Pro Picks: Week 8 Preview

As Week 8 approaches, football fans can expect a full lineup of games, many featuring significant mismatches.
BetMGM Sportsbook lists six teams as favorites by seven points or more, with three of those being double-digit favorites.
This week, Pro Picks anticipates three underdogs will cover the spread.
Furthermore, five matchups will spotlight division rivals, including contests determining the lead in both the AFC and NFC South.
The week kicks off with the Vikings facing the Rams on Thursday night, while the Giants will take on the Steelers on Monday night.
The long-standing rivalry between the Cowboys and 49ers will also reignite during “Sunday Night Football,” with both squads looking to overcome struggles.

Atlanta (4-3) at Tampa Bay (4-3)
Line: Falcons -2.5
Initially exciting, this NFC South matchup lost its appeal following injuries to the Buccaneers’ top two receivers.
Chris Godwin is out for the year, and Mike Evans may miss several games, forcing Tampa Bay to lean on its improved rushing game to support Baker Mayfield.
Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins has a range of offensive weapons at his disposal, including Bijan Robinson, who has accumulated 198 rushing yards in two weeks, averaging 4.7 yards per carry.
Atlanta previously defeated Tampa Bay in an overtime thriller in Week 5 and could take charge of the division with another win.
BEST BET: FALCONS 27-20

Philadelphia (4-2) at Cincinnati (3-4)
Line: Bengals -2
The Eagles are seeing benefits from Saquon Barkley’s contributions.
Jalen Hurts has been minimizing errors, and the Philadelphia defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown in two consecutive games.
After a slow start at 1-4, the Bengals are hopeful for a record equalization but will need more production from Joe Burrow and his offensive teammates.
Cincinnati managed to score just 38 cumulative points over its last two wins after averaging 35 across three games.
UPSET SPECIAL: EAGLES 24-23

Minnesota (5-1) at Los Angeles Rams (2-4)
Line: Vikings -3
Following their first loss of the season against Detroit at home, the Vikings head to face the Rams amid ongoing rumors about a potential trade for Matthew Stafford.
In their recent 31-29 setback, the Vikings struggled with penalties and miscues.
Even if they don’t acquire Stafford, Sam Darnold can still keep Minnesota competitive in the postseason chase.
The Rams are grappling with a critical decision to either trade players for future potential or try for a playoff run in a competitive NFC West.
The anticipated return of Cooper Kupp should energize Los Angeles’ offense.
VIKINGS 26-20

Baltimore (5-2) at Cleveland (1-6)
Line: Ravens -9
Lamar Jackson is performing at an elite level, and Derrick Henry has been exceptional as the Ravens bounce back from an early-season slump.
The Browns are switching to Jameis Winston due to Deshaun Watson’s season-ending injury, which potentially represents an upgrade for their offense.
Cleveland is playing for pride against a division rival and boasts a formidable defense, while Baltimore faces the challenge of a short week following a Monday night game.
This situation might keep the score closer than expected.
RAVENS 24-16

Tennessee (1-5) at Detroit (5-1)
Line: Lions -11.5
Jared Goff has been outstanding, particularly over his last three appearances, helping Detroit claim the NFC North following a victory against Minnesota.
The Lions have clear Super Bowl ambitions and show no signs of slowing down.
While the Titans have been solid defensively, limiting yardage, their offensive performance has struggled significantly, ranking near the bottom in scoring.
Detroit’s offensive firepower should be too daunting to handle for the Titans.
LIONS 27-14

Arizona (3-4) at Miami (2-4)
Line: Dolphins -3.5
Tua Tagovailoa is gearing up to return after a four-game absence due to a concussion, and Miami is keen to reinvigorate its lackluster offense during that timeframe.
The Cardinals head into this matchup fresh off a Monday night victory against the Chargers but will be facing challenges with Kyler Murray underperforming.
Arizona’s depleted defense will find it tough against Miami’s potent offense, especially with Tagovailoa’s expected return.
DOLPHINS 26-20

New York Jets (2-5) at New England (1-6)
Line: Jets -7
Despite Davante Adams joining the team, Aaron Rodgers struggles have persisted.
The Jets previously defeated the Patriots 24-3 in Week 3 and are looking to remedy their current woes against an underperforming New England squad.
New England, however, will have Drake Maye starting now, which may increase their competitiveness.
The teams collectively hold a poor 1-9 record against the spread in their last five outings.
JETS 23-17

Green Bay (5-2) at Jacksonville (2-5)
Line: Packers -4
The Jaguars are about to enter a critical stretch of games that will shape their season against four NFC opponents boasting a 19-4 overall record.
Trevor Lawrence must maintain a clean game to give Jacksonville a fighting chance against the Packers while their defense is also formidable.
Green Bay managed to secure a win against Houston last week despite committing three turnovers, but Jordan Love needs to lessen his interception count as he is tied for the league lead at eight picks.
PACKERS 29-24

Indianapolis (4-3) at Houston (5-2)
Line: Texans -5
The Texans aim to achieve just their second sweep of the Colts in this long-standing AFC South rivalry.
C.J. Stroud is coming off a disappointing performance but can solidify their division lead for Houston with a win.
Meanwhile, Anthony Richardson has faced challenges in recent games as the Colts look for a fifth win in six contests since an initial 0-2 start.
TEXANS 27-20

New Orleans (2-5) at Los Angeles Chargers (3-3)
Line: Chargers -7.5
Once viewed as a formidable team, the Saints have struggled due to injuries and have suffered defeats at home recently.
Hoping that a California visit will rejuvenate their performance, the Chargers are regrouping after a heartbreaking last-second loss to Arizona.
Justin Herbert is coming off a strong game, yet their offense has had issues with finishing drives.
CHARGERS 23-17

Buffalo (5-2) at Seattle (4-3)
Line: Bills -3
Josh Allen has avoided interceptions so far, and with a comfortable lead in the AFC East, the Bills are looking for a win against a competitive opponent.
The Seahawks, after a rough stretch that saw three losses, appear to be regaining their footing with the NFL’s top-ranked passing offense, although they likely won’t have top target DK Metcalf.
BILLS 26-20

Chicago (4-2) at Washington (5-2)
Line: Bears -2.5
This highly anticipated matchup may not fulfill expectations with the Bears potentially starting veteran Marcus Mariota in place of the injured rookie QB Jayden Daniels.
The Bears have been on a winning streak, thanks to a well-rounded effort both offensively and defensively.
Washington, under first-year head coach Dan Quinn, has surprised many this season, but without Daniels, the Bears could have a significant edge.
BEARS 22-19

Carolina (1-6) at Denver (4-3)
Line: Broncos -10
With Sean Payton working to maximize the offense’s potential, the Broncos are improving, while the Panthers continue to struggle and may end up with another first-round draft pick.
Bryce Young is expected to take over against Denver due to an injury to Andy Dalton, providing him another opportunity to showcase his talents.
BRONCOS 24-13

Kansas City (6-0) at Las Vegas (2-5)
Line: Chiefs -10
The Chiefs, who remain unbeaten after six games, have bolstered their offense by acquiring All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins, providing a new asset for Patrick Mahomes.
Kansas City is looking to bounce back after previous offseason drama with the Raiders.
CHIEFS 33-13

Dallas (3-3) at San Francisco (3-4)
Line: 49ers -4
With Micah Parsons potentially returning, the Cowboys could gain a significant advantage, especially after taking a week off to reflect on a crushing defeat.
The 49ers are faced with injuries, particularly with Brandon Aiyuk out for the season, and will need Brock Purdy to efficiently manage the game along with reliable support from playmakers.
San Francisco has won their last three encounters, including two playoff games, but both teams currently lack the high-level play needed for postseason contention.
49ERS 23-21

New York Giants (2-5) at Pittsburgh (5-2)
Line: Steelers -6.5
This matchup doesn’t bode well for the Giants as they’ll be facing a tough Steelers defense led by T.J. Watt.
Russell Wilson will need to maintain his momentum following a strong prime-time performance for Pittsburgh.
STEELERS 26-16

Overall Recap
Last week’s performance saw a tally of 10 wins and 5 losses straight up while ending with a 5-10 mark against the spread.
The cumulative season record is currently 72-35 straight up, with a spread record of 57-48-2.
In prime-time matchups, the straight-up record sits at 16-9 with a spread tally of 12-12-1.
The best bet stands at 5-2 straight up and against the spread, while the upset special matches that at 5-2 as well.