Parkers Picks NFL Week 8

The fire is officially set and I am now recommending you just take every pick from here on. Just kidding, but last Sunday was fun and here we come into week 8 with an 86-77-2 record. There are a group of games that are clear stay away to me, particularly when looking at sides, but in the end there were some good ones as well.

Detroit Lions +3.5 at Kansas City Chiefs 45

This game is a clear stay away. What kind of angle do you have when either team may just pack it up? The Lions blew a lead after barley winning at home the week before, and the Chiefs just struggled to the finish line against a Landry Jones led team at home. If the Lions lose does Caldwell get fired? That seems to be the London trend, so Chiefs -3.5, do not hold me to it. The over is much more likely of a proposition with some tired defenses making the trip to London.

Chiefs -3.5, Over 45

Minnesota Vikings -1 at Chicago Bears 42

The Bears are 7-3 in the past five years against the Vikings, but the Vikings are on a 13-5 run against the spread since Teddy Bridgewater took over the team. He hasn’t been a playmaker, but he hasn’t killed his team yet and their front seven is legitimate. Still, Chicago off the bye, and at home, and getting a point you have to look Chicago in another one I would not touch. As for the over I like it again. The Bears may give up a few big plays, and the Vikings pass defense is the team weakness. I could see a few big plays get both teams into the 20s.

Bears +1, Over 42

Tampa Bay Buccaneers +7 at Atlanta Falcons 49

I am seeing a week of stay away games, and overs. Winston looks like he trusts Evans and the Bucs offense has had a couple good games in a row. Their defense however is susceptible to the pass. The Falcons can put some points up with Julio Jones, but I see them struggling to put the Bucs away. Lovie Smith is 8-1 in his career when getting seven points in division games, and 2-0 since joining the Bucs, and I think the trend continues in a tight game in Atlanta.

Bucs +7, Over 49

New York Giants +3 at New Orleans Saints 49

As a guy who likes to look to under, I see the fourth straight over candidate. The Saints defense is nowhere near average, and the Giants, still without a pass rush may be susceptible to getting picked apart. At the end of the day, I think the Giants are the better team, and think the Saints home field advantage has cooled a touch. I would take the points and look for points to be scored here.

Giants +3, Over 49

San Francisco 49ers +8 at St. Louis Rams 39

With this total how do you lay eight points? The 49ers offense that’s how. This has shut out written all over it, and I think the Rams get the job done and win and ugly one in the 17-3 range. Rams and under here.

Rams -8 Under 39

Arizona Cardinals -5.5 at Cleveland Browns 46.5

Cleveland has had a rough two weeks and now come back home with nobody to want to back them. Here I come guys. The Cardinals schedule has been brutal since two easy wins, they have seen back-to-back division games, one of which a blow out, though. Next was two straight weeks on the road, where they went straight from Detroit to Pittsburgh to stay for the week. Finally, they get a home Monday Night game and it happens to be against a desperate team, and to celebrate that win? Back to the East coast for 1pm kick off number three in four weeks. Their bye is next week and they should be looking forward to it. The Browns sit at 2-5 with trips to rivals Cincinnati and Pittsburgh in the next two weeks. The season is on the line here with a 10-3 combined record of those division foes, and 2-6 may be the last dagger. They will fight for this one, and make it ugly, and with a healthy Joe Haden, may get the upset.

Browns +5.5, Under 46.5

Cincinnati Bengals PK at Pittsburgh Steelers 48.5

Speaking of must wins this is one for Pittsburgh. 4-3 and staring at 6-0 Cincinnati above would be too much to come back from if it featured a head to head loss. As I mentioned in Week 7, while the Bengals were on bye, the Steelers would mentally be on bye as they prepare for Big Ben and his return at home for their division rival. The Steelers are 8-2 against the Bengals in the past ten meetings, and that is all I need to know. The Steelers get a big one here, and the over is definitely in play when thinking of the first game where Leveon Bell, Antonio Brown, Ben Roethlisberger and Martavis Bryant are all active this season.

Steelers PK, Over 48.5

San Diego Chargers +3.5 at Baltimore Ravens 50.5

Another week without Eric Weddle, and potentiall no Antiono Gates turns this into a lean to the Ravens. When looking at both defense it is fair to set the total so high. The problem I see is that in the way Rivers runs his offense, with short passes, it could result in long drives. If the Ravens can have it their way, they are running the ball and getting off to a lead and milking clock. I will go under here, and take the Ravens, they have been close in too many games to lose this one at home.

Ravens -3.5, Under 50.5

Tennessee Titans +4.5 at Houston Texans 43.5

If you are telling me the Texans are favored by more than three points, with no Foster, and the Ryan Mallet incident now in the books, I am telling you take the points. When it comes to Zach Mettenberger and the Titans, I would say why are you even looking into this game. Titans and under in a game I will not care for.

Titans +4.5, Under 43.5

New York Jets -3 at Oakland Raiders 44

Another game I really don’t want many parts of. Both teams in my opinion are in good spots to go against, but due to the Jets better roster I will lay the three. In betting on Ryan Fitzpatrick on the road you better hope that it is a low scoring game.

Jets -3, Under 44

Seattle Seahawks -5.5 at Dallas Cowboys 41

Everything tells you to take Dallas. However, when I look at the revenge factor, I think it is real, and with Seattle at 3-4 they are still in must win mode. The defense having since Friday to prepare for Matt Cassell says Seahawks and under.

Seahawks -5.5, Under 41