NFL Picks Week 8: Latest Odds, Prop Bets, Over/Under Lines and Predictions
The 2016 NFL season isn't even half over, but we've already reached the point where some teams are no longer legitimate playoff contenders.
That leaves fans of squads such as the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers scrambling for something to cheer about on Sundays outside of just their fantasy teams. Enter Las Vegas, which is more than happy to indulge bettors looking to make the NFL slate more interesting every week.
With marquee games such as the clash between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles and the showdown between the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons populating the schedule, there is plenty for bettors to choose from.
With that in mind, here is a look at some predictions for the Week 8 point spreads and over/under lines, as well as an early glance at the Super Bowl prop bets.
The odds and over/unders are courtesy of Odds Shark, as of Monday at 5:30 p.m. ET. The Super Bowl prop bets can be found here, per Odds Shark.
| Thursday, Oct. 27 | 8:25 p.m. | Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans | TEN -3.5 | Titans | 44 | Under |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | 9:30 a.m. | Washington at Cincinnati Bengals (in London) | CIN -3 | Bengals | 46.5 | Under |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | 1 p.m. | Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts | KC -2.5 | Chiefs | 50 | Under |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | 1 p.m. | Oakland Raiders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TB -1.5 | Raiders | 49.5 | Over |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | 1 p.m. | Seattle Seahawks at New Orleans Saints | SEA -3 | Seahawks | 48 | Under |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | 1 p.m. | Detroit Lions at Houston Texans | HOU -2.5 | Texans | 45.5 | Over |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | 1 p.m. | New York Jets at Cleveland Browns | NYJ -2.5 | Jets | Not listed | -- |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | 1 p.m. | New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills | NE -6 | Patriots | 47.5 | Over |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | 1 p.m. | Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers | CAR -2.5 | Cardinals | 48 | Under |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | 4:05 p.m. | San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos | DEN -6 | Chargers | 44.5 | Over |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | 4:25 p.m. | Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons | ATL -2.5 | Falcons | 52.5 | Under |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | 8:30 p.m. | Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys | DAL -4.5 | Cowboys | 43.5 | Over |
| Monday, Oct. 31 | 8:30 p.m. | Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears | MIN -5 | Vikings | 41 | Under |
| Arizona Cardinals | 14-1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 18-1 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 75-1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 33-1 |
| Carolina Panthers | 75-1 |
| Chicago Bears | 500-1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 66-1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5000-1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 10-1 |
| Denver Broncos | 20-1 |
| Detroit Lions | 75-1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 12-1 |
| Houston Texans | 33-1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 50-1 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 75-1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 18-1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 75-1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 200-1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7-1 |
| New England Patriots | 3-1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 150-1 |
| New York Giants | 40-1 |
| New York Jets | 300-1 |
| Oakland Raiders | 33-1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 50-1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 12-1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 75-1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2000-1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 7.5-1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 100-1 |
| Tennessee Titans | 200-1 |
| Washington | 40-1 |
Over/Under Bet to Target: Oakland Raiders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Over)
Start with the defenses when targeting the over in the game between the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After Sunday's action, the Raiders were 22nd in the league in points allowed per game, while the Buccaneers were even worse at 25th. They are not exactly keeping opposing offenses off the scoreboard, which is exactly what you want to see when going for the over.
The matchup of Oakland's offense against Tampa Bay's defense is especially intriguing because the Raiders were eighth in the NFL in points per game after Sunday's slate.
Derek Carr should continue his impressive season against a vulnerable defense. The third-year quarterback has 1,808 passing yards, 13 touchdown throws and just three interceptions through seven games and has two game-changing receivers to target against Tampa Bay. Amari Cooper has 614 receiving yards, while Michael Crabtree has six touchdown catches.
The Raiders should also find some running room against Tampa Bay's defense, which was just 21st in the league after Sunday's games in rushing yards allowed per contest.
That will add up to plenty of Oakland points, and Jameis Winston and Co. will only have to find the end zone a couple of times against the Raiders' suspect defense to top the 49.5 over/under line. Considering the Raiders were 29th against the run and dead last against the pass after Sunday, that shouldn't be a problem.
Oakland linebacker Bruce Irvin said "we've got no choice," when asked why he thinks his team's defense will improve, per Mike DiRocco of ESPN.com. It may eventually, but it won't be enough by Sunday to stop the over.
Intriguing Super Bowl Prop to Target: Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are off to a 5-1 start and are riding a five-game winning streak after dropping the season opener to the New York Giants by a single point. Their 10-1 Super Bowl prop odds still represent solid value, especially when comparing the numbers to teams such as the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks.
There is reason to trust the Cowboys as Super Bowl contenders.
Their defense was sixth in the league in points allowed per game after Sunday's schedule and has done more than enough to win considering the strong rushing attack on the other side.
Rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott leads the NFL with 703 rushing yards and is steamrolling his way through the holes the league's best offensive line creates. Football Outsiders ranks the Dallas offensive line as the best run-blocking group in the NFL.
Elliott's power and elusiveness behind that line is hard enough to stop for opposing defenses, but they also have to deal with rookie quarterback Dak Prescott. He can run (three touchdowns on the ground) but is most effective as a signal-caller who doesn't turn the ball over and operates the offense at an efficient level.
He has seven touchdown passes to one interception all season, and Adam Schein of CBS Sports Network thinks he makes the Cowboys contenders to win the Lombardi Trophy:
Dallas has done all this largely without star receiver Dez Bryant, who has appeared in just three games, with 11 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown. Once he is healthy and making plays on the field, the Cowboys will add a pass-catcher who topped 1,200 receiving yards in three straight seasons from 2012 to '14.
The Cowboys already proved they can beat winning teams with victories over the 4-2 Packers and 4-3 Washington, which they will need to do in the playoffs.
The odds are still somewhat favorable in the double digits, so jump on them before the Cowboys start creating more separation in the NFC East as they battle for a potential first-round bye in the playoffs.
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