Prisco's Week 8 NFL picks: Cowboys beat Broncos in shootout, Packers spoil Aaron Rodgers' revenge game
Pete Prisco reveals all of his Week 8 picks, including the Eagles avenging their upset loss to Giants
How do you grade a week where the straight-up picks were good, but the against-the-spread picks were bad?
C?
D?
For some reason, I don't feel good about Week 7. I went 10-5 straight up and 6-9 ATS. The straight-up record for the year is now 76-31-1 and the ATS record fell to 55-53-0, which is near the dreaded .500 mark.
There are six teams on byes this week, so fewer games to miss. That might be a good thing.
On to Week 8.
Bet NFL Week 8 games and NFL odds at DraftKings, where new users who win a $5 wager get $300 in bonus bets and 3 free months of NBA League Pass: Click here to get started:
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Chargers (-3)
Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime
It will once again be Carson Wentz at quarterback for the Vikings with J.J. McCarthy still not healed from his high ankle sprain. Wentz has highs and lows in a game that end up usually leveling out. Justin Herbert is coming off a nice passing game last week, but he will be tested against the Brian Flores defense. Even so, I think he will make enough plays to win it and the Chargers will turn over Wentz a few times.
Pick: Chargers 28, Vikings 23 | Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
Buffalo Bills (-7.5) at Carolina Panthers
Sunday, 1 p.m. on Fox (Stream: Fubo -- try for free)
The Bills are coming off the bye, which was needed after losing two straight. The Panthers have won two straight behind their physical run offense and a physical defense. The Bills have had run-defense problems, but I think they are better here at stopping it. Josh Allen gets back on track. Bills take it.
Pick: Bills 28, Pathers 20 | Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook, where new users get $300 in bonus bets with a winning $5 bet:
Chicago Bears (+6.5) at Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, 1 p.m. on CBS (Stream on Paramount+)
The Ravens are coming off the bye and might have Lamar Jackson back. They need him. But how healthy will he be? The Bears have won four straight to get to 4-2 and they are doing it with a running game. But the Ravens are the desperate team here and with Jackson back I think they find a way to win it. If not, they are done.
Pick: Ravens 27, Bears 21 | Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots (-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m. on Fox (Stream: Fubo -- try for free)
The Patriots have won three straight on the road to take over first place in the AFC East. They now get a Cleveland team that doesn't do a ton on offense. The Cleveland defense is a challenge, but Drake Maye will do enough to win this one for the Patriots.
Pick: Patriots 24, Browns 14 | Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons (-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m. on CBS (Stream on Paramount+)
The Dolphins are a mess and now they are out on the road for a second straight week. That's tough and they are facing a Falcons team coming off a road loss. The Dolphins don't do enough offensively and the Falcons will run it with Bijan Robinson all day long. Falcons big.
Pick: Falcons 31, Dolphins 13 | Odds via BetMGM
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m. on Fox (Stream: Fubo -- try for free)
The Giants upset the Eagles two weeks ago, but this will be a much tougher task. They are playing consecutive road games, which is tough. And they have the Eagles' attention after the upset. Look for Philadelphia to continue to play well on offense like they did in beating the Vikings on Sunday as they get revenge for the last meeting. Eagles take it.
Pick: Eagles 30, Giants 17 | Odds via Caesars Sportsbook, where new users get 20 100% profit boosts with the code CBS20X:
New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals (-6.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. on CBS (Stream on Paramount+)
The winless Jets travel to play a Bengals team that seems revived with Joe Flacco. The Jets are likely making a quarterback change, benching Justin Fields for Tyrod Taylor. It really doesn't matter because the offense isn't good with either one. The Bengals offense is good. Look for Flacco to stay hot and win it.
Pick: Bengals 29, Jets 14 | Odds via BetMGM
San Francisco 49ers at Houston Texans (-1.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. on Fox (Stream: Fubo -- try for free)
The 49ers will have Mac Jones under center again as they face a Texans team on a short week after a loss to the Seahawks on Monday night. Houston has offensive line issues that show up weekly. The Texans defense, though, is really good and will make life tough on Jones. Texans take it behind their defense.
Pick: Texans 23, 49ers 17 | Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints (+4.5)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. on Fox (Stream: Fubo -- try for free)
The Bucs are playing consecutive road games on a short week, which can be a challenge. They didn't play well on offense against the Lions on Monday night and are now without Mike Evans. The Saints have been competitive in a lot of their games, and this has the feel of a Bucs victory, but it's close.
Pick: Buccaneers 23, Saints 21 | Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
Dallas Cowboys (+3.5) at Denver Broncos
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. on CBS (Stream on Paramount+)
The Cowboys head out on the road with their high-flying offense to go against a good Denver defense that didn't play well last week. The Cowboys have defensive issues, but the Broncos have struggled early in games on offense. I think this is one of those spots for Dak Prescott to win a shootout with the Broncos. Cowboys in an upset.
Pick: Cowboys 34, Broncos 31 | Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (-14)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. on CBS (Stream on Paramount+)
The Colts are rolling right now, scoring a league-best 33.1 points per game. Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor are both putting up big numbers. It will be a challenge for Tennessee to slow this group. I don't think they will, and Cam Ward can't keep up. Blowout.
Pick: Colts 33, Titans 13 | Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Green Bay Packers (-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. on NBC (Stream: Fubo -- try for free)
The Packers are playing consecutive road games, while the Steelers are home with 10 days rest. That usually matters. But the Steelers defense was awful in the loss to the Bengals. While the Packers haven't lit it up on offense this year, this will be the chance for Jordan Love to get it going. I think he does. The Packers will beat their former quarterback in Aaron Rodgers.
Pick: Packers 31, Steelers 24 | Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Washington Commanders at Kansas City Chiefs (-10.5)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC (Stream: Fubo -- try for free)
The Commanders are banged up and will once again be without Jayden Daniels (hamstring) in this one. They are also out on the road for a second straight week against a team that is getting better by the week. Look for Patrick Mahomes and his receivers to light up a Washington defense that has major problems. Chiefs big.
Pick: Chiefs 37, Commanders 21 | Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
