NFL Week 8 features a schedule with a slew of underwhelming games. However, there are a handful that stick out with playoff implications in both the AFC and the NFC, highlighted by Giants vs Seahawks and Bears vs Cowboys.
In the Sunday night primetime window, we have a game featuring the Packers vs Bills that in the preseason, would have been the marquee matchup on this slate. Entering Week 8, it could be a bloodbath in the making.
However, despite the Packers being heavy 10.5-point underdogs, we have seen our fair share of upsets in the NFL this season, notably featuring Green Bay on the wrong end of the win column, affecting NFL betting and unit records - including my own.
Bears vs Cowboys Best Bet
Under 42.5 Total Points (-110) at FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1.5 Units
The Bears and Cowboys will face off in the early window on the Sunday slate in a game with mild NFC playoff implications. Although the Bears are trending in the right direction, they are playing competitive football against inferior opponents while struggling against some of the better clubs.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys have been steady all season but took a large step forward offensively with Dak Prescott returning from his injury.
This game will come down to defense. Dallas’ defense is allowing the second-fewest points at 14.9 points per game, while the Bears offense is only scoring 18 ppg. In three of the past four games, the Dallas defense has conceded fewer than 10 points.
The Cowboys will do their part to cover the Over, but the Bears will fall short, making the Under the best bet.
The Under is 6-0 on NFL totals bets in the past six games that the Cowboys have played at home.
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Panthers vs Falcons Best Bet
Falcons -4.5 (-110) at FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1.5 Unit
The Falcons got blown out against the Bengals last week while the Panthers upset the Buccaneers in a convincing fashion. Both of those games were anomalies.
The Falcons were 6-0 ATS heading into last week but failed to cover against the Bengals, who are starting to heat up as one of the best teams in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Panthers may be the worst team in the NFL who just caught the Bucs at their ultimate low.
Tied at 3-4, the Falcons can emerge into first place in the NFC South with a win over the Panthers and a Buccaneers loss to the Ravens Thursday night, which is a high possibility.
The Panthers are 2-8 ATS in their past 10 games, while the Falcons are 6-3-1 ATS in that same 10-game period. What’s more, the Falcons are 5-0 ATS in their past five games facing NFC foes and 7-2 ATS in their past nine against Carolina.
With the NFC South within reach, as unexpected as it sounds, this is a must-win game for Atlanta.
Raiders vs Saints Best Bet
Over 49.5 Total Points (-110) at FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1.5 Units
This Raiders vs Saints game features two teams that can score the football but have a hard time stopping opposing offenses.
While the Raiders are scoring the third-most points (27.2) in the NFL, the Saints are seventh (25) in that category. Despite high-flying offenses, these teams have a combined four wins with two each. This is because both sides feature bottom-seven defenses.
In this matchup, the outright winner and the NFL point spread can go either way, making the Over the best bet.
While the Over is 4-0 in the past four games the Raiders have played overall, it is also 4-0 in the past four Saints’ games.
I would take the Over if the line moved to 50. It opened at 48.5.
Titans vs Texans Best Bet
Titans -2.5 (-106) at FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
This Titans vs Texans matchup is a game where the Titans can begin to separate themselves from the rest of the inept AFC South. Although the Texans are a tough out, the Titans should have no issue picking up a win by more than three points on the road.
The Titans are not exactly world-beaters, but they have somehow strung together four straight wins following an 0-2 start to the year.
What Tennessee does best is run the football, which is how they will dominate this matchup. The Texans are amongst the worst NFL teams at defending the run and now they get Derrick Henry one week after allowing Josh Jacobs to go ballistic on the ground.
While the Titans have yet to defeat a team with a winning record, they don’t have to worry about that this week against Houston.
The Titans are 4-0 on NFL moneyline bets in their past four games against teams with losing records, covering the spread in all of them.
Packers vs Bills Best Bet
Bills -10.5 (-110) at FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1.5 Unit
Despite deploying one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game of football, the Packers are trending toward dumpster-fire territory. Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have a lot of help on offense, putting a normally fair defense in bad situations.
This will spell disaster for Green Bay in primetime. The Bills, who field the No. 2 scoring offense and the top-ranked scoring defense, have dominated inferior opponents all season long. Look for much of the same on Sunday night at home.
With Josh Allen‘s offense firing on all cylinders, the Packers do not have enough firepower to keep up with the high-flying aerial attack of the Bills.
What’s more, teams have forced Rodgers’ offense to play one-dimensional football. They know he does not have much to work with through the air while crowding the line of scrimmage to eliminate the run. This makes for an easy double-digit win for the Bills while exposing the Packers on a national stage.
While the Packers are 0-4 in their last four games ATS overall, the home team is 6-0 in the past six games the Bills and Packers have played against each other.
