The Week 8 slate is headlined by a Ravens-Bills showdown at Highmark Stadium, and the action will capped by a potential NFC playoff battle between the Seahawks and Bears on Monday night.
Below, we give our picks against the spread for each game, our favorite touchdown-scorer bets for the week, and three player props to target. Let's get to it!
Jump to: Early slate | Late slate | Touchdown scorers | Player props
👉 Check out all of the Week 8 lines available on theScore Bet here
Our trio of betting writers - Eric Patterson, Brenden Deeg, and Dane Belbeck - will make picks against the spread for Sunday's slate and Monday Night Football all season.
Eric Patterson breaks down his favorite picks against the spread, adding his own analysis and insights. He'll also identify touchdown scorers and player props to target.
🏈 Bet: Lions (-3.5)
The Vikings are undefeated, yet they've scored the fewest offensive touchdowns in the NFL. Minnesota has ridden on the back of its defense all season, a tactic that will be put to the test against the Lions' potent offense. At some point, the Vikings' luck will run out.
Detroit's defense played much better last week against Green Bay, holding Jordan Love's air raid to only 17 points. Safety Brian Branch's return may have been a big factor in keeping the Packers in check. The Lions' defense should have an easier time slowing the Vikings' passing attack, which ranks third-last in the league in yards per game.
This is a bad matchup for the Vikings, who've feasted on subpar offenses thus far. The Lions will score more than enough points to cover this spread. 👉 Add the Lions to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
🏈 Bet: Ravens (+3)
Lamar Jackson is back for the Ravens, and I'm going to assume the two-time MVP is nearly 100% after almost playing last week. Perhaps that thinking will come back to bite me, but getting three points with Jackson feels significant, regardless of the opponent.
The Bills' defense is the worst in the league based on EPA/play, according to SumerSports. Yes, their offense is the NFL's best, but Jackson can easily keep up with Josh Allen, and Baltimore's defense at least has a chance to slow down Buffalo. This meeting could very well come down to the final possession. In that case, I'll side with the underdogs. 👉 Add the Ravens to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
🏈 Bet: Jets (-1.5)
The Jets seem better than their 2-5 record indicates, so perhaps this is a good buy-low spot after they lost to the Dolphins at home last week. These two sides are evenly matched in offensive EPA/play, but New York has a significant advantage on defense. The absence of standout rookie David Bailey will hurt the Jets, but Ashton Jeanty provided bulletin board material Wednesday that will definitely motivate their tacklers.
The last time the Raiders traveled to the East Coast for a 1 p.m. game, the Patriots smoked them 45-17. This spread suggests these teams are on the same level, but I lean toward the Jets on both sides of the ball, making 1.5 points easy to lay. 👉 Add the Jets to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
🏈 Bet: Chiefs (-1.5)
The Broncos' defense has taken a step back this season. The unit has conceded the 10th-most yards per game (369.3) while consistently getting gashed on the ground. Denver owns the league's fourth-worst EPA/rush, which is especially bad news when Kenneth Walker III is lining up on the other side of the ball.
The Chiefs had a down game on the road in Seattle last week. They couldn't move the ball on offense and had no answer for Jaxon Smith-Njigba on defense. However, the Broncos, who possess one of the worst offenses in terms of yards per game, don't have a weapon like Smith-Njigba.
Kansas City should outclass Denver on both sides of the ball, and you only have to lay 1.5 points with Patrick Mahomes against Bo Nix. That's too much value to pass up. 👉 Add the Chiefs to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
🏈 Bet: Seahawks (-3)
I rarely discuss the Monday night game, but no other Sunday contests are worthy of a breakdown. Plus, I love the Seahawks in this spot.
This will be Chicago's third road game in the last four weeks, while Seattle is entering its fourth home game in the last five weeks. The Seahawks are coming off a dominant win over the Chiefs in which they limited Mahomes to 165 passing yards and held Walker to a measly 35 rushing yards. The Seahawks' defense, which led them to a Super Bowl title last season, is playing at an elite level once again.
The Bears are also playing great football, especially with Caleb Williams back under center. They also added Jeffery Simmons on Thursday to bolster their defensive line. However, winning on the road in Seattle is a daunting task, even for a team with a potent offense. The Seahawks' defense is playing too well right now to fade them at home. Plus, the Bears may resist going deep into their bag of tricks, considering they could face Seattle again in the playoffs. 👉 Add the Seahawks to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
Season-long record (8-12, 0.7% ROI)
🙌 Bet: Anytime TD (+155)
The Cardinals have been extremely cautious with their rookie running back, so the fact that he's playing versus the Cowboys suggests he's 100%. Dallas has struggled to keep running backs out of the end zone, giving up nine touchdowns to opposing backs in seven games. Jeremiyah Love should see the bulk of the work Sunday after Tyler Allgeier struggled in his absence. The Notre Dame product scored two touchdowns in his first three games before losing playing time because of an injured ankle.
🙌 Bet: Anytime TD (+225)
The Eagles are deprived of pass-catchers, leaving Dallas Goedert as one of Tanner McKee's top options. The Commanders have given up eight touchdowns to opposing tight ends in six games this season, and Goedert has earned eight targets per game since returning from injury in Week 5.
🙌 Bet: Anytime TD (+375)
The Raiders have performed poorly against tight ends this season, allowing eight touchdowns to the position in seven games. Mason Taylor caught two touchdowns last week, which shows he's clearly developed red-zone chemistry with Geno Smith. Kenyon Sadiq is also an option at +500, but he's not running enough routes for me to feel comfortable backing him.
Season-long record (9-10, -3.5% ROI)
🏈 Bet: Over 3.5 receptions (-135)
Since Marvin Harrison Jr. was traded to the Texans, Kendrick Bourne has earned 22 targets over three games. He caught five passes in two of those outings and fell just short of four grabs last week despite receiving six looks from Jacoby Brissett. Bourne's been the biggest beneficiary of Harrison's departure, and he now faces a Cowboys defense that allows 163 receiving yards per game to opposing wideouts.
🏈 Bet: Over 6.5 receptions (+115)
Zay Flowers is having a sensational season. He's averaging 6.6 receptions and 101.3 yards per game and is doing so despite having Tyler Huntley at quarterback in three contests. He has the fourth-highest target share (31.36%) in the league behind Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua, and DeVonta Smith. The Bills' defense owns the NFL's fourth-worst EPA/pass, so Flowers should be in line for another big outing.
🏈 Bet: Over 3.5 receptions (+110)
Washington will be without Terry McLaurin for the first time this season, opening the door for rookie Antonio Williams to earn more work. The Clemson product has recorded at least three receptions in five of his first six games despite being a part-time player. In his debut, he caught four passes for 64 yards and a touchdown versus Philadelphia.
The Commanders are likely to rely heavily on Jayden Daniels' arm against an underperforming Eagles secondary, especially since they've struggled to find consistency on the ground.
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