NFL Week 8 trend plays: Bet Patriots as big favorites
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We're back to highlight the best betting trends and angles. Last week, the Dolphins and Saints both cashed as underdogs, while New England continued its dominant ways as a favorite.
Here are some of the more notable trends to watch for in Week 8.
(Trends are from Sports Database unless noted otherwise.)
Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers
Line: 49ers -5.5
San Francisco has cruised to a 6-0 record straight up, but Sunday could be a spot to fade. Undefeated teams in Week 7 or later have lost six straight against the spread, with four outright losses when giving seven points or less. Niners coach Kyle Shanahan is 2-4-1 ATS as a home favorite, while Panthers coach Ron Rivera is 14-6 ATS (70%) in his last 20 as an underdog.
Trend play: Panthers +5.5
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots
Line: Patriots -13.5
After all of his championship seasons in New England, it's easy to forget that Bill Belichick once coached the lowly Browns. Since joining the Patriots in 2000, Belichick is 5-3 ATS / 6-2 SU against his former team and 3-1 ATS / 4-0 SU at home. After Monday's win against the Jets, the Patriots are now 19-5-1 ATS (79.2%) as double-digit favorites since 2015.
Trend play: Patriots -13.5
Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs
Line: Packers -4.5
It's been almost five years since Andy Reid was an underdog at home - and the results from those occasions aren't promising. Since 2004, the Chiefs coach is 3-13 ATS as a home 'dog dating back to his time in Philadelphia. The over is also an impressive 13-2-1 during that span with Reid's teams allowing 32.4 points per game.
Trend play: Packers -4.5
Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers
Line: Steelers -14.5
Over the last 20 years, teams with a losing record are 8-15 ATS (34.8%) as double-digit favorites, and only one of those favorites gave more points than Pittsburgh in this spot. Meanwhile, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is 8-13 ATS in his career when giving more than 10 points and 3-6 ATS when giving 14 or more. To their credit, the hapless Dolphins have covered two straight games - including last week as 16.5-point 'dogs. Miami has also come within 3.5 and 2.5 points of covering in its last two spots as a two-touchdown underdog.
Trend play: Dolphins +14.5
C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.