NFL Week 8 Top Matchups & Expert Betting Picks

When the NFL’s regular season hits Week 8, we’re just about halfway to the finish line — and some teams will have already faded out of the postseason picture, while some will have made some moves that already put them in a nearly unassailable playoff situation. Looking into our crystal ball, we see the Patriots streaking out to a big lead in the AFC East, Green Bay doing something similar in the NFC North, and the Cowboys and Giants duking things out at the top of the NFC East. Let’s take a look at some Week 8 matchups that should help you pad that NFL betting account.

NFL Week 8 Top Matchups & Expert Betting Picks

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Minnesota Vikings vs Cleveland Browns

When: Sunday, October 29, 9:30 AM ET Where: Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London, England. TV: NFL Network Radio: KFXN-FM (Minnesota) / 92.3 FM The Fan (Cleveland) Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Week 8 Lines: Vikings -7 These tilts in England have to be a real conflict for coaches, who love routine. In the middle of the season, you have to disrupt your weekly schedule and head to England in time for the jet lag to work its way out of the players’ systems, and then deal with press events as the league looks to plug its product in Europe. You have a young Cleveland Browns team taking on a Minnesota Vikings team that has the better defense and (for once) also has the better quarterback, even if Sam Bradford is still starting. I see the Vikings winning, but that seven-point line is a doozy. I could see this turning out 24-17 or even 17-10 and ending up in a push quite easily. So keep an eye on that line — and also on the point total, as two distracted teams could easily play to an under. Neither team has a great offense, so if that total is as low as 45, you might think about that under as well.

Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals

When: Sunday, October 29, 1:00 PM ET Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati TV: CBS Radio: 107.5 FM (Indianapolis) / 102.7FM (Cincinnati) Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Week 8 Lines: Bengals -3 Which Andrew Luck will the Colts have this year? The one who looked tentative for most of the 2015 campaign? Or the one who played fairly well in 2016 — only to have his defense submarine him at the worst possible times? I think it’s going to be a strong version of Luck in 2017. I also think that Cincinnati will have some major problems on both sides of the ball as a team that lacks much discipline in the first place will already see their season heading down the drain by the midway point, so when a talented Colts offense shows up, they’ll be able to impose their will over the course of the game. Give me the Colts to win outright.

Atlanta Falcons at N.Y. Jets

When: Sunday, October 8, 1:00 PM ET Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland TV: FOX Radio: 92.9 The Game (Atlanta) / ESPN New York 98.7 FM(NY) Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Week 8 Lines: Falcons -7 Matt Ryan vs Christian Hackenberg? Josh McCown? Bryce Petty? Those are the three names that the Jets have on their quarterback depth chart. How are they going to fare when the Falcons come to town? We did see the Falcons’ defense implode on international television in the Super Bowl, but the fact remains that they have a fast, young secondary that should be able to feast on the Jets’ offensive woes. Give me the Falcons to win big as they take in some loss therapy up in the Big Apple.

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When: Sunday, Oct. 29, 1 PM ET Where: Raymond James Stadium TV: FOX Radio: WBT 1110 AM (Carolina) / WDAE 620 AM (Tampa Bay) Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Week 8 Lines: Bucs -2.5 You know that Jameis Winston has had this date circled ever since the NFL schedule came out for this season, because this is the Buccaneers’ big chance to make a statement against Carolina and make their own steps toward an NFC South title. That duo of Winston and DeSean Jackson should already have put together some sparkling games by this point, and if Carolina hasn’t already won five games by this point of the season, we’ll know that they have similar chemistry issues to the ones that turned 2015’s Super Bowl darlings into a 2016 dumpster fire. Give me the Bucs to win and cover.

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs

When: Monday, Oct. 30, 8:30 PM ET Where: Arrowhead Stadium TV: ESPN Radio: WDAE 620 AM (Denver) / 101 The FOX (Kansas City) Stream Option: WatchESPN Opening NFL Week 8 Lines: Chiefs -3 I’m not a fan of Chiefs’ quarterback Alex Smith. He checks down too often and leads the team into too many three-and- outs. He doesn’t throw many picks, but he also leads to too many punts. However, the Broncos don’t have anything better under center, with either Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch set to lead their attack. I like the Chiefs to manage the offensive game slightly better and eke out a close win over their division rivals. Give me Kansas City to win and cover.