NFL Week 8 Picks: Predictions for Favorites and Underdogs

The favorites and underdogs for Week 8 have been set in Las Vegas, but those are most certainly not the final verdicts with at least a few upsets guaranteed each and every week.

This weekend will be no different. Although the Denver Broncos covered against the San Diego Chargers on Thursday Night Football, don't let the NFL's best team cruising to another win distract you from this parity-driven league that is almost impossible to predict.

Alas, there are a few favorites out there who are peaking at the right time, as well as underdogs everyone is counting out for the wrong reasons. Let's break them down.

Time (ET)	Matchup (Spread)	Over/Under	Prediction ATS
9:30 a.m.*	Detroit Lions (-3) vs. Atlanta Falcons in London	46.5	Lions
1 p.m.	Houston Texans (-2) at Tennessee Titans	42.5	Texans
1 p.m.	St. Louis Rams at Kansas City Chiefs (-6)	44	Rams
1 p.m.	Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2)	42.5	Vikings
1 p.m.	Seattle Seahawks (-3) at Carolina Panthers	44.5	Seahawks
1 p.m.	Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (-2.5)	46	Ravens
1 p.m.	Miami Dolphins (-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars	42.5	Dolphins
1 p.m.	Chicago Bears at New England Patriots (-7)	51	Patriots
1 p.m.	Buffalo Bills at New York Jets (-2.5)	40.5	Jets
4:05 p.m.	Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals (-2.5)	48	Eagles
4:25 p.m.	Oakland Raiders at Cleveland Browns (-7)	43	Raiders
4:25 p.m.	Indianapolis Colts (-1.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers	49.5	Colts
8:30 p.m.	Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints (-1.5)	55.5	Packers
8:30 p.m. (Mon.)	Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys (-9)	49	Redskins

 Note: All spreads courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. ET.

Notable Favorite Pick: Texans (-2) over Titans

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

The Houston Texans haven't been able to figure out how to complete comebacks against solid teams in recent weeks. Fortunately for them, they shouldn't have to make a comeback in Week 8.

For a Texans team looking to snap a three-game skid, Sunday's visit to the Tennessee Titans is just what the doctor ordered. 

Houston quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will face the team he went 3-6 as a starter for last year, but he should be due for some passing success against it. The Titans are ninth-worst in the NFL in giving up passing yards, and they have also been torched for 12 touchdowns through the air.

But where the Texans are going to blow this game open is on the defensive side. J.J. Watt should have an even more dominant day than usual against a Titans offensive line that has conceded seven sacks in three games. Jadeveon Clowney could return as well, per Drew Dougherty of Texans.com.

That isn't the ideal situation to be starting a rookie sixth-round pick for his first NFL start, but as ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky noted, that's exactly what the Titans are doing in starting '80s aerobics trainer lookalike Zach Mettenberger:

The Titans are a mess right now on both sides of the ball, as told by Ken Whisenhunt's desperation move under center. Mettenberger could be the future, and perhaps they'll catch lightning in a bottle. But it's hard to see his offensive line keeping him upright enough to win against the Texans' front.

Houston has fought tooth-and-nail against the Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts in losses, and those are both teams the Titans were blown out by. The talent gap between these two teams is noticeable, and it will show Sunday.

Prediction: Texans 24, Titans 14

Notable Underdog Pick: Eagles (+2.5) over Cardinals

USA TODAY Sports

The early season auditions to become a true NFC contender have been passed with flying colors for both the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. In Week 8, each will have the chance to knock off a fellow contender and take a huge next step.

Playing at home in the site of this year's Super Bowl, the Cardinals are tight favorites in one of the best early season matchups of 2014. But they'll fall victim to another Philadelphia offensive onslaught, as the Eagles should continue to roll.

Nick Foles has been as potent as ever this season, and this Week 8 matchup sets up perfectly for him. Arizona's defensive strength comes up front with a 31st-ranked pass defense. So if Foles gets the ball out of his hands quick like he's known to, he'll have big-time success.

The Cardinals stuff the run (72.5 yards conceded per game) with the best of them, but LeSean McCoy has bounced back from a poor couple of weeks in Philly's recent games. He has a combined 230 rushing yards in his last two appearances. 

But it's not about the stats—rather, it's about winning games. And the Eagles have figured out how to do just that, as the team's Twitter noted:

The Eagles defense built some confidence with a shutout of the New York Giants, and they'll keep that rolling into Week 8. Chip Kelly had all the answers when these two teams faced off last season, and that will be the case again in this battle of NFC contenders.

Prediction: Eagles 28, Cardinals 20

Note: Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

Follow Bleacher Report breaking news writer Steven Cook on Twitter.