Free NFL Picks Week 8: Handing out My NFC East Lock of the Century

The Carolina Panthers are allowing 133.4 yards per game on the ground.

I'm not sure what's more shocking. The fact they are being gashed so easily or that three other teams are worse than them.

This week the number could be on the rise with Adrian Peterson coming to town.

Christian Ponder looked pretty good in his NFL debut against the Packers. But if you have Peterson on your team and you are facing one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, you have to put the ball in his hands at least 25 times.

Not only will running the ball help the Vikings move the ball and put points on the board, but it will also keep Cam Newton on the sideline.

It's the perfect combination.

Minnesota 20, Carolina 17

Risking $24 to win $20, Pot Remaining $766

Minnesota +3.5 (-120) @ Carolina

The Carolina Panthers are allowing 133.4 yards per game on the ground.

I'm not sure what's more shocking. The fact they are being gashed so easily or that three other teams are worse than them.

This week the number could be on the rise with Adrian Peterson coming to town.

Christian Ponder looked pretty good in his NFL debut against the Packers. But if you have Peterson on your team and you are facing one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, you have to put the ball in his hands at least 25 times.

Not only will running the ball help the Vikings move the ball and put points on the board, but it will also keep Cam Newton on the sideline.

It's the perfect combination.

Minnesota 20, Carolina 17

Risking $24 to win $20, Pot Remaining $766

Houston -9.5 (-110) vs. Jacksonville

The Tennessee Titans were the first team to beat Baltimore, and then they looked awful against a bad Denver team.

I'm a believer certain teams take the life out of you, and to me, Baltimore is one of those teams. They play a physical style of ball and leaves teams battered and bruised heading into their next game. I believe it drains teams and leaves them flat for the next game.

That's what happens here.

Jacksonville just won their biggest game of the year, and they are going to be flat against the Houston Texans on the road. Oh, and the Jaguars are playing on short week thanks to playing on "Monday Night Football."

Give me the better team, playing at home against a team coming off an emotional win and working on a short week.

Houston 30. Jacksonville 10

Risking $22 to win $20, Pot Remaining $744

Buffalo -6 (-110) vs. Washington

How pissed are Bills fans right now?

Their team is finally good and relevant, and they lose a home game because the league is trying to expand the product and possibly move to Toronto.

Fortunately for Bills fans, there is no way the Redskins win this game.

They could play the game in Tokyo or a cardboard box, and the Bills would still walk away as the winner.

Washington is in the midst of completely falling apart and possibly losing every game from here on out, unless they pull one against Minnesota late in the year.

Buffalo 34, Washington 13

Risking $22 to win $20, Pot Remaining $722 

Pittsburgh +3 (-120) vs. New England

If Tom Brady is the ultimate in being clutch, then Ben Roethlisberger isn't far off.

I trust Roethlisberger and his weapons going up against a terrible New England pass defense more than I trust Brady and his weapons facing a pretty solid Pittsburgh defense.

It's never a good idea to bet against Brady, but it's also never a good idea to back a bad defense. And considering how Pittsburgh has turned into a passing team, it's hard to ignore what Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Hines Ward will do.

And if this thing turns into a grind-it-out game instead of a shootout, I still trust the Steelers to adapt better than the Pats. The Steelers used to be built on winning ugly, so it's not going to shock their system if they need to do it here.

I don't think it goes that way, but I feel comfortable no matter how the game unfolds.

Pittsburgh 28, New England 27

Risking $120 to win $100, Pot Remaining $610

Dallas +3.5 (-120) @ Philadelphia

I could care less about Andy Reid's 12-0 record after a bye week.

The only thing I care about is how the Eagles are going to stop Jason Witten, DeMarco Murray, Dez Bryant and DeMarcus Ware.

Witten will embarrass the linebackers, Murray will pick apart the wide-nine, Bryant will exploit the safeties and Ware will have his way with the offensive line.

Other than that things look great for the Eagles.

Look, this pick is coming from someone who can't stand their fans. But that doesn't mean I am blind to seeing who has the better team. 

Sure, the Eagles have plenty of firepower on offense. Too bad it all falls apart when the offensive line faces a halfway respectable defensive front seven. Last time I checked, Dallas has more than just a halfway respectable front seven.

All of the bets have been low thus far to load up on the Cowboys. Wish I had more to throw on the game.

Dallas 34, Philadelphia 23

Risking $610 to win $508.33, Pot Remaining $0