Nfl Betting Lines Week 8
Last week was another wild one in the land of pro football. There were some gut-wrenching injuries (pour one out for Dede Westbrook), some shocking upsets (we see you, Washington), and a few point spread situations we’d all like back.
Pittsburgh has the #6 pass-blocking offensive line in the NFL per Football Outsiders, but Baltimore’s group of Calais Campbell, Pernell McPhee, Matthew Judon, will push them to the limit. These two teams have two of the best defenses in the NFL, and they averaged 43.5 points per game in their two meetings last year. The NFL Betting Trends on the Matchups page are directly related to the Current Line and note the Open Line. Those are the betting odds for each matchup, which shows the favorite and ‘over/under’ odds. After a game finalizes, the Current Line is changed to the Closing Line. Spread (Point-Spread Bets) Money (Money-Line Bets) O/U (Total Bets).
Closing Las Vegas NFL Lines From Week 8: View closing NFL football lines from week eight, plus closing Vegas pro football lines from all other weeks of the season at FootballLOCKS.com. The closing Las Vegas NFL line is posted Tuesday of each week. The NFL betting line. 2020 NFL Weekly Betting Lines show point spreads, moneylines, and totals for each game of the week. Use the printer icon to generate a printable version or click team logos to view individual NFL Team Schedules. Be sure to also check out the NFL Season Schedule Grid to view all 32 teams in a printable grid format.
New England has imploded. The Pittsburgh Steelers are unbeaten. Baker Mayfield might be good. Carson Wentz is a hero.
You seriously can’t make this stuff up.
Week six was a volatile beast, and I’m sure week seven will slap it across the face and tell it to sit back down. Give it a second, because it’s coming.
But as treacherous as the coming week of NFL betting may be, there remains value in jumping on the early NFL week 8 odds.
I’ll offer a little insight on the early lines to nudge you in the direction, though, so let’s get to it.
As I said, these are very early week 8 NFL betting lines, so don’t be too shocked if/when things change quite a bit. I doubt this one moves too much, however.
Atlanta has been very competitive ever since firing head coach Dan Quinn, and the Panthers have been in just about every game this season.
The Falcons have had major defensive issues this year, and both offenses are capable of springing big plays. I like the Panthers as a mild favorite at home, and we can expect some points in this one, so this total may be a tad low.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Detroit Lions
The Lions are slowly turning things around. They are now 3-3 after two straight wins, with the latest coming via a clutch game-winner in Atlanta.
MATT STAFFORD FOR THE WIN pic.twitter.com/TM7P8tJplx
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) October 25, 2020
Matthew Stafford is a tough guy to bet against, and now he’s back home in week eight. Indy’s defense is good when it’s healthy, but the Colts better get linebacker Darius Leonard back for this one.
The top NFL sportsbooks are probably getting it right by listing Indy as the favorites, but Detroit offers sneaky value as the home dog.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers
Just when you thought you had the Vikings pegged, they got slapped around at home by the Atlanta Falcons. Minnesota should get Dalvin Cook back and will be fresh off of a bye week, so they can’t be overlooked here.
Green Bay returns home after easily dispatching the Texans in Houston. That was a badly needed win after getting demolished in Tampa Bay the week prior.
The Packers are the better team and crushed Minnesota in week one, but this spread feels awfully thick. Minnesota still knows the Packers very well, and offensively have the goods to give it a go here.
New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills
I think I’ve had enough of trusting Bill Belichick and these Patriots. New England is 2-4 and struggling these days. After benching Cam Newton to close out a brutal blowout loss to the 49ers, it’s a wonder where the franchise goes from here.
Are the Pats suddenly done with Newton? I doubt it, but I also don’t know if I trust this team to go into Buffalo to get a tough win.
That said, the Pats as 4-point underdogs is still pretty enticing. Also, Buffalo barely beat the winless Jets in week seven.
Tennessee Titans vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Titans finally tasted defeated in 2020, as a late Stephen Gostkowskis field goal that would have forced OT didn’t go in.
Tennessee is quite good, so natural logic suggests they’re in for a huge bounce-back spot on the road against Cincy. Of course, Joe Burrow just got done roasting the Browns in an epic shootout.
Joe Burrow is the first rookie QB in NFL history with at least 400 passing yds, 3 passing TDs, and a rushing TD in a game.
— lindsey ok (@lindseyyok) October 26, 2020
I think he’ll be just fine.
Cincinnati probably won’t win, but there’s something sneaky about them when you look at this spread. The Over is also going to stand out in another potential back-and-forth affair.
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Cleveland Browns
The Browns have to be feeling pretty good about themselves these days. They’re dealing with some injuries, but hey, Baker Mayfield just delivered a career-defining performance.
Baker Mayfield started 0/5 with an INT, then went nearly perfect:
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 25, 2020
22-23
297 Yards
5 TDs
His only incomplete pass was a spike to stop the clock.
Shut the haters up. pic.twitter.com/Rj1lLbWYSL
He can prove that was for real in a tense home battle with the Raiders this week. The early week 8 NFL odds have the Raiders as slight underdogs, but it’s tough to gauge who the better team actually is.
Bettors will see that the Raiders just got stomped by the Buccaneers, but this is still a team that’s taken down the Saints and Chiefs.
New York Jets vs. Kansas City Chiefs
This has to be the “stay away” game for week eight NFL bettors, right? I’d say so, as I can’t remember the last time I saw a spread this thick.
Regardless, it reminds me that it’s always a good idea to brush up on tips for betting football point spreads. Choosing games is one of them, after all.
I’m sure we’ve seen it pretty recently, but my word. New York actually put up quite a fight in week seven, and had things broken a little differently, maybe they even beat the Bills.
Still, the Chiefs have way more talented and just smoked the Broncos. There is a very real chance Kansas City easily covers here, but this may be a situation to avoid.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Miami Dolphins
L.A. will be operating on a short week after battling a feisty Bears team on Monday Night Football. We don’t know the result of that game as I write this, but I think we can all agree that they’ll be the clear favorites in Miami this week.
That’d be the case if the Dolphins had a veteran quarterback under center, but this will be rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailo’s first start.
Breaking: The Dolphins are naming Tua Tagovailoa their starting QB, per @AdamSchefterpic.twitter.com/sLZA3yDAnA
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 20, 2020
I’m sure he’ll be good, but the Rams aren’t a cakewalk matchup. The Rams make sense as the favorites, and bettors might be getting valuable with a tighter than expected line.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens
If you were wondering what the best game for week eight in the NFL would be, this is it. On paper, at least, as the undefeated Steelers take on the hated Ravens in Baltimore.
Pittsburgh’s defense has been very good, and a balanced offense makes them a very tough team to stop. They have a challenge in stifling Lamar Jackson and co., but considering the Steelers have the best run defense in football, I don’t hate their chances.
Baltimore probably gets the win at home, but this should be a close game. The Steelers at +5.5 feels really thick, and may be one of the best week 8 NFL spreads to attack.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos
The Broncos and Chargers are both rolling into week eight with young quarterbacks trying to prove this is their franchise to lead. It’s going great for one of them.
Drew Lock has struggled mightily for Denver, while the Broncos got flat out embarrassed in a snow game in week seven. They’ll be tasked with stopping Justin Herbert, who had possibly his best game of his young career last week.
That said, this game is impossible to peg. The lively arms could give way to a shootout, or the solid defenses and mistake-prone passers could give us a total dud.
In a pick’em, the more balanced Chargers do stand out, though.
The Saints head to Chicago to test that whole “the Saints aren’t good on the road” theory, but give credit where credit is due. New Orleans has played the majority of 2020 without their top wide receiver, and yet they walk in week eight at a solid 4-2.
New Orleans could be up against it in this spot, of course. Not only is this a tough defense on the road, but Michael Thomas still may be out.
Drew Brees and co. need to keep winning to stay in first place in the NFC South, but the Bears are that type of team that is hard to kill. They feel like a bit of a value as home dogs.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks just got done with a tense NFC West tilt on Sunday Night Football, and here comes another.
Betting against Russell Wilson has been a mistake for, well, pretty much his entire career. The Niners aren’t supposed to be that good, either, but they’ve quietly gone 4-3 with a balanced offense that sits inside the top-15 in most categories.
San Francisco is a solid value here, but the injuries continue to mount. The team was already down so many bodies, but then also lost Jeff Wilson Jr. and Deebo Samuel last week.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles
This game is among the few I would maybe refrain from betting on early in the week. Early week 8 NFL betting lines are pretty interesting, but not so much when both teams have a lot of injury issues.
Dallas is the big one here, as Andy Dalton got rocked in week seven.
Andy Dalton got knocked out of the game on an egregiously dirty hit by Jon Bostic https://t.co/RGEq6VxRBjpic.twitter.com/3UUU8FnZs2
— For The Win (@ForTheWin) October 26, 2020
Dalton could have been seriously hurt, and at best got concussed. He may be at risk of sitting this one out. That’d hurt the Cowboys a lot – which is saying something – while Philly is ailing at wide receiver, running back, and all over their offensive line.
The Eagles should win at home in this matchup, but as bad as Dallas has been, banking on Philly to cover by this much seems a bit silly.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Giants
Lastly, we get the Buccaneers and Giants, which is impossibly the snoozer we are all graced with next Monday.
If the league can flex this MNF game, they absolutely should try, because this point spread honestly feels light. The Buccaneers are positively loaded on both sides of the ball, and if you look at what they’ve turned into the last two weeks, they feel kind of unstoppable.
New York will need about one hundred of these Daniels Jones runs to stay in this one.
The Giants are better than advertised on defense, but they just don’t have the talent to stage the upset, and it’d be a shocker if it was close. The Buccaneers at -10 is a steal at the moment.
Summary
The whole point of this NFL week 8 odds breakdown is to get an early look at the betting lines, but also to provide a little insight on each matchup.
I tend to let our free NFL picks do the talking, especially since those come out a little later in the week when injuries are more well known.
But this initial breakdown is pretty crucial, as it can have you reacting to how games are priced, and it can allow you to hop on absurd lines, or temper expectations for others.
Looking at week eight, I would wait to see the Chiefs’ line shorten, or I’d stay away. And I’d be all over the Buccaneers (-9.5), the Steelers (+5.5), and a few others.
It can make sense to wait to bet on the NFL, but the right price can often make that decision easy for us. Hopefully this look at the NFL week 8 odds helps you out in some way.
If you’re ready to bet now, feel free to check out the safest sports betting websites available to you right now.
The 2019 season continues to be the year of the road team. Road teams went 9-4-1 against the spread (ATS) last week, and have had a winning ATS record every week this season. They are also 59-47-1 overall this season including Thursday's game. There has not been an NFL season where road teams had a winning record since 1968.
For most of the year, road underdogs have been the story, and they are still hitting at a 64% rate (45-25-2). But last week, the road favorites went 5-1 ATS and won all six games outright. Home 'dogs are now just 7-26-1 outright this season.
This week, one trend to watch involves road teams coming off a bye. Since 2012, those teams are 47-29-2 ATS. That trend applies to Tampa Bay, Carolina and Cleveland.
New York Giants at Detroit Lions (-6.5), 1 p.m. ET
• Pat Shurmur is 8-3 ATS on the road as New York's head coach. Eight of the 11 games went over the total including each of the past five.
• Matt Patricia is 5-0 ATS against teams that entered the game with a losing record. Since 2014, Detroit is 22-11-2 ATS against teams with losing records.
• Detroit is 14-8-2 ATS as a home favorite since 2014. This snaps a streak of seven straight home games not being a favorite.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tennessee Titans (-2.5), 1 p.m. ET
• Jameis Winston is 9-17-1 ATS in his career when the spread is between +3 and -3, including 2-10-1 ATS since the start of 2017. He's lost 10 of the past 11 such games outright.
• Tennessee is 0-4-1 ATS this season when the line is between +3 and -3. The only time it pushed was last week when the Los Angeles Chargers fumbled at the 1-yard line down by three with under a minute left.
• Over the past five seasons, Tennessee is 12-4-1 ATS in nonconference games.
Los Angeles Chargers at Chicago Bears (-3.5), 1 p.m. ET
• Philip Rivers is 30-14-1 ATS in his career as a road underdog of at least three points, including 6-3-2 ATS since the franchise moved to Los Angeles.
• Since the start of last season, Los Angeles is 9-3-1 ATS on the road (4-2 ATS in games starting at 1 p.m. ET) including playoffs.
• Over the past 10 seasons, Los Angeles is 10-1-1 ATS when the total is under 42. Philip Rivers is 19-13-1 ATS in his career when the total is that low.
• Mitchell Trubisky is 9-3 ATS against teams that entered the game with a losing record.
Seattle Seahawks (NL) at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET
• Atlanta has failed to cover five straight games and is now 6-17 ATS over the past two seasons, the worst record in the NFL. It is 2-7 ATS as an underdog in that span (1-4 this season).
• While Atlanta has struggled against the number, it is 1-0 ATS this season against teams that entered with a winning record (Philadelphia) and 0-6 ATS in all other games.
Nfl Week 8 Computer Picks
• Seattle is 8-1 ATS in its past nine road games including the playoffs, and the only time it didn't cover was by one point. Six of the past seven of those games have gone over the total.
New York Jets at Jacksonville Jaguars (-6.5), 1 p.m. ET
• Adam Gase is 4-13 ATS in his career as a road underdog of at least five points (1-16 SU).
• New York is 0-4 ATS this season when the game goes under the total and 2-0 ATS when the game goes over the total.
• Sam Darnold is 5-10-1 ATS in his career as a starter, including 2-5 ATS on the road.
• Gardner Minshew II is 3-0 ATS against teams that entered the game with losing records.
Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills (-1.5), 1 p.m. ET
• Since the start of 2017, Philadelphia is 9-7 SU as an underdog (10-6 ATS) including playoffs.
• Doug Pederson is 12-7 SU and ATS as an underdog of four or fewer points.
• The under is 12-5 in Josh Allen starts.
• Josh Allen is 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in games where the line is between +3 and -3.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Rams (-13), 1 p.m. ET (London)
• Favorites are 22-12-1 ATS all-time in international games (16-10 ATS in London games). Favorites of at least seven points are 6-1 ATS in international games.
• Since the start of last season, Cincinnati is 5-0 ATS as an underdog of at least seven points (0-5 SU).
• Sean McVay is 5-1 ATS as a double-digit favorite, although the only ATS loss was an outright defeat against Philadelphia last season.
Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints (-10), 1 p.m. ET
• Arizona is 3-0 ATS in 1 p.m. ET games this season; however, since 2016, Arizona is 5-13 ATS in these games.
• Arizona is 5-1 ATS as an underdog this season (3-2-1 SU), including three straight outright wins.
• New Orleans is 5-0 ATS this season in Teddy Bridgewater starts. Bridgewater is 28-7 ATS in his career as a starter, the best mark by any quarterback in the Super Bowl era (min. 20 starts).
• Drew Brees has failed to cover in six straight starts including the playoffs, although immediately prior to that stretch, he was 10-1 ATS in his previous 11 games.
• Over the past 10 seasons, New Orleans is 7-14 ATS against quarterbacks that are 10 or fewer starts into their career.
Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts (-5.5), 1 p.m. ET
• Thirteen of the past 15 Denver games went under the total, including the past three. Overall, Denver games are 17-5-1 to the under the past two seasons, the best under percentage in the NFL.
• Dating back to his time in Baltimore, the under is 11-3 in Joe Flacco's past 14 starts.
• Every Indianapolis game has been decided by seven points or fewer this season.
• Frank Reich is 11-5-2 ATS in his past 18 games including playoffs, including 4-1-1 this season.
Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers (-5.5), 4:05 p.m. ET
• Kyle Allen is 5-0 ATS and SU as a starter, including 3-0 as an underdog. Only eight quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era have covered each of their first six career starts, with Patrick Mahomes and Brian Hoyer the only two to do it in the past 10 seasons.
• Carolina is 8-2 ATS in its past 10 games against teams that entered the game with winning records and is 11-5 ATS in that spot since the start of 2017.
• Kyle Shanahan is 2-6-1 ATS as a favorite in his career (1-2 ATS this season).
Oakland Raiders at Houston Texans (-7), 4:25 p.m. ET
• Oakland is one of two teams to be an underdog in every game this season (Miami). The point spread has yet to matter, as Oakland won three games outright and failed to cover in any of its three losses.
• Since 2012, Oakland is 10-20-1 ATS in nonconference games.
• Over the past three seasons, the under is 8-2 in Oakland games when the total is at least 50 and the Raiders are 3-7 ATS in those games. Houston is 4-0 ATS in the Bill O'Brien era when the total is at least 50.
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots (-12.5), 4:25 p.m. ET
• Road underdogs coming off a bye are 47-29-2 ATS since 2012.
• New England is 9-2 ATS in its past 11 games including playoffs.
• New England is 28-0 at home (18-10 ATS) against quarterbacks under the age of 25 since 2001 (the start of the Tom Brady era).
• New England has won 20 straight games against quarterbacks in their first two seasons, the longest streak in NFL history according to the Elias Sports Bureau (12-8 ATS).
Green Bay Packers (-3.5) at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. ET
• Andy Reid is 17-11-2 ATS as an underdog as Chiefs head coach.
• Andy Reid is 15-8 ATS in his career in the regular season with at least 10 days between games.
• Matt Moore is 19-11-1 ATS in his career as a starter, although he is 2-4 ATS in six starts since 2016. Prior to that, he had not started a game since 2011.
• Kansas City is 3-7 ATS in its past 10 home games.
• The under is 34-20-1 in Kansas City home games in the Andy Reid era and 17-4 in primetime games this season.
Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers (-13.5), Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Over the last 25 seasons, teams with 0-3 or worse records are 12-4 ATS in Monday games (8-8 outright).
• Ryan Fitzpatrick is 1-6-1 ATS in his past eight starts.
• Mike Tomlin is 9-18 ATS as a double-digit favorite, including 0-5 since 2017.
• Over the past 30 seasons, teams with .333 or lower winning percentages are 2-7 ATS as double-digit favorites in October or later (5-4 outright).
Nfl Bets Against The Spread Week 8
• Mason Rudolph is the first player to be favored by at least 14 points in one of his first four career starts since Elvis Grbac was favored by 14 in both his second and third career starts in 1995 with San Francisco. San Francisco lost both games outright (line is 13.5 at Caesars, but 14 at several other books).