It’s that time of the week once again! Week 8 of the NFL season is here which means it’s time to run the board with an NFL betting primer, presented by SuperBook Sports! If you are looking for a new sportsbook to bet with in Colorado look no further than our friends at SuperBook Sports!

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The overall goal of this primer is to paint a picture of the weekend NFL betting slate so you can dive into it with your head on straight. Sports betting is here, and if you are going to bet, you might as well get an edge, right?

Manage your bankroll. Stick to your units. Watch the lines.

Early Slate

Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons: CAR +3, ATL -3, o/u 47

The first game for the early slate. The Panthers, much like the Broncos, have come crashing down to earth following a surprising 3-0 start. Losers of four in a row, the Panthers will head to Atlanta for a divisional matchup against the Falcons. Atlanta is fresh of a win against the Miami Dolphins. Winners of two in a row, the Falcons are the 3-point favorite, which is indicative of two relatively even teams with the slight edge going to the Falcons being they are the home team. 

The Panthers have a QB problem. Sam Darnold was benched last week, but it appears he is on track to start this game. Will the benching light a fire under him or will he continue to tred water in the league? Still no CMC for the Panthers which is another reason why the team has struggled in recent weeks. The Falcons are the healthier team and are playing better football at this time, but the Panthers do have talent on the defensive side of the ball. Stephon Gimlore could make his Panthers debut which would give an already solid defense a boost on the outside. Carolina’s defense ranks ninth in points allowed, surrendering an average of 20.9 points per game. The Falcons defense is among the worst units in the league, allowing 29.3 points per game which is the third worst clip in the NFL. If there was ever a time for the Panthers’ offense to break out of its slump, its Sunday against Atlanta. 

At some point Carolina has to get back on track. A road game against a familiar opponent is a good chance to do so. 

Cincinnati Bengals @ New York Jets: CIN -10.5, NYJ +10.5, o/u 43 

The Bengals are no longer flying under the radar after they upset the Baltimore Ravens on the road last week. Now they head to New York as the double-digit favorite against the Jets. Mike White will start this game for the Jets as QB as Zach Wilson continues to nurse an injury. I’m rarely on the Jets side ATS, but I like the idea of taking a chance here. I’m also not too keen on the idea of laying this many points on the road. The preseason line for this game was a pick em and Cincy -3 before they beat the Ravens last week. I’m fading this insane line movement if anything. 

Los Angeles Rams @ Houston Texans: LAR -14.5, HOU +14.5, o/u 47.5 

The Texnas were unable to cover the 18-point spread last week, and I’m not sure if they can do it this week against the Rams. This is the second consecutive week the Rams are a double-digit favorite ATS. They failed to cover last week against Detroit, but the Lions had an obscure game plan that limited Rams’ possessions early. I’m not touching this game ATS but might take a look at throwing the Rams in a teaser. Plenty of other meat on the bone in Week 8. 

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills: MIA +14, BUF -14, o/u 48.5 

Buffalo mauled the Dolphins 35-0 in Week 2 and they really haven’t looked back since. The Bills did lose to the Titans two weeks ago but have since had a bye week and will come out firing against the Dolphins. Miami is as dysfunctional as it gets, and while the spread is massive I won’t consider playing them here. Much like the Rams-Texans game, there is not much to be desired. I do not like Dolphins here. If I’m feeling a bit crazy come Sunday I might fire a unit on Buffalo for shits and giggles. 

Philadelphia Eagles @ Detroit Lions: PHI -3.5, DET +3.5, o/u 48

I’m still saying the Lions are the best winless team I’ve seen in a long time. They play hard every week and are bound to break through eventually. The Eagles got steamrolled last week by the Raiders. I can’t really get a read on the Eagles, but I’m at the point where I can’t give them the benefit of the doubt. I get the Eagles being the favorite, but -3.5 seems a little steep. Based off the initial line I like the home dog here. What have Eagles done to warrant being road dogs in this spot? Both of their wins have come on the road, but the Week 1 dub against the Falcons is hollow and they barely won by three points against Carolina. I’m not laying points with Philly at the moment. 

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns: PIT +3.5, CLE -3.5, o/u 42.5 

A great game on the Sunday slate. Both of the these teams made noise in the AFC North last season. Both squads have talent yet are sitting at thirds and fourth place respectively in the division with the Bengals and Ravens playing very well. 

The Browns will once again be ravaged with injuries as Kareem Hunt is expected to be sidelined, but the Browns did announce that Baker Mayfield will start on Sunday. The Steelers have ripped off two consecutive wins after dropping three in a row, and Mike Tomlin had some fire at the podium this week. I love Mike Tomlin and they way he approaches the game. I’ve been cautious with the Browns and think this is coin flip game, and even lean a little towards the experience of Pittsburgh with Mayfield not completely healthy. The Steelers play their own brand of football and Tomlin will make sure his guys are ready to play. This is a pivotal game for both teams if they want to make the playoffs this season. Pittsburgh has won outright in seven of the last 10 head to head meetings, although Cleveland has won back-to-back games. 

San Francisco 49ers @ Chicago Bears: SF -4, CHI +4, o/u 39.5 

Why are the 49ers the favorite here? Seems like everyone is down on the Bears after they got stomped last week against Tampa. Chicago looked awful last week, but this is a winnable game for the Bears at home against a sputtering 49ers team. San Francisco has dropped four games in a row since opening up with a 2-0 record, and Chicago is also on a two-game losing streak. So both of these squads are looking to get back in the win column this week. I’d say both of these teams are around a similar playing field, but the Bears have an advantage being at home. The only game in which the Bears have lost at home this season was two weeks ago against the Aaron Rodgers led Packers, which has become sort of a tradition here in recent memory. I’ll buy low on this Bears team in this spot and fade the Fraudy9ers. I just don’t get this number, especially with the total set at 39.5. Points or pass. 

Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts: TEN +1.5, IND -1.5, o/u 51

My first gut reaction was to unload the brinks truck on Tennessee. The Titans are riding as high as any team following back-to-back wins against the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. Now they will face the Colts for the second time this year after already getting the best of them earlier in the season. The simple thought tells me a team that just beat the Chiefs and Bills in consecutive weeks should be able to figure out a way to get past a Colts team that has been a bit erratic this season. After starting the year 1-4, the Colts have ripped off back-to-back wins, including a dub last week in primetime on the road in San Francisco. The Colts have improved as the season has gone alone, and if they have any serious thoughts about winning the AFC South then this is a game they have to win. I’ve seen a couple people I trust back the Colts here and I am slowly starting to cool off on the Titans. I like the idea of selling high on a team coming off two huge victories. The Colts have been picking up steam and this is a divisional battle. I lean towards the home team. 

Afternoon Delight 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Seattle Seahwaks, JAX +3.5, SEA -3.5, o/u 44.5 

This is a game where I think Jacksoville might be able to capture their second dub of the season. The team has got to be riding high following its win in London, plus coming off the bye should mean the team is rested and ready to go. We are talking about the Jags at the end of the day here, but the Seahawks have looked downright awful under Geno Smith. Sure they have covered both spreads in the games he’s started, but now the tables have turned with Seattle as the home favorite. The energy was weird around the Seahawks last week and there are some questions about the future of Pete Carrol with that organization.

All in all, we are seeing just how valuable Russell Wilson is to the Seahawks and I just can’t trust them with Smith running the show at QB. I can understand taking the points with them, but I don’t feel confident laying points with Seattle here, especially at -3.5. It’s Jags or pass for me. If you are feeling a little daring you can take a look at them on the moneyline. 

New England Patriots @ Los Angeles Chargers: NE +5, LAC -5, o/u 49

New England chewed up and spit out the New York Jets last week and now have a real test with the Chargers coming off the bye. The Chargers lost an ugly game to the Ravens before getting the rest week, and return to the gridiron with a prime chance to establish some separation in the division with the Chiefs sputtering and the Raiders on a bye. The Patriots have had success against young quarterbacks this season, perhaps they can develop a scheme capable of slowing down Herbert, like Baltimore did two weeks ago. That said, Herbert is so damn smart it’s hard to envision him struggling for a second consecutive week, at home and coming off a bye. T

he three games the Patriots have won have come against the Jets and the Houston Texans, not exactly the creme de la creme of the NFL. The Chargers should win this game and I like them to cover at first glance. I know the pros have faded the Chargers in a spot like this over the year, but I think Herbert is THAT guy. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints: TB -5.5, NO +5.5, o/u 50

Weirdly enough I don’t think this line is inflated. I’m down on the Saints collectively this season, and while I think the Bucs have flaws, this is a good spot for Tampa. Perhaps the Saints put up a fight, but Jameis Winston doesn’t scare me one bit, and the Saints have beat up on bad teams this season. Every game the Saints have won has been by double-digits, and I don’t see that happening against the Bucs. Tampa has won its last three games by an average of 23 points, and while this is a road divisional game, Tampa is a stout team compared to New Orleans. 

I don’t like backing Tampa typically but I’ve been pretty bullish betting against the Saints this season. It’s been an interesting process, but I just think the Bucs are the better team here. 

Washington Football Team @ Denver Broncos: WFT +3, DEN -3, o/u 44 

It’s do or die time for the Denver Broncos. After dropping four consecutive games, the entire organization is on red alert and the result of this game means a lot for plenty of coaches, players and others within the organization. Von Miller was sounding the alarm at practice this week and Teddy Bridgewater spoke about the focus spike at practice. It’s truly do or die time for Denver and this is certainly a winnable game. Washington has been ravaged by controversy this season all while losing their starting QB in Week 1 and watching their defense regress from where it was at last season. 

Denver will get back Albert O and Jerry Jeudy, which is sure to help the Broncos offense in this one. Jeudy was playing well Week 1 against the Giants before he got hurt, and he has the highest upside of any player on offense right now. Getting Jeudy back should open things up for the rest of the offense and give guys like Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant more opportunities to draw softer coverage. That said, there is a clear disconnect between the coaches and players. I’m starting to wonder if these guys even want to play hard for Fangio. You can stick a fork in them if they lose Sunday. I’m tempted to fire off a desperation play and lay the points with the Broncos. That said, I’m going to default to Washington here. I just can’t trust Denver to cover any spread as a favorite right now, even with Teddy Covers. Hope they prove me wrong. 

Sunday Night Football 

Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings: DAL -1.5, MIN +1.5, o/u 55 

If Dak Presscott plays I am on the Cowboys. If he doesn’t play I’m on the Vikings. It seems he will be limited even if he does play this week, so I am inclined to take the Vikings here although my Cowboys have been perfect ATS this season. The lone undefeated team in the NFL lost this week, so maybe it is time for Dallas to come up short ATS. Dallas is coming off a bye and Mike McCarthy has been strong in this spot as a head coach, but without a fully healthy Dak the entire dynamic of this game changes. The Vikings have been a frustrating team to bet on due to their conservative playstyle when gaming a lead, but they have the ability to run up the score against any team. I do think the Dallas defense has been paying a little bit over its head, and the turnover spree is bound to come to an end at some point. This is a quirky game given the circumstances, but I think the Vikings have a chance to win this game outright with the most important Cowboy not close to 100 percent. If the Cowboys win this game without Dak, watch out.

Monday Night Football 

New York Giants @ Kansas City Chiefs: NYG +9.5, KC -9.5, o/u 52.

The final game of the Week 8 slate. After getting embarrassed against the Tennessee Titans last week, the Chiefs return home to take on the New York Football Giants who have struggled in their own right. This spread is about right because despite how bad the Chiefs have been, the Giants have looked awful once again. I’ve trusted the Chiefs a couple of times this season only to have it come back and bite me in the ass. 

Joe Judge led teams play hard, and I can see them doing so on Monday night at home, but I think the Chiefs can come out and wipe the floor with them, like they have with two other teams in the NFC East this season. Kansas City beat the Eagles and Football Team by an average of 15 points and the Giants just might be the worst of the bunch. New York has also struggled to defend its homefield, losing to the Bronocs, Falcons and Rams at home. The Rams are the best of the bunch and they beat the Giants 38-11 two weeks ago. The Giants did beat the Panthers at home last week, but Carolina is a team with plenty more questions than answers. It’s not the best time to be rigid with the Chiefs, but they are the far superior team and coming off possibly their worst regular-season loss in the Mahomes era. The Chiefs pummeled Washington and Philly after losing bad the week before. Same circumstance here. I’ll lay the points with KC.