Division races are beginning to take shape around the NFL, and if you’re going by the latest Week 8 NFL odds, several front-runners will be put to the test. The NFC South-leading Saints opened as 2.5-point underdogs against the Vikings, who lead the NFC North, but that game now stands at Minnesota -1. And at MetLife Stadium, the NFC East-leading Redskins are a pick’em against the Giants after both teams covered last week. Meanwhile, the division-leading Patriots (-14), Rams (-9.5), and Chiefs (-10) are all favored by more than one score. With so much on the line this week and NFL odds of all sizes on the board, be sure to check out the top Week 8 NFL picks and predictions from SportsLine’s advanced computer model.
SportsLine’s proprietary computer model went 176-80 last season and beat over 95 percent of CBS Sports Office Pool players in 2016 and ’17. It also performed better than 98 percent of experts tracked by NFLPickWatch.com during that span. Additionally, it went 48-34 on A-rated picks against the spread last season, and $100 bettors who have followed it the past two seasons are up nearly $4,000.
It went 10-4 straight up in a wild Week 7, including calling the Patriots’ huge win over the Bears, improving its record to a blistering 71-34 on the season. And when it comes to top-rated picks against the spread, it is now on a strong 57-40 run. Anybody who has been following those picks is way, way up.
Now it has simulated every snap 10,000 times and its Week 8 NFL picks are in.
One of the top Week 8 NFL picks the model loves: The Steelers (-8) cover at home against Baker Mayfield and the Browns.
Le’Veon Bell didn’t return over the bye week as some expected, but the model doesn’t see that slowing a rested Steelers team against a Cleveland squad that has lost three of four.
Ben Roethlisberger throws for over 300 yards, according to the model, while James Conner has 100 yards of total offense as Pittsburgh covers in the spread in almost 55 percent of simulations. The model is also calling for 52 total points, giving plenty of value to the over (49).
Another one of the Week 8 NFL picks the model is recommending: the Ravens (-2) cover on the road at Carolina.
This spread opened as a pick’em, but has seen two full points of line movement. The model still finds value on a Baltimore team that has the top-ranked defense in terms of scoring (14.4 ppg) and total yardage (280.6 ypg) this season.
According to the projections, that stingy defense holds Cam Newton under 200 yards of passing, while Joe Flacco puts up close to 300 through the air against a Carolina secondary ranked 22nd in the league in pass defense. The Ravens cover in over 55 percent of simulations, while the Over (43) has a slight value as well because that’s hitting over half the time.
The model also has a strong selection for the huge Rams vs. Packers showdown, and is calling for a Super Bowl contender to get absolutely stunned by an underdog in a game that will shake up the NFL playoff picture.
What NFL picks can you make with confidence in Week 8? And what Super Bowl contender goes down hard? Check out the latest NFL odds below and then visit SportsLine to see which NFL teams are winning more than 50 percent of simulations, all from the model that has beaten 98 percent of experts over the past two years.
Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans (-7.5, 44.5)
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (+3, 42)
Baltimore Ravens at Carolina Panthers (+2, 43.5)
New York Jets at Chicago Bears (-7.5, 45)
Washington Redskins at New York Giants (PK, 42.5)
Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions (-3, 49.5)
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers (-8, 49)
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (-10, 53.5)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals (-4, 54.5)
Indianapolis Colts at Oakland Raiders (+3, 50.5)
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals (+1, 42.5)
Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams (-9.5, 56.5)
New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings (-1, 52)
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (+14, 44)
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