NFL Week 8 Picks Against The Spread 2017: Predictions ATS, Updated Odds

With six teams on a bye, Week 8 of the 2017 NFL schedule only features 13 games. Five of those contests have point spreads of three points or fewer, and four teams are favored by at least nine points.

Below are picks against the spread for every game in Week 8, as well as updated betting odds at Las Vegas and online sportsbooks. Betting lines and trends are courtesy of OddsShark.

Miami Dolphins (+3) at Baltimore Ravens

This might be the worst “Thursday Night Football” game of 2017. Neither team can score, and they’ll be starting two of the NFL’s worst quarterbacks. Grabbing the three points is probably the smart move, considering Matt Moore might be a slight upgrade over the injured Jay Cutler, and Baltimore can’t stop the run like they have been able to in past seasons.

Prediction ATS: Miami

Minnesota Vikings (-9.5) at Cleveland Browns (London)

The Vikings have quietly been one of the NFL’s best teams, and a loss for the Eagles in Week 7 would’ve made them the No.1 seed in the NFC. Cleveland is a mess, constantly changing quarterbacks and losing every week. Whoever is under center for the winless Browns will have trouble moving the ball against the league’s No.5 scoring defense.

Prediction ATS: Minnesota

San Francisco 49ers (+13) at Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia is the best team in the NFC. San Francisco is the worst team in the NFC. With the way this season has gone, that could mean Sunday’s game will be a lot closer than it should be. The 49ers had lost five straight games by three points or fewer before getting blown out in Week 7. The Eagles lost tackle Jason Peters and linebacker Jordan Hicks for the season in Week 7, and the team might not be as sharp as it had been in previous games.

Prediction ATS: San Francisco

Los Angeles Chargers (+7.5) at New England Patriots

L.A. has rebounded nicely from their 0-4 start, and they’ve got a real chance to get back to .500. The Chargers have two of the league’s best pass rushers in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, and putting pressure on Tom Brady is usually the best way to beat the Patriots. New England will likely win now that their defense is improved, but the victory won’t come easily.

Prediction ATS: Los Angeles

Oakland Raiders (+2.5) at Buffalo Bills

It’s time for the Raiders to prove that they are a real playoff contender like they were expected to be at the start of the year. That means winning on the road against Buffalo, who can’t keep pace with Oakland’s offense when it’s firing on all cylinders.

Prediction ATS: Oakland

Carolina Panthers (+2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It’s hard to know what to make of these two teams. Cam Newton has been awful, with the exception of two games, and Tampa Bay’s defense can’t stop anyone. The Panthers’ offense might not be able to keep up with Jameis Winston and Co., though it wouldn’t be surprising to see either team come away with a win.

Prediction ATS: Tampa Bay

Atlanta Falcons (-4) at New York Jets

Without Kyle Shanahan, Atlanta’s offense looks completely different than it did a year ago. The team hasn’t won since Week 3, and they’ve been held to 17 points or fewer in each of their last three games. It’s clear that the Jets are much better than they were predicted to be in the preseason. New York is 2-1 at home with a close loss to the Patriots. They can certainly upset the Falcons and win outright.

Prediction ATS: New York

Indianapolis Colts (+10.5) at Cincinnati Bengals

As bad as Indianapolis has been, it’s hard to pick the Bengals when they are giving more than 10 points to anyone. Andy Dalton has been terrible in half the team’s games, and Cincinnati just gave up 29 points to an offense that had been struggling mightily.

Prediction ATS: Indianapolis

Chicago Bears (+9) at New Orleans Saints

Chicago’s defense is too good to be getting nearly 10 points against New Orleans. The Bears are 2-1 since benching Mike Glennon, and even though Mitchell Trubisky hasn’t been asked to do much, Chicago has been competitive because their quarterback has stopped giving the ball away. This could be a lower scoring game than the Saints are used to playing.

Prediction ATS: Chicago

Houston Texans (+5.5) at Seattle Seahawks

Seattle always ends up as one of the NFC’s best teams after a slow start, and they are well on their way to continuing that trend in 2017. The Seahawks have won three games in a row by at least six points. Now, they return home, where opposing teams always have a hard time winning. Deshaun Watson hasn’t faced much adversity as a rookie, and he could finally be in for a rough game against Seattle’s vaunted pass defense.

Prediction ATS: Seattle

Dallas Cowboys (-2) at Washington Redskins

Don’t overreact to one week. The Redskins would’ve been favored if this game were played before the Cowboys beat the NFC’s only winless team. Dallas can’t stop good quarterbacks, and that’s going to be a problem against the highest-rated passer in the conference. The Cowboys are 4-10 against the spread in their last 14 games against the Redskins.

Prediction ATS: Washington

Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) at Detroit Lions

Detroit has already lost a couple of games at home to good teams, falling to both the Falcons and Panthers. Pittsburgh is better than both Atlanta and Carolina, and they might even be better than any team in the NFC. The Steelers began the year as one of the Super Bowl favorites because of their offense, but it’s their defense that might actually win them a championship. The Steelers rank second in total defense, and only two teams have totaled fewer yards of offense than the Lions.

Prediction ATS: Pittsburgh

Denver Broncos (+7.5) at Kansas City Chiefs

With the betting line higher than a touchdown, the Broncos are the smart pick in this matchup of AFC West rivals. Denver is 6-2 in their last eight games in Kansas City, and their defense is good enough to keep this game close for most of the way.

Prediction ATS: Denver