NFL Predictions Week 8: Vegas Odds, Spreads and Picks for All Games

NFL Week 7 is in the books. 

Looking ahead, Week 8 features some of the more compelling matchups in recent weeks, pitting undefeated heavyweights Green Bay and Denver against one another, along with a faceoff of rising AFC talent in the Oakland Raiders and the New York Jets, and a AFC North clash between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Let's preview the early spreads for Week 8 games and pick winners in each matchup. Then, we'll break down the biggest favorites on the schedule and see if they're the real deal. 

Away	Home	Pick	Line
Miami Dolphins	New England Patriots	Patriots	NE -7.5
Detroit Lions	Kansas City Chiefs	Chiefs	KC -3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Atlanta Falcons	Falcons	ATL -7
Arizona Cardinals	Cleveland Browns	Cardinals	ARI -4.5
San Francisco 49ers	St. Louis Rams	Rams	STL -7.5
New York Giants	New Orleans Saints	Giants	NO -3
Minnesota Vikings	Chicago Bears	Vikings	MIN -2.5
San Diego Chargers	Baltimore Ravens	Chargers	BAL -3
Cincinnati Bengals	Pittsburgh Steelers	Bengals	N/A
Tennessee Titans	Houston Texans	Texans	N/A
New York Jets	Oakland Raiders	Raiders	NYJ -2.5
Seattle Seahawks	Dallas Cowboys	Seahawks	SEA -6
Green Bay Packers	Denver Broncos	Packers	GB -3
Indianapolis Colts	Carolina Panthers	Panthers	CAR -5.5

Breaking Down the Biggest Favorites 

New England Patriots (-7.5) 

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The Patriots are seven-and-a-half-point favorites over the division rival Miami Dolphins, despite a Week 7 resurgence from Miami when it pummeled the Texans 44-26.

New England, meanwhile, had to fight up until the final moments to wrench the win from the New York Jets. New York successfully recovered an onside kick attempt in the final seconds to mount a comeback effort but ran out of time due to a penalty.

Is New England really a safe pick by more than a touchdown? Or could Miami spoil the spread here?

It's safe to say that the Patriots are likely to get their seventh straight win on Thursday night. One reason why is the continued improvement of quarterback Tom Brady, who didn't have much more room to climb starting off his season.

But Brady has shown new facets of his game this season, including, on Sunday, a newfound mobility. OK, perhaps not actually, but Brady was the team's leading rusher with four attempts for 15 yards and a touchdown. 

Otherwise, it was all Brady, all the time. The Patriots dropped back to throw on 90.9 percent of their offensive plays, per ESPN Stats & Information, becoming completely one-dimensional in the process. And yet the Jets, which boast one of the league's top defenses, still couldn't stop the air raid. 

It's safe to say Miami likely won't be able to, as well. Part of the strength of the Patriots offense is that, aside from tight end Rob Gronkowski, its weapons are tough to pin down.

One week, receiver Danny Amendola might step up with nearly 100 receiving yards and a touchdown, as he did against the Jets. Another week, the run game might spring to life. 

Miami looked dominant in Week 7, but its defense has been touch-and-go. Don't expect the Patriots to win by multiple scores here. 

Prediction: New England covers the spread

St. Louis Rams (-7.5)

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The Rams are feeling good coming off a satisfying 24-6 trouncing of the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. 

Meanwhile, their Week 8 opponent, the San Francisco 49ers, were able to score only three points against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7. 

Yes, the Rams can certainly win by more than a touchdown over division rival San Francisco. Or two. Perhaps three?

The Rams have been flourishing behind the talents of a standout defensive line and the growing prowess of rookie rusher Todd Gurley. Gurley now leads the league in rushing and posted his third-straight game of 100 yards or more on Sunday. 

More importantly, Gurley is helping the Rams get on the board, mitigating a passing offense that has struggled to do just that. Gurley had two touchdowns against the Browns in Week 7, his first two of the season.

If he can keep that scoring ability, combined with a Rams defense that can keep opponents out of the end zone, the Rams should be able to continue to jockey for a NFC wild-card berth.

San Francisco shouldn't be able to give the Rams defense much trouble, if any at all. Expect this to be a completely lopsided final score in the Rams' favor. 

Prediction: St. Louis completely blows out San Francisco 

Atlanta Falcons (-7)

James Kenney/Associated Press

The Falcons have also been enjoying incredible success on the ground due to their own special rusher: Devonta Freeman.

Sharing a backfield with Tevin Coleman, it wasn't clear which halfback, if either, would break out for the Falcons this season.  

But Freeman continues to impress, posting his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game in Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans and his fourth of the season. 

On a team that already boasts Julio Jones and Roddy White, Freeman has been a factor in the passing game as well, averaging five catches per game. 

Freeman has helped bail out quarterback Matt Ryan when the passing game has been lackluster, which it has been at multiple points this season despite Atlanta's 6-1 record. 

And while the Falcons are highly favored against the Buccaneers this week, they'll need to figure out what's going wrong on offense before they reach their two matchups against the Carolina Panthers over the span of three weeks. 

For this matchup, though, Atlanta has enough juice to beat Tampa Bay by at least a touchdown—not necessarily on the strength of its offense, but by the weakness of its opponent's. Tampa Bay is 24th in the league in total offense, but its defense has been playing well. 

While Atlanta should cover the spread here, a spoil could be brewing if they can't get it together through the air. 

Prediction: Atlanta barely covers the spread

Odds via Odds Shark and current as of Oct. 26