Week 8 NFL Picks For PUMPJACKS!
By the Numbers
The Green Bay Packers open Week 8 as favorites against the Carolina Panthers, while the Buffalo Bills face a challenging test against the Baltimore Ravens. Sunday’s schedule also features the Detroit Lions hosting the Minnesota Vikings, the Kansas City Chiefs visiting the Denver Broncos, and a Monday night showdown between the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks.
Here are the straight-up predictions for all 14 games:
Thursday, October 29
Carolina Panthers (3-3) at Green Bay Packers (4-3)
Spread: Packers -3.5
Pick: GREEN BAY PACKERS
Green Bay gets the benefit of playing at Lambeau Field in the opening game of Week 8. They’ll still be steaming after their 20-17 loss at Detroit on Sunday, a game in which they rightfully felt jobbed by the officials. Carolina, currently fading, will need to control the tempo and limit mistakes to pull off the upset, but the Packers are the safer choice at home.
Sunday, November 1
Baltimore Ravens (4-3) at Buffalo Bills (5-1)
Spread: Bills -3.5
Pick: BUFFALO BILLS
This is one of the weekend’s marquee matchups, with Baltimore’s physical style going up against Buffalo’s home-field advantage. At press time, QB Lamar Jackson is listed as questionable for Baltimore. The Ravens have the talent to make this a four-quarter battle, but the Bills get the nod in a game that could come down to the final possession.
Tennessee Titans (1-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)
Spread: Bengals -10.5
Pick: CINCINNATI BENGALS
Cincinnati is one of the week’s biggest favorites, and the Bengals should have the advantage if they establish their offense early. Tennessee faces a difficult assignment on the road, making Cincinnati the straightforward selection.
Arizona Cardinals (2-5) at Dallas Cowboys (3-4)
Spread: Cowboys -6.5
Pick: DALLAS COWBOYS
Dallas has a favorable home matchup against Arizona, and another creampuff opponent. Despite their upset of the Rams two weeks ago, the Cardinals are who we thought they were. They’ll need an efficient offensive performance to keep pace, but the Cowboys are the pick to take care of business in front of their home fans.
Minnesota Vikings (6-0) at Detroit Lions (4-2)
Spread: Lions -3.5
Pick: DETROIT LIONS
The NFC North rivalry adds another layer of intrigue to this matchup. Minnesota has the potential to make things uncomfortable, but they seem like the most uncomfortable 6-0 team in NFL history. Detroit’s home-field advantage tips the balance toward the Lions in what should be a competitive divisional contest.
Las Vegas Raiders (3-4) at New York Jets (2-5)
Spread: Jets -1.5 (market lines vary)
Pick: Las Vegas Raiders
This is one of the hardest games on the board to call, with the spread hovering around a field goal or less. The Raiders have lost four in a row but are coming out of the meat grinder of their schedule (KC, NE, BUF, LAR). Meanwhile the Jets are coming off, what they’re saying, is the worst loss in franchise history (28-25 to the Dolphins last week) and are reeling.
Cleveland Browns (5-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
Spread: Steelers -3.5
Pick: Cleveland Browns
Divisional games between Cleveland and Pittsburgh are rarely straightforward. The Steelers have the home-field advantage but are coming off that long roadie to Paris. Meanwhile the Browns lead the division and QB Deshaun Watson seems more comfortable on the road.
Atlanta Falcons (3-4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5)
Spread: Buccaneers -1.5 to -2.5
Pick: Buccaneers
Baker’s back and put up 43 points last week against Carolina. The Falcons are improving, coming off handing the 49ers their first loss of the season, but Tampa Bay’s typically tough at home and Mayfield is settling in.
Indianapolis Colts (2-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2)
Spread: Jaguars -7.5
Pick: JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Jacksonville enters as a substantial home favorite in this AFC South matchup. Indianapolis will need to keep the game close early, but the Jaguars are the pick to emerge victorious in front of their home crowd.
Los Angeles Chargers (0-6) at Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
Spread: Rams -6.5 to -7.5
Pick: LOS ANGELES RAMS
The battle for Los Angeles features two teams with plenty of incentive to claim local bragging rights. The Rams receive the home designation and a significant edge from oddsmakers. Their blowout win at Las Vegas in Week 7 is evidence that they’ve righted the ship after a shaky start. Meanwhile, the hapless Chargers just can’t get a break.
Kansas City Chiefs (5-1) at Denver Broncos (5-2)
Spread: Chiefs -1.5
Pick: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
This AFC West showdown could be among the weekend’s most intriguing games. Denver has the advantage of playing at home, but Kansas City is the narrow favorite and gets the nod in a matchup that could be settled in the closing minutes. The Chiefs looked pedestrian in a Sunday night loss at Seattle and will be eager to prove that was just a blip.
New England Patriots (4-3) at Miami Dolphins (1-5)
Spread: Patriots -7 to -7.5
Pick: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
New England is a sizable road favorite against Miami. The Dolphins will look to use home-field advantage to narrow the gap, but the Patriots are the pick to secure the victory and avoid an upset in South Florida.
Sunday Night Football
Philadelphia Eagles (2-5) at Washington Commanders (1-4-1)
Spread: Commanders -3.5 (some markets differ)
Pick: WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
An NFC East rivalry closes out Sunday’s action. Philadelphia has lost five in a row and are about to slip right off the page. ‘Nuff said.
Monday Night Football — November 2
Chicago Bears (5-2) at Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
Spread: Seahawks -3 to -3.5
Pick: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Seattle wraps up Week 8 at home against Chicago, where they humiliated Kansas City last week. The Bears will look to disrupt the Seahawks’ rhythm, but Seattle’s home-field advantage and narrow favorite status make the Seahawks the choice to close the week with a win.
Point spreads are approximate reference lines, not predictions of the final margin. Lines vary by sportsbook and can change before kickoff. Picks are for entertainment purposes only and are not guarantees of game outcomes.
