NFL Spreads Week 8: Last-Minute Picks and Predictions for Sunday's Slate

The early contests during Week 8 of the 2013 NFL season get underway shortly, but that doesn’t mean it is too late to get in your bets.

Take a few minutes to check out the latest lines and my picks for every game before you rush over to the sportsbook.

If you still aren’t sure which way to lean, keep reading for a handful of can’t-miss locks for Week 8.

Away Team	Home Team	Line	Prediction (ATS)
San Francisco 49ers	Jacksonville Jaguars	SF -14.5	49ers
Dallas Cowboys	Detroit Lions	DET -3	Cowboys
New York Giants	Philadelphia Eagles	PHI -5.5	Eagles
Kansas City Chiefs	Cleveland Browns	KC -7	Chiefs
Buffalo Bills	New Orleans Saints	NO -10.5	Saints
Miami Dolphins	New England Patriots	NE -5.5	Dolphins
New York Jets	Cincinnati Bengals	CIN -4.5	Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers	Oakland Raiders	PIT -2.5	Raiders
Washington Redskins	Denver Broncos	DEN -11	Redskins
Atlanta Falcons	Arizona Cardinals	ARI -2.5	Cardinals
Green Bay Packers	Minnesota Vikings	GB -7	Packers
Seattle Seahawks	St. Louis Rams	SEA -11	Seahawks

Green Bay Packers (-7) over MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The Packers may be banged up and dealing with a few key injuries, but they are still a vastly superior squad when compared to their lowly NFC North rival Vikings. It’s going to be a long day in the Metrodome as Aaron Rodgers and company slice through this defense on the way to a big win.

This line has shifted a bit over the past few days (according to ScoresAndOdds.com), shooting up to Green Bay minus-9.5 at one point. However, it's since taken a dip all the way down to the Packers by a touchdown. Basically, that means you should jump on it immediately before it moves back in the opposite direction.

Christian Ponder is once again under center for Minnesota, and that should have bettors salivating at the chance to bet against him. The Vikings have lost all three games the third-year signal-caller has started in 2013, and they will almost assuredly fall again in Week 8 with Josh Freeman out with a concussion.

Don’t think about fading the Packers due to injury either, as the team did just fine without most of its receiving corps last week. The Browns boast a solid defense and decent secondary but still conceded 260 passing yards and three touchdowns via the air.

Back the chalk and get paid in what should be a very one-sided divisional affair on Sunday Night Football.

ARIZONA CARDINALS (+2.5) over Atlanta Falcons

The Cards are a solid team at home, but the public seems to forget that and simultaneously overrate the downtrodden Falcons—leading to Atlanta being favored on the road in Week 8.

Wise gamblers, most of whom will back Arizona in this cross-country battle, will exploit that mistake. The Cardinals have just one loss at University of Phoenix Stadium, that coming on short rest last Thursday against a tough Seattle Seahawks team. They're coming off a long week of rest in Week 8.

Despite that anomaly, Arizona bested a very good Detroit Lions squad in the desert in Week 2 and blew out the now-surging Carolina Panthers in Week 5.

Atlanta has been dismal throughout 2013 and has yet to win away from the Georgia Dome. The team just isn’t very good this season, clearly suffering a post-NFC Championship game hangover and dealing with a rash of injuries to critical stars—such as receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White.

With both out in Week 8, you can expect the Cardinals to take advantage and force Atlanta to try to run the ball. Considering they concede just 97 yards per game on the ground, it’s going to be very difficult.

Don’t be surprised when the Cardinals outright win this one by a wide margin, easily cashing tickets for those who believed in the underdog.