Week 8 NFL Picks: List of Odds and Analyzing Underdogs That Will Win Outright

The best word to describe the NFL heading into Week 8 is unsettled. Not only are we still waiting for a clear favorite to emerge, but the middle group of teams is bloated. That's in large part because only a select few teams have looked overmatched as the halfway mark nears.

An examination of the lines further highlights that level playing field. Only one of the 15 games this week features a favorite of more than a single score. And that doesn't come until Monday night, when the Dallas Cowboys are expected to easily handle the inconsistent Washington Redskins at home.

That doesn't guarantee there will be a boatload of close contests. It just shows the lack of certainty and the fine line between favorites and underdogs. With that in mind, let's check out selections for each Week 8 game along with a breakdown of a couple underdogs that should win outright.

Week 8 Spread Picks

Date	Road	Home	Line	Pick
Oct. 23	Chargers	Broncos	DEN -8	SD
Oct. 26	Lions*	Falcons*	DET -3.5	DET
Oct. 26	Vikings	Buccaneers	TB -3	MIN
Oct. 26	Bills	Jets	NYJ -3	BUF
Oct. 26	Bears	Patriots	NE -7	NE
Oct. 26	Seahawks	Panthers	SEA -5	CAR
Oct. 26	Dolphins	Jaguars	MIA -6	MIA
Oct. 26	Ravens	Bengals	CIN -1	CIN
Oct. 26	Texans	Titans	HOU -2	HOU
Oct. 26	Rams	Chiefs	KC -7	STL
Oct. 26	Eagles	Cardinals	ARZ -2.5	PHI
Oct. 26	Colts	Steelers	IND -3	PIT
Oct. 26	Raiders	Browns	CLE -7	OAK
Oct. 26	Packers	Saints	NO -1	NO
Oct. 27	Redskins	Cowboys	DAL -10	DAL

Underdog Winners

Philadelphia Eagles (at Arizona Cardinals)

The Cardinals are 5-1 and leading what was widely expected to develop into the most competitive division in football, the NFC West. Yet there are still plenty of question marks they will need to answer before truly moving into the contender category.

They had a chance to eliminate most of those concerns a couple weeks ago against the Denver Broncos. Instead, they got blown out by Peyton Manning and Co., 41-20. Wins over the struggling Redskins and Oakland Raiders aren't enough to change their status.

There's an interesting note about the Raiders victory, however. Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times passes it along:

Arizona ranks 28th in total offense and 18th in total defense. That would make it seem the team isn't as strong as its record would currently suggest. Games with the Eagles and then the Dallas Cowboys should provide a clearer picture.

The Eagles have played two games away from home so far. They beat the Indianapolis Colts, a win that looks more impressive with each passing week, and lost by five against the San Francisco 49ers. Neither of those results suggest they can't go on the road and beat the Cardinals.

Nick Foles and Co. are coming off a bye and should have their way with the 31st-rated Arizona pass defense. The defense also showed signs of improvement even before the week off, pitching a shutout against the New York Giants.

The Cardinals are a good team. Look for the Eagles to show they aren't a great team. At least not yet.

Buffalo Bills (at New York Jets)

This a crucial game even though both teams are pretty much off the radar. The Bills are trying to keep pace with the New England Patriots, which are threatening to run away from the pack in the AFC East once again. The Jets want to salvage their season before it becomes a total loss.

Buffalo didn't play particularly well in its win over the Minnesota Vikings last week. The offense was sluggish until the final drive, and the pass defense must start doing better on third down. The main concern, however, was injuries to C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson.

While those are two notable losses, they might not be as monumental as it appears from the outside. They were averaging less than 75 yards per game as a tandem, mostly because Spiller wasn't showcasing nearly as much explosiveness behind a shaky line.

The drop-off to Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown shouldn't be that dramatic. The team provided comments from head coach Doug Marrone, who agrees:

On the flip side, the Jets are losers of six straight. A tough schedule has obviously played a factor, but the defense also hasn't played up to its usual standards. New York has given up at least 24 points every game during the losing streak.

That doesn't bode well as it prepares to face a Bills aerial attack that's improved markedly since Kyle Orton for EJ Manuel. Getting Sammy Watkins more involved has also been key. Now they just have to start using him in the screen game more often.

A Geno Smith-led offense won't be able to keep pace as Buffalo's elite run defense slows down the Jets backs. So the Bills should squeak out a key win.