For the gambling degenerates, here are my Week 8 picks. To note, the helmets indicate who I think will win the game, not cover the spread. At the end of the picks, I'll note a few teams that I like based on the spread.
Dolphins at Patriots (-8): In their first four games under fired coach Joe Philbin, the Dolphins went 1-3 and scored 16.3 points per game. Under new head coach Dan Campbell, the Dolphins are 2-0 and have scored 41 points per game. Granted, they waxed a pair of awful AFC South teams in the Titans and Texans, but it looks like the Dolphins are alive and kicking. Doesn't matter. They aren't beating the juggernaut Patri*ts.Lions at Chiefs (-4.5): The Lions have turned the ball over 18 times this season, which is the most in the NFL. They're tied for the most INTs, with 10, and second in fumbles lost with 8. Lightweights. A season ago, the Eagles achieved the "Triple Crown of Turnover Awfulness" when they led the league in all three of those categories.
Buccaneers at Falcons (-7.5): The Falcons are probably the most overrated team in the NFL after jumping out to a 5-0 start. They're going to cruise to a playoff berth, however, because of their second-easiest remaining schedule, according to FootballOutsiders.com. But they could be a quick out in the divisional round -- unless they get an NFC East team.Cardinals (-5) at Browns: The Cardinals are the only team in the NFL in the top five in total offense (406.9 yards per game - 4th) and total defense (321.1 yards per game - 4th). Meanwhile, they have a point differential of +96, which is best in the NFL. The Browns have a point differential of -35, which is eighth worst. Why is this line only 5?49ers at Rams (-9): Earlier in the week, we showed that 36.9 percent of the Eagles' points have come off of takeaways. The only team who relies on their defense to generate points than Philly? The Rams, who "lead" in that category by a wide margin, at 45.4 percent:
Team
Takeaway points
Total points
% of points off takeaways
Rams
49
108
45.4
Eagles
59
160
36.9
Broncos
47
139
33.8
Titans
37
119
31.1
Jets
45
152
29.6
Buccaneers
41
140
29.3
Cardinals
66
229
28.8
Giants
45
166
27.1
Chiefs
40
150
26.7
Panthers
42
162
25.9
Falcons
46
193
23.8
Steelers
36
158
22.8
Bears
27
120
22.5
Bills
35
176
19.9
Raiders
26
144
18.1
Dolphins
26
147
17.7
Vikings
22
124
17.7
Seahawks
27
154
17.5
Jaguars
25
147
17.0
Saints
26
161
16.1
Lions
21
139
15.1
Colts
22
147
15.0
Packers
23
164
14.0
Bengals
25
182
13.7
Ravens
22
161
13.7
Browns
20
147
13.6
49ers
12
103
11.7
Redskins
16
148
10.8
Texans
15
154
9.7
Patriots
20
213
9.4
Cowboys
7
121
5.8
Chargers
7
165
4.2
NFL AVERAGE
30.5
152.9
19.9
I would never trust a team that can't score offensively to cover a 9 point spread.
Giants at Saints (-3): The Saints have won two straight and three of their last four, so I get why they're favored by three. However, I haven't forgotten that their defense is garbage, as they're allowing 6.4 yards per play (31st in the NFL) and 404.9 yards per games (also 31st). The Giants have struggled on offense in recent weeks, but they'll have enough to outscore the Saints.Vikings (-1) at Bears: OK, I'm beginning to buy the Vikes a little bit, especially because their schedule is so easy. As we noted a week ago, prior to their road win against the Lions last Sunday, the Vikes had a 2-15-1 road record since 2013. They now have their first road W under their belt this season (albeit against a terrible team), and they'll head on the road again against the equally bad Bears. Take the Vikes -1.Chargers at Ravens (-3): Here are two seemingly talented teams who have drastically under-performed this year. When the schedule came out, this looked like it might have been a good one. Now, not so much. The Chargers lead the NFL in total offense, by a wide margin, at 430.7 yards per game. A slew of those are garbage yards. I pick these two teams wrong every week. This week will be no different, I'm sure.Bengals (-1.5) at Steelers: This decision is easy if Pittsburgh is rolling with Landry Jones at quarterback, but I kinda like Cincinnati here even if the Steelers get Ben Roethlisberger back from injury. The Bengals can open up a 3.5 game lead in the NFC North with a 2-0 divisional record if they can take care of business in Pittsburgh.Titans at Texans (-4): Here are two of the worst teams in the NFL. The Titans are averaging 10 points per game over their last three games, and will probably be without Marcus Mariota again. However, the Texans got embarrassed a week ago when Miami raced out to a 41-0 first half lead last Sunday.Jets (-2) at Raiders: The Raiders have elevated themselves to one of those unpredictable teams that scores 37 one week and loses to the Bears another. In a sense, they're the #NextRams, in that they aren't going to sniff the playoffs but they'll beat enough good teams that they're no longer the pushover that they once were. Still... Jets.Seahawks (-6) at Cowboys: The Cowboys are a league-worst -9 in turnover differential, and only have three takeaways on the season. You aren't going to win many games generating 0.5 takeaways per game in the NFL. Meanwhile, DE/woman beater Greg Hardy is slapping clipboards and former starting RB Joseph Randle is crying about being replaced in the starting lineup. The Cowboys are beginning to look like a train wreck. Packers (-3) at Broncos: Getting back to turnovers, unlike the Cowboys above, the Broncos generate turnovers in spades. On the season, Denver has forced 17 turnovers, or 2.83 per game, which is best in the NFL, and the reason they're undefeated. Their ability to create turnovers will be lost on Aaron Rodgers, who doesn't make mistakes.Colts at Panthers (-7): As we noted in this week's hierarchy/obituary:
The Panthers are the only team in the NFL that has run the ball more than they have passed. Opposing defenses know they're going to run it, and they're effective anyway. This is a legitimately good "old school" type of team that can run the ball and play good defense. They aren't going away.
Byes: Bills, Eagles, Redskins, Jaguars.
Picks against the spread: Vikings (-1), Seahawks (-6), Cardinals (-5), Giants (+3) 49ers (+9), Packers (-3).