Week 8 of the NFL season features a packed 16-game lineup with no bye weeks providing us with plenty of opportunities when it comes to our best NFL picks.
The action kicks off on Thursday night as the Buffalo Bills welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat last week.
Sunday sees the San Francisco 49ers looking to recover from two consecutive defeats against a fully rested Cincinnati Bengals side with Joe Burrow expected to be in the starting lineup.
Wrapping up the week, Monday Night Football showcases the Detroit Lions playing host to the Las Vegas Raiders.
So keep reading for our NFL Week 8 preview along with our NFL best bets based on the latest NFL odds.
At NetBet Sport, you can enjoy enhanced 1×2 odds on all the biggest sporting events with BetPlus.
NFL Week 8 Schedule
Thursday
Buccaneers vs. Bills
Sunday
Texans vs. Panthers
Rams vs. Cowboys
Vikings vs. Packers
Saints vs. Colts
Patriots vs. Dolphins
Jets vs. Giants
Jaguars vs. Steelers
Falcons vs. Titans
Eagles vs. Commanders
Browns vs. Seahawks
Ravens vs. Cardinals
Chiefs vs. Broncos
Bengals vs. 49ers
Monday
Raiders vs Lions
Kanas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos
Sunday’s AFC West clash between the 6-1 Kansas City Chiefs and the 2-5 Denver Broncos could be entertaining, but not for all the right reasons, as this appears to be something of a mismatch on paper.
The Chiefs, leading the AFC West, have clinched six straight wins since their initial loss to Detroit, while the Broncos broke a two-game slump with a recent triumph over Green Bay.
Kansas City boasts the NFL’s second-highest scoring offense, contrasting with Denver’s defence that concedes the highest yardage and a concerning 31 points per game.
Although Denver’s run game is stronger, their overall scoring has been inconsistent, hitting 21 points only thrice in seven games while the Chiefs’ defence ranks high, allowing minimal yardage and points.
Denver’s erratic offence is bound to be tested further by Kansas City’s robust defence, and while Denver’s defence is struggling, the anticipated cold, windy weather could disrupt gameplay, particularly in kicking and passing.
Historically, the Chiefs have leaned towards Under in their Over/Under record at 2-5, while the Broncos are at 4-3 to the Over. Given the weather factor, expect this game to finish Under the total of 46.5 points.
Pick: Under 46.5 @ 1.91
Cincinnati Bengals vs San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (5-2) face the Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) in Week 8 after two consecutive losses having at one stage been 6-0 for the season.
Fortunately for the 49ers, they play at home this week where they’ve dominated for over a year and that doesn’t look like changing anytime soon.
Cincinnati, rejuvenated from a bye week, will be pinning their hopes on the fact that quarterback Joe Burrow has recovered from a calf injury that has plagued him for the first half of the season.
It shouldn’t be ignored that the Bengals have beaten their last two NFC West opponents, however, their 27th-ranked rush defence DVOA could be vulnerable against the 49ers.
Despite an injury concern, Christian McCaffrey scored twice in the recent game, so there’s no reason why he can’t continue his strong performance against Cincinnati.
On the flip side, the Bengals’ Joe Mixon hasn’t been impressive, and with the team’s lacklustre passing game, scoring might be a challenge – which is not good against the 49ers.
Although the Niners will no doubt miss Deebo Samuel, their defence should have enough to contain Cincinnati, especially on third downs, making it tough for the Bengals to clinch a win and why San Francisco to cover the spread is the bet here.
Pick: 49ers -5.5 @ 1.88
Las Vegas Raiders vs Detroit Lions
The Las Vegas Raiders (3-4) face an uphill battle on the road against the Detroit Lions (5-2), who are recovering from a significant loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
While the expected return of Jimmy Garoppolo might boost the Raiders, there’s no doubt that Lions have the advantage for this Monday Night Football clash.
We could see the Raiders having a tough time moving the ball vs an improved Lions defence, which ranks 14th vs the pass and 10th against the run in EPA.
The Lions, recovering from a 38-6 defeat to the Ravens, will likely be primed by coach Dan Campbell for a strong home performance.
Look for Jared Goff to pick apart this Raiders defence, as the former Rams’ quarterback has been much better at home (113.3 QB rating) than on the road (6.9 yards per attempt).
With Detroit’s offense excelling this season under Ben Johnson, and Amon-Ra St. Brown leading the charge, the Lions are in a great position to dominate, and what better place to do it than a primetime home game?
Pick: Lions -8 @ 1.87
NFL Week 8 Picks & NFL Best Bets
Chiefs vs Broncos: Under 46.5 @ 1.91
49ers -5.5 @ 1.88 vs. Bengals
Lions -8 @ 1.87 vs. Raiders
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