have the advantage of playing this game in front of their home fans, but they are just 5-3 as home favourites over the past 12 months and 2-1-5 against the line in this scenario.
San Diego made it two wins on the trot with a thrilling overtime victory over Atlanta and they will go into this clash with plenty of confidence.
The Chargers have won only two of their past nine game as away underdogs, but they are an incredible 8-1 against the line in this scenario.
There is no reason that San Diego can’t give the Broncos a scare once again and they are an outstanding bet to cover the line with a start of 5.5 points.
Back San Diego To Beat The Line (+5.5 Points)
This is basically a must-win for the Carolina Panthers as they fight to keep their season alive.
Carolina have now lost four games on the trot, but they will still go into this clash as clear favourites.
The Panthers remain a profitable betting play as home favourites – they have won seven of their past nine games in this scenario and they are 6-3 against the line.
Arizona missed out on a golden opportunity to record their third win in a row when they draw with Seattle last weekend, in what was another uninspiring performance from the Cardinals defence.
The Cardinals are 1-1 as away underdogs in the past 12 months and they generally don’t play bad football away from home.
I am willing to give the Carolina Panthers one more chance in this clash and I think they can cover the line with a start of three points.
Back Carolina To Beat The Line (-3 Points)
This is a crucial game for both sides as the winner will likely finish the weekend on top of the NFC East.
Dallas have been nothing short of outstanding this season and they went into the bye on the back of five straight victories.
Ezekiel Elliot has justified his selection as a first round draft pick in emphatic fashion, while Dak Prescott has been a revelation under centre.
They will go into this clash as clear favourites, but winning in front of their home fans has proven easier said than done for the Cowboys in the past 12 months.
Philadelphia ended their losing streak with a most impressive performance against Minnesota and they will fancy their chances in this clash.
The Eagles have won three of their past four games as away underdogs for a handy profit and they have the sort of game that can trouble the Cowboys.
Philadelphia are well over the odds at their current price of $2.75 and are one of the best value bets of the weekend.
Back Philadelphia To Win @ $2.75
Minnesota suffered their first loss of the season when they went down to the Philadelphia Eagles and they have an excellent chance to return to winning form against the Chicago Bears.
Sam Bradford had easily his first game since joining the Vikings against his old franchise, but the Vikings should have little trouble bouncing back – they have six of their past eight games on the road and they are 7-1 against the line.
Chicago produced another uninspiring performance against the Green Bay Packers and it looks as though Jay Cutler will be under centre for this clash.
The Bears have won just one of their past eight games in front of their home fans and they are a truly putrid 2-6 against the line in this scenario.
Minnesota are one of the safest betting plays of the weekend and they should have no problem accounting for the Bears in comfortable fashion.
Back Minnesota To Beat The Line (-6 Points)