Top NFL Betting Picks & Predictions for Week 8

Top NFL Betting Picks & Predictions for Week 8

Written by on October 25, 2017

How weird was Sunday in the NFL? Entering Week 7, the Broncos and Colts had the two longest active streaks of not being shut out — and it wasn’t even close. Denver hadn’t been shut out since 1992. The Colts hadn’t been shut out since 1993. Both were shut out on Sunday. Now that most NFL odds for Week 8 are out, here’s a look at two interesting NFL betting picks in Week 8: Minnesota-Cleveland and Oakland-Buffalo.

Top NFL Picks & Betting Predictions for Week 8

Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns Odds & NFL Betting Pick

When: Sunday, 9:30 AM ET Where: Twickenham Stadium, London TV: NFL Network Radio: KFXN-FM 100.3 (Minnesota) / (Cleveland) Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Betting Lines: Vikings -7.5

Why Bet On Minnesota?

The Vikings (5-2) won their third straight Sunday, 24-16 at home vs. Baltimore. Latavius Murray rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown and Kai Forbath kicked six field goals. Minnesota sacked Joe Flacco five times and allowed just 208 total yards. Everson Griffen had two sacks and has nine for the season. Forbath made kicks of 52, 51, 43, 43, 34 and 32 yards. The nine combined field goals tied an NFL record for most made field goals in a game. Forbath did miss an extra point, his third time doing that this year. Vikings QB Case Keenum struggled with his accuracy, overthrowing targets and mistiming his throws. He finished 20-of-31 for 188 yards, with an interception and a 67.7 passer rating. But Minnesota’s defense held the Ravens to 3.3 yards per play and obliterated their run game, which had been averaging 129.5 yards per game. In this one, Baltimore had 64 yards rushing. Both starting left tackle Riley Reiff and left guard Jeremiah Sirles suffered knee injuries during the contest. Sirles went down in the second quarter, forcing rookie Danny Isidora into action for the first time in his career. Sirles was already in for starter Nick Easton, who has been out with a calf injury. Neither injury is in consideration, but it’s too early to tell if they will play this week. Following a Vikings win and a Packers loss, Minnesota now has a 72% chance on FPI ratings to win the NFC North.

Washington at Philadelphia Week 7 NFL Odds & Betting Pick for MNF

Why Bet On Cleveland?

The Browns haven’t won in the United States very often – one of two winless teams this season along with San Francisco – in recent years so perhaps playing in London is just what this sorry club needs. Who will be the quarterback for this one? In Sunday’s 12-9 overtimes loss to the Titans, rookie DeShone Kizer completing 12-of-20 passes for 116 yards with two interceptions and benching for Cody Kessler in the third quarter. After sitting out last week, Kizer had a promising start, completing 6-of-6 passes on the opening drive of the game which led to a field goal, but then quickly fell apart afterwards. Kessler completed 10-of-19 passes for 121 yards with an interception. It was the first time Kessler has been active all season long after starting eight games during his rookie season. I would imagine Kessler gets the start here. Kessler completed 65.6 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and two interceptions in 2016. The Browns’ best player is future Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas, but he reportedly has suffered a season-ending torn triceps. Thomas was injured on a 3-yard run by Duke Johnson with 5:35 left in the third quarter. He went down after the play holding his left elbow. Thomas had played every snap for the Browns since he was the third overall draft pick in 2007 — a streak of 10,363. That’s truly incredible. The Browns (0-7) committed 12 penalties in the loss and dropped to 1-22 in two seasons under coach Hue Jackson.

Oakland Raiders at Buffalo Bills Odds & NFL Betting Pick

When: Sunday, 1 PM ET Where: New Era Field, Buffalo TV: CBS Radio: (Oakland) / (Buffalo) Stream Option: DirecTV to Go Opening NFL Betting Lines: Bills -3

Why Bet On Oakland?

Oakland (3-4) saved its season with a wild 31-30 win over Kansas City on Thursday. Derek Carr threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree on the final play after the game was extended by two straight defensive holding calls. Carr led an 85-yard touchdown drive in the final 2:25 to give the Raiders the thrilling comeback win in a game they trailed by nine points heading into the fourth quarter. Amari Cooper broke out of his slow start in a big way against the Chiefs with 11 catches, 210 yards and two TDs. Cooper entered averaging 24.3 receiving yards per game this year. His career high in yardage was the most by a Raiders player since Art Powell in 1965. The Raiders, who entered the day with the NFL’s No. 30-ranked total offense, exploded for 505 yards and 32 first downs. Carr passed for 417 yards and three touchdowns. Are the Raiders a safe bet in NFL Week 8? Running back Marshawn Lynch is heading to suspension for this game for pushing an official – Lynch is appealing but that’s not likely to be successful. Lynch ran off the sideline and into a scrum after Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters hit Carr late, drawing a flag for a personal foul. Several Raiders offensive linemen went after Peters, an Oakland native and close friend of Lynch’s. Lynch bumped line judge Julian Mapp in the chest and then grabbed the official by the jersey before letting go and tending to Peters. The Raiders beat visiting Buffalo 38-24 last season. The Bills led 24-9 at one point. But Carr had two touchdown passes in the second half and Khalil Mack helped force two turnovers that rallied the Raiders to their biggest comeback in 16 years. A big day by LeSean McCoy, who had 130 yards rushing, helped stake Buffalo to the big lead, but it wasn’t enough.

Why Bet On Buffalo?

Buffalo (4-2) rallied to beat Tampa Bay 30-27. Rookie cornerback Tre’Davious White forced and recovered a fumble to set up Stephen Hauschka’s 30-yard field goal with 14 seconds remaining.  McCoy had 91 yards rushing and scored twice including a 7-yard run to tie the score with 2:28 remaining. Tyrod Taylor went 20 of 33 for 268 yards and a touchdown, while Buffalo’s defense forced three turnovers. It’s just the fourth time the Bills winning at least four of their first six games during its 17-year playoff drought. Buffalo finished with 173 rushing yards, its most since Week 1 when Buffalo ran for 190 yards against the Jets. Taylor entered Sunday just 9-of-21 with one INT and no TDs on throws of 15-plus yards this season. He completed five such passes against the Bucs for 142 yards and a TD to Logan Thomas. Bills safety Jordan Poyer suffered what’s believed to be a sprained MCL against the Bucs. Poyer was injured on the final play of the game and was seen with a wrap around his knee in the locker room. Cornerback E.J. Gaines left to a hamstring injury. Wide receiver Jordan Matthews returned to action Sunday weeks before originally anticipated after suffering a broken thumb in Week 4.

Expert Prediction & NFL Betting Picks for Week 8

Thursday should be the turning point in Oakland’s season. It beats Buffalo, while the Browns fall in London.