Top Picks For The Week
2023 NFL PICKS WEEK 8 & BEST BETS
2023 NFL PICKS WEEK 8 & BEST BETS
The Buffalo Bills have become one of the most inconsistent teams and it is starting to defy explanation. Head coach Sean McDermott’s team was expected to dominate against the lowly Patriots, but the Bills were unable to slow down the Patriots passing game – something no other team had any trouble with at this point in the year.
After a couple of powerful early-season performances against the Raiders and Dolphins, it’s fair to ask what’s going on with a team that many consider a Super Bowl contender.
See our full breakdown of NFL Picks, NFL Player Props, and NFL Odds
Each week we bring you our best NFL bets for that week. Take a look at our past picks and weekly win-loss records:
NFL Week 1 Picks: 11-4 straight up, 6-6, ATS, 2-1 Best Bets
NFL Week 2 Picks: 11-5 straight up, 7-6-1 ATS, 2-1 Best Bets
NFL Week 3 Picks: 6-10 straight up, 6-10, 0-3 Best Bets
NFL Week 4 Picks: 12-4 straight up, 11-4-1 ATS, 1-1-1 Best Bets
NFL Week 5 Picks: 5-9 straight up; 7-7 ATS, 1-2 Best Bets
NFL Week 6 Picks: 10-5 straight up; 8-6 ATS; 2-1 Best Bets.
NFL Week 7 Picks: 5-8 straight up; 4-9 ATS; 1-2 Best Bets
NFL Week 8 Schedule
Thursday, Oct. 26
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills, 8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime
Sunday, Oct. 29
- Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Los Angeles Rams at Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- New York Jets at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Atlanta Falcons at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox
- Baltimore Ravens at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
- Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
- Cincinnati Bengals at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
- Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:15 p.m. ET,NBC
Monday, Oct. 23
- Las Vegas Raiders at Detroit Lions, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
NFL WEEK 8 PICKS AGAINST THE SPREAD AND PREDICTIONS
Take a look at all of our picks and predictions for every NFL matchup. We cover all week 8 games with our expert analysis and determine the best NFL week 8 picks.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS at BUFFALO BILLS
Spread: Buffalo -7.5
Over-Under: 42.5
Money line: Buffalo -400; TB +315
The Bills are one of the most talented teams in the league, but they don’t play that way every week. They are starting to look like underachievers. They have fallen to 4-3 after an inexplicable loss to the Patriots. While Josh Allen has the speed and arm strength to dominate, he continues to turn the ball over at inopportune moments. He has already thrown 7 interceptions and the season is not even half over. Head coach Sean McDermott could be on thin ice if the Bills fail to meet expectations.
The Bucs looked sharp at the start of the season and Baker Mayfield was on point, but they have lost three of their last four games. If wideout Mike Evans doesn’t exploit Buffalo’s 14th-ranked pass defense, it will be hard for the Bucs to win in upstate New York. The Bucs are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games against the Bills.
Prediction: Buffalo, Straight up; Tampa Bay, ATS.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Spread: Jax. -1.5
O-U: 41.5
Moneyline: Jax -132, Pittsburgh +112
The Steelers are one of the most intriguing teams in the league, as they improved to 4-2 with their Week 7 victory over the Rams, and it was the closest they have come to playing a solid, all-around game this season. Quarterback Kenny Pickett has been criticized for his lack of production, but he is at his best when games are on the line in the 4th quarter. Pickett has developed a great rapport with explosive wideout George Pickens. The Steelers defense will get a major challenge from Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawerence, running back Travis Etienne and wideout Calvin Ridley.
The Jaguars are middle of the pack on both offense (yards per game) and defense (yards allowed per game), but they have won 4 games in a row and have proven quite resourceful. The Jaguars are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 games against the Steelers.
Prediction:Jacksonville, Straight up and ATS.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Spread: Indianapolis -1.5
O-U: 41.5
Moneyline: Indianapolis -112, New Orleans -104
The Colts have been overachievers this season as little was expected from a team that was 4-12-1 a year ago and lost rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson to a shoulder injury earlier in the year. Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew is one of the best No. 2 signal callers in the league, and nearly beating the Browns was an excellent effort last week. The Colts suddenly have a strong 1-2 punch at running back with Zack Moss and Jonathan Taylor.
The Saints have been quite inconsistent and have lost 4 of 5 after opening with back-to-back wins. Derek Carr is trying to establish rhythm on offense, but his 6-4 TD-interception ratio has been underwhelming. Virtual unknown Carl Granderson is getting the job done at defensive end with 4.5 sacks and 1 forced fumble. The Saints are 7-2 straight up and ATS in their last 9 games against the Colts.
Prediction: Indianapolis, Straight up and ATS
HOUSTON TEXANS at CAROLINA PANTHERS
Spread: Houston -3
O-U: 41.5
Moneyline: Houston -158, Carolina +134
The Texans have the edge to this point in the battle of rookie quarterbacks as C.J. Stroud has been excellent as Houston’s trigger man, while Bryce Young has struggled quite a bit for the winless Panthers. Carolina may be pumped up for this game, because the Panthers may not have many more chances to win, although they do play the Bears in Week 10. Stroud has a sensational 9-1 TD-interception ratio, and his ability to read defenses is quite noteworthy for a young quarterback.
Young is a more pedestrian 6-4 in that category. Veteran wideout Adam Thielen knows how to get open and has caught 49-509-4, but the Panthers are not getting much support from the rest of their 24th-ranked offense. The Texans are 0-4 straight up and ATS in their last 4 games against the Panthers.
Prediction: Carolina, Straight up and ATS
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at MIAMI DOLPHINS
Spread: Miami -11.5
O-U: 47.5
Moneyline: Miami -550, New England +450
The Patriots had been left as roadside kill prior to their Week 7 game against the Buffalo Bills and they were given virtually no chance of winning. But somehow, Bill Belichick willed a great effort out of his forlorn team and the Patriots led nearly the entire game. However, the most impressive portion of their effort was coming back to win on the final drive after the Bills had taken a late lead. Does that mean the Pats are back on track? Hardly. They are likely to get a lesson from the Dolphins, who were left licking their wounds following a Sunday night loss to the powerful Eagles.
Tua Tagovailoa is not going to let the Dolphins fall short here, but it should be noted that the Dolphins have lost road games to the Bills and Eagles, the two strongest teams they have faced. The Dolphins are 8-2 straight up and ATS in their last 10 home games vs. the Patriots.
Prediction: Miami, Straight up and ATS
LOS ANGELES RAMS at DALLAS COWBOYS
Spread: Dallas -6
O-U: 45.5
Moneyline: Dallas -250, LAR +205
The Cowboys have one of the most talented rosters in the league, but they are also a very inconsistent team. Much of this falls on head coach Mike McCarthy, who failed to get his team ready for one of the worst teams in the league in Arizona and one of the best in San Francisco. Still, the Cowboys have Micah Parsons on defense along with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb on offense. They are capable of dominating when they are fully prepared.
The Rams have been much better than expected this season as wideouts Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp have helped quarterback Matthew Stafford regain some of his best form. Aaron Donald is still one of the top pass rushers in the league and the sight of the Cowboys should bring out his best game. The Rams are 2-8 straight up in their last 10 games against NFC opponents.
Prediction: Dallas, Straight up; LAR, ATS
ATLANTA FALCONS at TENNESSEE TITANS
Spread: Atl. -1.5
O-U: 37.5
Moneyline: Atlanta -118, Tennessee +100
Don’t look now, but the Falcons are sitting in first place in the NFC South. While that division may not carry the status of NFC East or AFC North, that’s still a big achievement for head coach Arthur Smith’s team. The Falcons are coming off a road win over the Buccaneers, and they are hoping that quarterback Desmond Ridder can start to play with some consistency. His 6-6 TD-interception ratio is an issue, but the Falcons would like to ride rookie running back Bijan Robins – 404 rushing yards, 4.99 yards per carry – because he has game-changing talent.
The Titans have dropped 3 of their last 4 games and quarterback Ryan Tannehill doesn’t have much left in the tank. The Titans have fallen to last place in the AFC South and their offense ranks 28th in the NFL. There’s very little for head coach Mike Vrabel to build off of at this point. The Titans are 6-2 straight up and 5-2-1 ATS against the Falcons.
Prediction: Tennessee, Straight up and ATS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Spread: Phil -6.5
O-U: 46.5
Moneyline: Phil. -250, Wash. +200
The Eagles rebounded from their only loss of the season with an impressive victory over the high-powered Miami Dolphins. As long as quarterback Jalen Hurts does not turn the ball over, the Eagles are the most difficult team to beat in the NFC. Hurts threw for 279 yards, passed for 2 TDs and ran for another score against Miami, and he has one of the best receivers in the league in A.J. Brown, who caught 10-137-1 against the Dolphins.
The Commanders have excellent talent on the defensive line, but they could not handle Giants backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor – 279 yards, 2 TDs and 0 interceptions. If Taylor can take on the Washington defense and do that, what will Hurts and the Eagles do? Washington pushed Philadelphia hard in a Week 4, 34-31 overtime loss, but the Commanders appear to have gone backwards since then. The Commanders have lost 20 of their last 30 home games against NFC East rivals.
Prediction: Philadelphia, Straight up and ATS
NEW YORK JETS at NEW YORK GIANTS
Spread: NYJ -3
O-U: 36.5
Moneyline: NYJ -162, NYG +136
This was once a blood rivalry as the two teams battled for recognition across the New York metropolitan area. There is still at least a small bit of smug superiority emanating from the Giants based on their status as a 4-time Super Bowl winner while the Jets only have one title to their credit. Both teams are much stronger on the defensive side of the ball than they are on offense, and the Jets have some legitimate confidence based on their Week 6 upset of the Eagles. The Jets need Zach Wilson to take what the Giants defense gives them, and if he can get just a bit of help from running back Breece Hall, he could have a decent day.
The Giants may be better off with backup Tyrod Taylor in the lineup in place of Daniel Jones because he makes quicker and more decisive decisions. Running back Saquon Barkley has the explosiveness to cause problems for the Jets defense. The Giants are 5-2 straight up and 4-2-1 ATS in their last 7 games against the Jets.
Prediction: NYJ, Straight up and ATS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS at GREEN BAY PACKERS
Spread: GB -1.5
O-U: 43.5
Moneyline: GB -116, Minnesota -102
The Vikings rescued their season with an upset win over the 49ers in Week 7. If they can make it 4 wins in their last 5 games by beating the Packers, they will reach the .500 mark with the easiest part of their schedule coming up. Kirk Cousins led the team to a win on Monday Night Football and to a victory over an elite team, and he has established an excellent rapport with rookie wideout Jordan Addison. The Vikings have demonstrated a much improved defense over previous seasons.
The Packers offense has dried up, and their inability to move the ball and score consistently against the Broncos – ranked 32nd in yards allowed – is a major issue. If the Vikings can get off to an early lead, Jordan Love and the Packers may not have the weapons to mount a comeback. The Vikings are 10-4 straight up in their last 14 games against NFC North opponents.
Prediction: Minnesota, Straight up and ATS.
CLEVELAND BROWNS at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Spread: Sea. -2.5
O-U: 40.5
Moneyline: Seattle -138, Cleveland +118
The Browns and the Seahawks are two of the more interesting teams in the league, and both could improve quite a bit before the end of the season. The Seahawks have a surprisingly dangerous offense with Geno Smith, Kenneth Walker III, Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf and rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks defense has also been impressive – dominant performance in Week 4 vs. the Giants – and Pete Carroll’s team could be dangerous.
The Browns have the best defense in the league as they are led by the sensational Myles Garrett. He had 9 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 1 tackle for loss and 1 pass defensed in Week 7 against the Colts. The Browns are capable of shutting down any offense, but they need Deshaun Watson to step up and stay healthy if this team is going to challenge any high-level opponent in a crucial late season game. NFC West opponents are 8-2 straight up and ATS in their last 10 games vs. the Browns.
Prediction: Seattle, Straight up and ATS
CINCINNATI BENGALS at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Spread: SF -5.5
O-U: 45.5
Moneyline: SF -240, Cin. +198
The 49ers are clearly one of the best teams in the league and they are likely on a collision course with the Eagles at some point during the postseason – most likely in the NFC title game. However, the Niners have to get healthy, and that would allow quarterback Brock Purdy to have all of his weapons. Christian McCaffrey played last week against the Vikings and has scored touchdowns in 16 straight games. He is a legitimate MVP candidate.
The Bengals got off to a very slow start and it appeared that star quarterback Joe Burrow had taken a step backward because of his calf strain suffered in training camp. However, he is back on track and his top receiver Ja’Marr Chase is capable of dominating against any defense. If the Bengals can get off to a decent start they should have a good chance to hang around for 60 minutes and pull off the upset.
Prediction: San Francisco, Straight; Cincinnati, ATS
BALTIMORE RAVENS at ARIZONA CARDINALS
Spread: Baltimore -8.5
O-U: 44
Moneyline: Baltimore -450, Arizona +350
The Ravens are in first place in the AFC North with a 5-2 record, but they are being pressed hard by the Steelers and Browns. Baltimore took apart the Detroit Lions in Week 7, and that was no small achievement considering how well the Lions were playing at the start of the season. Lamar Jackson had one of his best games as he threw for 357 yards with 3 TDs and no interceptions. Wideout Zay Flowers and tight end Mark Andrews are fine targets for Jackson. The Baltimore defense ranks second in the league behind the Browns.
The Cardinals play with effort for unheralded quarterback Joshua Dobbs, but this team misses athletic Kyler Murray. Marquise Brown is a fine go-to receiver, but the Ravens will focus on keeping him from making big plays. The Ravens are 5-1 straight up and 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games against the Cardinals.
Prediction: Baltimore, Straight up and ATS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS at DENVER BRONCOS
Spread: KC -8.5
O-U: 45.5
Moneyline: KC -400, Denver +315
The Chiefs are on a roll and it appears that they are getting ready to put away the AFC West title very shortly. The Chiefs reeled off their sixth straight victory following their Week 1 loss, and their offense came to life in their 31-17 victory over the disappointing Los Angeles Chargers in Week 7. Patrick Mahomes is coming off a 424-yard, 4-TD performance, and he should be able to exploit Denver’s defense along with Travis Kelce, Isiah Pacheco and newly reacquired Mecole Hardman.
The Broncos have shown quite a bit of improvement on defense since getting torched by Miami in Week 2, and they are coming off a victory over the Green Bay Packers. However, the only way the Broncos and quarterback Russell Wilson are going to come up with a victory here is if the Chiefs overlook them. That’s not likely to happen with Andy Reid at the helm.
Prediction: Kansas City, Straight Up and ATS
CHICAGO BEARS at LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Spread: LAC -9.5
O-U: 45
Moneyline: LAC -460, Chi. +360
The Bears played better with unknown quarterback Tyson Bagent in the lineup against the Las Vegas Raiders than they did with highly touted Justin Fields under center. Bagent lacks the athleticism and arm strength of Fields, but he makes better and quicker decisions with the ball in his hands. D.J. Moore is a dangerous receiver who should be able to take advantage of the Chargers’ yielding pass defense.
Justin Herbert is a top-level talent at the quarterback position for the Chargers and Keenan Allen remains one of the elite receivers in the league. However, the Chargers are among the most disappointing teams. Head coach Brandon Staley falls short on nearly an every-week basis, and it’s clear that it’s just a matter of time before the Chargers dismiss their head coach. The Bears are 6-2 straight up and ATS in their last 8 games vs. the Chargers.
Prediction: L.A. Chargers, Straight up and ATS
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS at DETROIT LIONS
Spread: Detroit -7.5
O-U: 44.5
Moneyline: Detroit -360, LV +290
The Lions started the season in brilliant fashion, winning 5 of their first 6 games and playing well in all of them – even the Week 2 overtime loss to the Seahawks. However, that streak came to an end in Week 7 as head coach Dan Campbell’s team was brutal against the inspired Baltimore Ravens. Look for a huge bounce-back game from the Lions, and the combination of quarterback Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown is going to test the 10th-ranked Raiders defense.
The Raiders are hoping to get Jimmy Garoppolo (back) in the lineup because the attack stalled with Brian Hoyer under center in the Week 7 loss to the Chicago Bears. Josh McDaniels did not have his team prepared for Chicago, so how is he going to get his team ready for an angry Detroit team? The Lions have lost 7 of their last 10 games straight up against AFC West opponents.
Prediction: Detroit, Straight up; Las Vegas, ATS
WEEK 8 NFL PICKS & BEST BETS
NFL PICKS AGAINST THE SPREAD: BEST BETS FOR WEEK 8 OF THE NFL
- Philadelphia -6.5 over at Washington – The Eagles quickly got back in the win column after their Week 6 loss to the Jets, and expect that to continue against the Commanders in this NFC East rematch. Washington pushed Philadelphia hard in the first meeting, but the Commanders have started to struggle and frustration is building in the locker room.
- NYJ -3 over at NYG – The Giants played a decent game in beating the Commanders, but the Jets are rested and they are coming off a huge win over the Eagles. Look for the Jets defense to dominate against Tyrod Taylor or Daniel Jones. As long as quarterback Zach Wilson doesn’t implode, the Jets defense will make enough plays to secure the win.
- Kansas City -8.5 over at Denver – The Chiefs have gotten the job done since their season-opening loss, and there’s no reason to think that the lowly Broncos will slow them down. Patrick Mahomes will be licking his chops at a chance to exploit Denver’s 32nd-ranked defense with Travis Kelce and Mecole Hardman.
