Sign In $
NFL

Sunday Blitz – Week 8

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
7 minute read
Editor's Note: Kevin Rogers is currently on a 11-4 run in the NFL coming off Thursday's blowout win by the Texans. He is locked and loaded with four winners for Week 8 NFL action. Click to win!

GAMES TO WATCH

Browns at Steelers (-8, 49) – 1:00 PM EST

When these two AFC North rivals met in the season opener in Cleveland, Pittsburgh jumped out to a 21-7 lead. The Browns (2-4-1 SU, 5-2 ATS) rallied to force overtime, but couldn’t pick up the win. However, Cleveland didn’t lose either as the two teams finished in a 21-21 tie, the first of four overtime contests for the Browns this season. Now, the Browns look to end a 14-game losing streak at Heinz Field as Cleveland last won in Pittsburgh back in 2003.

The Steelers (3-2-1 SU, 3-3 ATS) are slowly creeping back into the AFC North race following consecutive wins over the Falcons and Bengals. Pittsburgh finally picked up its first divisional victory in a Week 7 triumph at Cincinnati, 28-21 as Ben Roethlisberger hit Antonio Brown for a 31-yard touchdown and its fifth straight win at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers are still without running back Le’Veon Bell due to his holdout, but James Conner is coming off his second straight two-touchdown, 100+ yard rushing performance.

Cleveland is one of three teams in the NFL that has covered at least five games this season (Kansas City and Detroit the others), while all three of its road losses have come by exactly three points each time. Top pick Baker Mayfield is facing the Steelers for the first time after Tyrod Taylor got the start in the opener, throwing a touchdown pass and rushing for another score. Cleveland caused six Pittsburgh turnovers in the Week 1 tie, but the Steelers have committed only four turnovers in the past five games.

Best Bet: Steelers 27, Browns 20

Buccaneers at Bengals (-4, 54 ½) – 1:00 PM EST

Tampa Bay covered in each of the first two victories of the season against New Orleans and Philadelphia, but the Buccaneers (3-3 SU, 2-4 ATS) have failed to cash in the past four games. The Bucs squandered a 14-point lead last Sunday against the Browns, but Tampa Bay came through with a 26-23 overtime triumph on Chandler Catanzaro’s 59-yard field goal. Although Tampa Bay snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the first time with Jameis Winston starting at quarterback this season, the Bucs failed to cover as 3 ½-point favorites.

The Bengals (4-3 SU, 4-3 ATS) were on their way to being part of the AFC elite following a 4-1 start. But, Cincinnati was humbled quickly in a last-minute loss to Pittsburgh, followed by a 45-10 drubbing at Kansas City last Sunday night to fall into second place in the AFC North. Cincinnati has been outgained by over 200 yards in each of those defeats, while falling to 0-3 this season when scoring 21 points or less.

Will Tampa Bay’s defense turn things around on the road? The Bucs have yielded 40, 48, and 34 points in three contests away from Raymond James Stadium, while Tampa Bay hit its first UNDER of the season in last week’s win over Cleveland. Cincinnati started the season on a 4-0 OVER run, but have gone the other way the last three weeks with three UNDERS, while hitting the OVER in both contests against NFC South foes.

Best Bet: Bengals 31, Buccaneers 28

Packers at Rams (-9 ½, 56 ½) – 4:25 PM EST

One undefeated team remains in the NFL as Los Angeles (7-0 SU, 4-3 ATS) looks to stay perfect as the Rams return home this Sunday. The Rams picked up a three-game road sweep against the Seahawks, Broncos, and 49ers, but failed to cover in close victories at Seattle and Denver. L.A. rolled past San Francisco last Sunday, 39-10 to easily cash as 8 ½-point favorites, as Todd Gurley rushed for two touchdowns to move to 14 total touchdowns on the season which ranks tops in the NFL.

The Packers (3-2-1 SU, 2-4 ATS) also faced the 49ers in their last game, coming back in Week 6 at Lambeau Field. Green Bay was on the verge of defeat before Aaron Rodgers pulled off another rally by leading the Packers to 10 points in the final two minutes of a 33-30 victory to move above the .500 mark. Although Green Bay didn’t cash tickets as a nine-point home favorite, Rodgers eclipsed the 400-yard passing mark for the second straight game, while improving his touchdown to interception ratio to 12/1 on the season.

The last time the Packers were this large of an underdog with Rodgers starting came in the 2014 NFC championship at Seattle. Green Bay fell in overtime, 28-22 but cashed as 8 ½-point underdogs, as the Pack hasn’t been listed as higher than a two-point ‘dog this season. The Rams’ offense has been nearly unstoppable at the Coliseum this season by scoring 34, 35, and 38 points, while putting up at least 30 points in all but one game this season.

Best Bet: Rams 34, Packers 28

SUPERCONTEST PICKS

Kevin Rogers (2-3 last week, 19-14-2 on season)
Browns +8
Chiefs -10
Redskins PK
Buccaneers +4 ½
Packers +9 ½

Chris David (3-2 last week, 21-13-1 on season)
Broncos +10
Seahawks +3
Raiders +3
Cardinals +1
Patriots -13.5

SURVIVOR PICKS

Kevin Rogers (6-1)
Bears over Jets

Chris David (6-1)
Patriots over Bills

BEST TOTAL PLAY

UNDER 50 ½ - Colts at Raiders

Indianapolis has scored 34 and 37 points the last two weeks, but the Colts put up their strongest defensive effort by allowing five points to the Bills last Sunday. Granted, Buffalo is down to backup quarterbacks, but the Colts’ defense has yielded only two touchdowns the past two games since giving up 38 points at New England.

The Raiders put up 45 points on Cleveland in Week 4, but Oakland has scored a combined 13 points the last two games. Also, the Raiders are losing offensive weapons by the week as running back Marshawn Lynch is sidelined due to injury and wide receiver Amari Cooper was dealt to the Cowboys. Oakland has been limited to 20 points or fewer in five of six games and it’s hard to think the Raiders will get the offense going this week.

TRAP OF THE WEEK

The Giants are a tough team to trust. However, Big Blue can be worth a look on Sunday as New York hosts Washington, who last won three consecutive games in 2016. The Redskins held off the Panthers two weeks ago, followed by a three-point victory over the Cowboys last Sunday. The Giants picked up a late cover in last Monday’s 23-20 setback at Atlanta, as New York has yet to cover consecutive games this season. New York has won four of the past five home matchups with Washington, while the Redskins put together their worst offensive performance in their lone favorite opportunity this season against the Colts in Week 2.

BIGGEST LINE MOVE

In the most anticipated matchup of Week 8, the Saints return to Minnesota looking to avenge the divisional playoff loss to the Vikings last season. Minnesota opened up as a 1 ½-point home favorite at the Westgate Superbook, but that line has flipped late in the week. New Orleans is now favored as the Saints sit at -1 ½ at Westgate, while seeking their sixth consecutive win. When these teams met in the second round in January, Minnesota closed as five-point favorites and failed to cover in spite of the Stefon Diggs walk-off touchdown, 29-24.

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW

The Ravens are back in the road favorite role for the third straight time as they visit Carolina. The Panthers rallied from a 17-0 hole to shock the Eagles last Sunday as Carolina looks to improve on a 3-0 home record. Since 2014, the Panthers compiled a 5-2 ATS record as a home underdog, including outright victories over Atlanta and Minnesota last season.

Want FREE picks for Week 8 in the NFL? Check them out here for the top three games of the weekend along with other insider selections.

You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com

Kevin Rogers can be followed on Twitter at virogers.

Where to place a bet this NFL Season?

  • Use our exclusive BetMGM Bonus Code VIBONUS1500 to unlock BetMGM’s welcome offer for new sportsbook users!
  • Compare the latest NFL Odds from the best sportsbooks before placing a bet on this week's games.
  • Check out the North Carolina Sportsbooks just before they launch legal online sports betting.

Nfl News

VegasInsider Staff

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff
•