A Complete Look at NFL Week 8 Odds (UPDATED)

Week 8 in the NFL features an AFC West showdown on Thursday, a morning game from London on Sunday, a clash of powers in the AFC North, and two NFC heavyweights battling in the desert. Here is a preview of the full slate of week 8 games.

Week 8 in the NFL features an AFC West showdown on Thursday, a morning game from London on Sunday, a clash of powers in the AFC North, and two NFC heavyweights battling in the desert. Here is a preview of the full slate of week 8 games.

 

 

Thursday

San Diego (5-2) at Denver (5-1) – Spread: Broncos -7.5

The Chargers are on the road for the second of three games during a four week span. San Diego has played very well away from home. They lost at Arizona 18-17 in week 1, beat Buffalo 22-10 in week 3, and got by the Raiders 31-28 in week 6. San Diego is 2-1 against the spread on the road this year after going 4-3-1 last year. The Broncos have beaten the Chargers in five of their last six meetings, losing only last year’s game in Denver. Five of the six games have been decided by one score. Denver will be playing a second straight primetime home game after crushing San Francisco 42-17 last week.

 

Sunday

Detroit (5-2) vs. Atlanta (2-5) in London – Spread: Lions -4

The second of three NFL games in London this season will be a morning kickoff back here at home. (Miami beat the Raiders 38-14 at Wembley Stadium last month.) This will be the first trip to the UK for both the Lions and Falcons. Atlanta is the designated home team. For what it’s worth, “home” teams have won only three of nine games played in London. The Lions are among the best defenses in the NFL and pass effectively, but they struggle to run the ball. The Falcons are an elite passing team with a mediocre running game and a below average defense. Detroit has won the past three meetings with Atlanta. Detroit WR Calvin Johnson has missed the last two games with an ankle injury; “Megatron” will likely be a game-time decision on Sunday. 

St. Louis (2-4) at Kansas City (3-3) – Spread: Chiefs -7

This will be the first of three straight road games for the Rams. It is also part of an eight game stretch against teams that either made the playoffs or won 10 games last year. St. Louis is 1-1 on the road straight up and against the spread, with a 19-17 week 2 win in Tampa Bay and a 34-28 setback in week 5 at Philadelphia. Last year, St. Louis was 2-6 straight up and against the number away from home. Kansas City comes off of a bye week at 2-3 with a 1-1 mark at home. The Chiefs are 3-2 against the spread and 1-1 at Arrowhead Stadium. Last season, the Chiefs were 5-3 at home and 2-6 against the number. The Chiefs lost to Tennessee at home 26-10 in their season opener, and beat the Patriots 41-14 in week 4.

Miami (3-3) at Jacksonville (1-6) – Spread: Dolphins -5.5

The seventh meeting all time between the Dolphins and Jaguars will break a 3-3 tie in the series. Miami has won two straight against their in-state rivals, including a 24-3 win in their last meeting in 2012. The Fins have also won two straight in Jacksonville. Miami lost a heart breaker two weeks ago at home to Green Bay but bounced back with a 27-14 win at Chicago last week. This will be the second straight road game for Miami, and the back end of consecutive home games for the Jaguars. Jacksonville earned their first victory of the year, 24-6, against Cleveland last weekend.

Houston (3-4) at Tennessee (2-5) – Spread: Texans -1.5

After squandering a 13-0 lead in a loss at Pittsburgh on Monday, the Texans have a short week to prepare for division rival Tennessee. Tennessee is at home for the third time in four weeks. The Titans are 1-2 in front of their fans and 0-2-1 against the spread. Last year, Tennessee went 1-4-3 against the number at home. Houston has won three of the last four games in this series, but the Titans won 16-10 in Nashville last year. Both of last year’s games were decided by a single score, but five of the previous six matchups were lopsided. The Titans will be starting rookie QB Zach Mettenberger (out of LSU) this week in an attempt to jump-start the offense.

Minnesota (2-5) at Tampa Bay (1-5) – Spread: Bucs -3

The Vikings lost a third straight game on Sunday, 17-16 in Buffalo, and now fly to Tampa Bay for another road game. This is the third road game in four weeks for Minnesota and they are just 1-3 away from home. Meanwhile, the Bucs will be coming off of a bye week. Tampa has won six straight against Minnesota with only two of the contests proving competitive. The Bucs, however, are 0-3 straight up and against the spread at home this year. They are also a mere 17-30-2 against the number at home over the past seven years. Tampa Bay has managed to win five of their last seven following a bye and Lovie Smith is 6-1 in his last seven games following a bye (dating back to his third year in Chicago).

Seattle (3-3) at Carolina (3-3-1) – Spread: Seahawks -3

For the third time in four weeks, the Seahawks will be on the road. Seattle dropped a 28-26 decision at St. Louis last week after falling to the Cowboys at home 30-23 in week 6. The Panthers will be returning to Charlotte after back-to-back road games. Carolina is 2-1 at home this year both straight up and against the spread. Last season, Ron Rivera’s team went 7-1 at home including a 6-1-1 mark against the number. Strangely, this will be the third straight year the teams meet in Carolina. Seattle has won three straight against the Panthers including victories in each of the last two seasons on the road. The recent games have been low scoring affairs. Last year, Seattle beat the Panthers 12-7, and in 2012 the final score was 16-12.

Baltimore (5-2) at Cincinnati (3-2-1) – Spread: Bengals -1

A rematch of opening day takes place in Ohio. Cincinnati led the first meeting 15-0 at halftime but needed a long A.J. Green touchdown late in the fourth quarter to get by their division rival 23-16. The Ravens committed the only two turnovers in that first matchup. Baltimore is just 3-6-2 against the spread on the road over the last two years, but are coming into the game hot: the Ravens has won two straight, a 48-17 win at Tampa Bay and a 29-7 drubbing against the Falcons at home. The Bengals are 10-1 against the number at home in 2013 and 2014 but have not won in more than a month.

Chicago (3-4) at New England (5-2) – Spread: Patriots -6.5

The Bears are on the road again, which is good news for them this year as they have yet to win at home. Chicago won back-to-back road games in weeks 2 and 3, beating the Niners 28-20 and the Jets 27-19. They split road games in weeks 5 and 6, falling to Carolina 31-24 and winning in Atlanta 27-13. After a bye next week, the Bears will be on the road in week 10, but will then play five of their final seven games at home – for better or worse. The Bears are 3-1 straight up and against the number on the road this season. Last year, they had a 3-5 record on the road straight up and ATS. This will be the second of three straight at home for New England after they beat the Jets 27-25 a week ago. The Pats have won three straight against Chicago with each game being more lopsided than the last. Brian Urlacher gave Chicago some bulletin board material this week when the former Bear said QB Jay Cutler is not earning his massive salary.

Buffalo (4-3) at New York Jets (1-6) – Spread: Jets -3

The Bills, who defend the run better than any other team in the league, will face the Jets, who struggle to throw the ball. In all likelihood, we will see an epic battle for the line of scrimmage. Buffalo is 2-1 on the road after beating the Bears in overtime in week 1, falling at Houston 23-17 in week 4, and beating the Lions 17-14 in week 5. New York won their home opener against the Raiders, but have dropped home games to Chicago, Detroit, and Denver since then. New York has won seven of their last nine against the Bills and four in a row at home. Buffalo will be without running backs CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson because of injuries. The Jets offense may feature newly acquired wide receiver Percy Harvin. Just how much Harvin will play remains unclear, but the Jets seem confident that the troubled receiver will not pose the same problems in New York that he did in Seattle.

Philadelphia (5-1) at Arizona (5-3) – Spread: Cardinals -2.5

For a second straight season, the Eagles will meet Arizona following a bye. Last year, Philadelphia beat the Cardinals at home 24-21. The Cards committed the only three turnovers of that game. The Eagles are 1-1 on the road straight up and against the spread with a win over the Colts and a loss in San Francisco. Arizona is 9-2 at home during the last two years and 7-4 against the spread. But the Eagles are coming off of a bye week. Under Andy Reid, the Eagles were lethal after a bye and Chip Kelly kept the momentum going last year with a 24-21 win over these same Arizona Cardinals.

Oakland (0-6) at Cleveland (3-3) – Spread: Browns -7

The Raiders haven’t played a true road game in more than a month and, though they are 0-2 away from home, they have played some decent football. Oakland fell to the Jets 19-14 in New York in week 1 and dropped a 16-9 decision in New England during week 3. The Browns are 2-1 at home with wins over New Orleans and Pittsburgh and a close loss to Baltimore. After going 3-5 against the spread at home last season, the Browns are 2-0-1 this year. They will be looking to rebound after a terrible 24-6 loss to previously winless Jacksonville in week 7. 

Indianapolis (5-2) at Pittsburgh (4-3) – Spread: Colts -3.5

The Steelers are 13-2 all time against Indianapolis at home, though the Colts won the most recent matchup 24-20 in 2008. This year, Indianapolis is 2-1 away from home. After falling at Denver 31-24 in week 1, the Colts bounced back to beat Jacksonville 44-17 on the road in week 3, and then narrowly escaped Houston with a 33-28 win in week 6. This will be the second straight home game for the Steelers who started the year with four road games in the first six weeks. They came from behind to beat Houston on Monday, 30-23, but picked up 24 of their points in the last three minutes of the first half. The Colts are 2-10 against the Steelers since Andrew Luck was born, but the former Stanford standout has yet to face Pittsburgh in his young career. 

Green Bay (5-2) at New Orleans (2-4) – Spread: Saints -1

The Packers will travel to New Orleans in week 8 before a week 9 bye. Green Bay is 2-2 on the road straight up and against the spread. After falling at Seattle and Detroit early in the year, the Packers won at Chicago and in Miami. Green Bay has won two straight against the Saints but have not won in New Orleans since 1995. The Saints are 2-0 at home after a 20-9 win over Minnesota and a 37-31 overtime victory against Tampa Bay. The Saints are 8-1-1 against the spread at home during the last two seasons.

 

Monday

Washington (2-5) at Dallas (6-1) – Spread: Cowboys -10

Washington is 0-3 on the road straight up and 1-2 against the spread. Washington opened the year with a 17-6 loss at Houston, fell at Philadelphia 37-34 in week 2, and lost at the Cardinals 30-20 in week 6. Last year, the Redskins were 1-7 away from home and 2-6 against the number. After an impressive win in Seattle, Dallas kept rolling with a 31-21 win over the Giants at home last week. The Cowboys beat Washington twice last year, including a 24-23 victory in Dallas. Two years ago, though, Washington swept Dallas. Nine of the last 12 meetings between the teams have been decided by one score or less. After coming in at halftime last week to lead Washington to a win over Tennessee, QB Colt McCoy will likely make his first career start.

(Photo credit: Jeffrey Beall [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/] via Creative Commons.)