NFL Picks Week 8: Dallas Cowboys and 4 Teams That Will Shock Favorites

If you haven't already made your picks for Week 8, you'd better do so soon. The games are going to kick off in just a couple of days.

This week is a tricky one. There are quite a few big spreads out there, and there are only a handful of intriguing underdogs worth giving a look. Of those, only a couple are actually worth picking.

Which ones, you ask?

Glad you asked. After much careful consideration, I have determined that there are four underdogs that are going to rattle the cages in Week 8. Of the four, I think three are going to win outright.

Let's take a look, shall we?

Note: all spreads according to Bodog.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans (-10)

The Jaguars are the one underdog I have on this list that I don't think is going to win outright. They managed to pull this particular rabbit out of their hat on Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens, but I can't see them doing it two games in a row.

However, I do think the Jags have the ability to make life tough for the Texans. Just like they did against the Ravens, I'm looking for the Jags to put up a good fight defensively, and they could very well surprise a Texans offense that just hung 34 points on the Tennessee Titans.

Because the Jags are not going to generate much offense of their own, limiting Houston's own offense is paramount. If they can do that, the Jags will be able to pound away with Maurice Jones-Drew, which at the very least will create more opportunities for the able-footed Josh Scobee.

One thing to keep in mind here is that the Jags may have five losses, but three of them have been by 10 or fewer points.

Texans 20, Jaguars 13

Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers (-3.5)

Christian Ponder looked pretty solid in his first NFL start against the Green Bay Packers, but you have to say that he's no Cam Newton just yet. Ponder's fellow rookie quarterback is a bona fide star.

However, winning football games is something that Newton can't do on his own. As good as he is, the rest of the Panthers are pretty subpar.

This is particularly true of their rush defense, which ranks 29th in the NFL. Against Adrian Peterson, this is going to be a huge problem. If A.D. can run against the Panthers like he did against the Packers in Week 7, the Vikings are going to get their points. This is assuming Ponder can hold up his end of the bargain by at least being smart with the football, which is something he can do.

Speaking of mistakes, Newton will make a few of those on occasion. If the Vikings can force Newton into committing a turnover or two, this game will be theirs for the taking.

Vikings 28, Panthers 27

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5)

On Sunday, Michael Vick and the Eagles will finally be back in action after their Week 7 bye. No doubt you've been missing them.

The Eagles are going to return from their break to a tough matchup with the Dallas Cowboys coming to town. Much of our talk about the Cowboys tends to revolve around Tony Romo and, more recently, DeMarco Murray, but we shouldn't be overlooking the fact that the Cowboys have been playing some very good defense this year.

This is something that is going to come in handy against the Eagles, particularly against LeSean McCoy. If the Cowboys can keep him in check, they'll put a heavy burden on Vick. That's not necessarily a good thing.

On the flipside, Murray could be in for his second straight big day against the Eagles' leaky rush defense.

Cowboys 24, Eagles 21

San Diego Chargers (-4) at Kansas City Chiefs

On paper, this is a matchup that the Chargers pretty much dominate. As such, they should win.

Nevertheless, this is a season in which it's just plain hard to have faith in the Chargers. As talented as they are, there is something to be said about the fact that they have simply not been dominant this season. In fact, they are probably lucky to be 4-2.

The Chiefs are one of the teams the Chargers have beaten this season, but circumstances have changed. The Chiefs have won three games in a row, and seem to have found ways to compensate for the injuries that rocked their roster earlier in the season.

The Chiefs also have the home-field advantage in this one. What we could see on Monday night might be a repeat of what we saw the last time the Chargers played at Arrowhead Stadium. That was back in Week 1 of 2010, and the Chiefs won 21-14.

Well, why not?

Chiefs 21, Chargers 14