We are almost halfway through the 2021 NFL regular season. Pretty crazy isn’t it? Placing bets against the spread is getting a bit trickier due to injuries, but you’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for some expert advice on what sides to take in Week 8.
Each week, we’ll collect all of the best picks and gambling content from CBSSports.com and SportsLine in one place, so you can get picks against the spread from our CBS Sports experts as well as additional feature content for each game, including plays from top SportsLine experts and the SportsLine Projection Model, best bets from our staff, survivor picks and more.
Let’s dive in.
All NFL odds via Caesars Sportsbook.
Which picks can you make with confidence in Week 8? And which Super Bowl contender goes down hard? Visit SportsLine, as its incredible model simulates every NFL game 10,000 times and is up almost $7,700 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception six years ago.
Panthers at Falcons
Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (Fox), stream on fuboTV (try for free)
Open: Falcons -1, O/U 47.5
Current: Falcons -3, O/U 46.5
“This pick is more about fading the Panthers than it is riding the Falcons. Sam Darnold is flailing under center for Carolina and it’s hard to watch. He even got benched in the fourth quarter last week during the Panthers’ 25-3 loss to the New York Giants. I don’t think he’s going to be able to rebound. I was optimistic about Darnold coming to Carolina, and thought he could pull a “Ryan Tannehill.” Seven weeks in, and I’m out. It’s not all his fault, as the offensive line is atrocious. The offensive struggles have also negatively affected the defense. In Weeks 1-3, the Panthers ranked first in opponent yards per game. In Weeks 4-7, they are tied for 24th.
“As for the Falcons, they have won three of their past four games and Matt Ryan is playing well. He has five consecutive games of two or more passing touchdowns, which is tied for the third-longest active streak in the NFL. He has a rising star in Kyle Pitts as well, who became the first rookie tight end with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since Raymond Chester of the 1970 Raiders. He’s going to get better and better.”
That’s my take on this Carolina-Atlanta matchup. Basically I think the Falcons have been improving while the Panthers are falling apart. I’m 21-14 on my top five picks this year. To read my Week 8 column, click here.
Bengals at Jets
Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS), stream on Paramount+ (click here)
Open: Bengals -3.5, O/U 45.5
Current: Bengals -11, O/U 43
“The only conceivable scenario in which the Bengals do not take care of business is a dose of overconfidence laced with injuries. The Jets have managed a No. 31 offense ranking with promising rookie QB Zach Wilson. An ailing knee keeps him out. Even if the Jets scrounge up a few TDs, it cannot keep pace with the No. 7 passing offense. QB Joe Burrow tops the league in yards per completion, for which he can thank dy-no-mite rookie WR Ja’Marr Chase.” — Mike Tierney on why the Bengals are part of his teaser picks for Week 7
A veteran sportswriter whose work appears periodically in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, Tierney has covered the NFL for decades and reported from seven Super Bowls. He’s crushed the NFL, going 347-291 on all NFL picks from 2016-20, returning $2,534 to $100 players. You can see all of his teaser picks for the week over at SportsLine.
Rams at Texans
Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (Fox), stream on fuboTV (try for free)
Open: Rams -14.5, O/U 47.5
Current: Rams -16, O/U 46.5
The Bengals would be a great pick for survivor pools this week, as the Jets are having to start Mike White with Zach Wilson sidelined and No. 1 wide receiver Corey Davis is doubtful with a hip injury. They aren’t the only team that would be a good play, however, as the Rams on the road against the Texans is enticing as well. Tyrod Taylor is not ready to return to the lineup just yet and rookie quarterback Davis Mills has yet to win a game. The Rams also have to feel a bit rejuvenated with the Cardinals’ loss on Thursday night, so I expect Matthew Stafford and Co. to roll.
If you want further analysis before locking in your pick, check out SportsLine for a full breakdown on the slate of Week 8 survivor options.
Dolphins at Bills
Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS), stream on Paramount+ (click here)
Open: Bills -11, O/U 49
Current: Bills -14, O/U 48.5
“The Bills have not only one of the best records in the AFC, but they’ve also been blowing away the competition in the process. Entering Week 8, they have the highest average margin of victory in the league at 17.5. With that in mind, the double-digit spread against Miami shouldn’t scare you too much. The Dolphins have lost six straight after winning in Week 1 and are now facing the No. 1 ranked defense in the league in DVOA. After a week of rest, Josh Allen and Co. should be firing on all cylinders. It also doesn’t hurt that Buffalo is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 home games as the favorite.”
Tyler Sullivan is on the Bills to cover this week and it would be wise to listen to him. He’s 23-8-4 on his top five picks of the week this year. To read his Week 8 column, click here.
Eagles at Lions
Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (Fox), stream on fuboTV (try for free)
Open: Eagles -3.5, O/U 49
Current: Eagles -3.5, O/U 48
“Full disclosure — I love this as a moneyline play. The Lions are overdue for a win, they play with passion and emotion and they have endured several improbable losses at home. Dan Campbell’s offensive staff has some issues but his program looks better than Nick Sirianni’s and it will show on Sunday.
“The Lions can run the ball and control the game with Deandre Swift. They can get some pass rush with four. That’s all they will need against an Eagles team that has almost nothing going for it right now. Losing Miles Sanders is crushing and Philly’s defense is leaking all over the place. My fear betting against the Eagles is that they will backdoor cover most weeks; but here I am getting points. And I don’t even think I will need them.”
CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora predicts Dan Campbell wins his first game this season. To read his other best bets, click here.
Steelers at Browns
Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS), stream on Paramount+ (click here)
Open: Browns -3, O/U 45
Current: Browns -4, O/U 43
“This strikes me as something of a problematic matchup for the Browns. While Cleveland is an excellent rushing team, and it looks like they’ll be getting Nick Chubb back, the Browns have had trouble protecting their quarterbacks. This season, the Browns have given up a sack on 8.3% of their dropbacks, which ranks 27th in the league. Conversely, the Steelers defense has sacked opponents on 6.6% of their dropbacks this season, which ranks seventh in the NFL.
“Also, while the Browns offense ranks eighth in the league with 2.44 points per possession, that number is skewed by two outstanding performances against the Chiefs and Chargers. In Cleveland’s other five games, it has averaged a more pedestrian 2.04 points per possession. I’m also concerned about a Cleveland offense that has scored touchdowns on only 56% of its red-zone possessions, which ranks 24th in the league. I think a Steelers defense that ranks 11th in the league in points allowed per drive and sixth in red-zone efficiency will be able to keep the Browns and a banged-up Baker Mayfield within range.”
Tom Fornelli is backing the underdog in this matchup. To check out his best NFL picks for Week 8, click here.
49ers at Bears
Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (Fox), stream on fuboTV (try for free)
Open: 49ers -3, O/U 42.5
Current: 49ers -4, O/U 39.5
“These two teams are really struggling, especially at the quarterback position. That makes this have the look of a defensive battle. The biggest mismatch is the 49ers’ front against the Bears’ offensive line. I think Nick Bosa and Co. force some takeaways, which leads to short fields. 49ers win it.”
Our own Pete Prisco believes the 49ers get back on track this week and is taking them to cover against the Bears. To read his breakdown of every game this week, check out his column, here.
Titans at Colts
Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS), stream on Paramount+ (click here)
Open: Colts -2.5, O/U 49.5
Current: Colts -2.5, O/U 51
“So the Colts, we knew that the Colts were going to start slow. They weren’t healthy starting the year. They are a Baltimore meltdown away from four straight wins. It’s a must-have game for Indy, they lost to Tennessee in Week 3, Wentz played despite the injury, and we knew he wasn’t going to look good in that game I don’t know why he was out there. Indy has the No. 1 rush defense per DVOA I’m not sure Derrick Henry just runs them over because that is a good, stout defense. Tennessee’s defense is coming off a big day but Indy’s offense has avoided turnovers all year. They looked good vs. San Francisco, looked good vs. Baltimore, looked good vs. Rams defense — those are some good defenses.”
That’s R.J. White’s take from the Pick Six Podcast, where he, Will Brinson and Pete Prisco with special guest Ryan Wilson broke down all the games from a gambling perspective and gave out best bets on Friday — as they do every week. Give it a listen below and subscribe for great NFL content in your feed daily.
Jaguars at Seahawks
Time: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS), stream on Paramount+ (click here)
Open: Seahawks -3, O/U 44
Current: Seahawks -3.5, O/U 44
“Basically, it feels like anyone can move the ball on this Seattle defense and when I say ‘anyone,’ I mean even the Jaguars. Also, for some reason, the Seahawks haven’t been good at home this year. The Seahawks usually have one of the best home-field advantages in football, but they’re 0-3 at home this year, which I think means it doesn’t qualify as any sort of advantage anymore.
“You don’t usually see the words ‘Jaguars’ and ‘winning streak’ in the same sentence, but we might start seeing those words together more often because I’m starting to feel like the Jags are going to win their second straight game with an upset here. I’ve got a perfect record picking Jags game this year and now that I just said that out loud, I’m starting to feel a little queasy knowing I’m putting it on the line by taking them in the upset here.”
John Breech likes the Jaguars to win outright on Sunday. To check out his entertaining Week 8 column, click here.
Patriots at Chargers
Time: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS), stream on Paramount+ (click here)
Open: Chargers -6, O/U 47.5
Current: Chargers -4.5, O/U 49.5
“Bill Belichick made no attempt this week to hide just how much he loves Justin Herbert. If only he could have figured out a way to get into the top five of the draft in 2020, Herbert would very well be the leader of the Patriots in the post-Brady era. I know Belichick has been wildly conservative this year, and Brandon Staley has been firing from the hip on fourth-and-forever. I’m excited to see what Belichick has for the QB Who Got Away.”
CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones likes the Patriots to pull off the upset this week. For his other best bets in Week 8, click here.
Buccaneers at Saints
Time: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (Fox), stream on fuboTV (try for free)
Open: Buccaneers -4, O/U 50.5
Current: Buccaneers -4.5, O/U 48.5
“When I look at the Saints, I see a team that was banged up early in the year but got healthy during the bye, activating three players from IR on game day last week. The offensive line has returned to being a strength, and the defense is mostly healthy and ready to match up against a Bucs offense that couldn’t do a ton in any of their three meetings last year. Tampa Bay did score 30 in the playoff game, but a large part of that was due to turnovers. Yes, the Saints have notable turnover machine Jameis Winston at quarterback now, but he’s thrown just three picks in six games so far. Trust Sean Payton and the Saints to keep this one close.” — R.J. White in his SuperContest picks for Week 8.
R.J. has cashed twice in the Westgate SuperContest, widely considered the toughest sports gambling competition in the world. He’s also hit on over 57% of his picks over the past six years combined. You can see all five of his Week 8 picks against the SuperContest lines and the Circa Sports Million lines by heading to SportsLine.
Washington at Broncos
Time: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (Fox), stream on fuboTV (try for free)
Open: Broncos -4, O/U 44
Current: Broncos -3, O/U 44.5
“Look at this gem of a game. What’s amazing about both of these teams is the defenses have cratered completely. Everyone expected both of these clubs to have top-10 defenses and they’re just not good. The over is a great look here with potential deep shots against bad defenses and several big downfield playmakers like Terry McLaurin and Courtland Sutton. Jerry Jeudy back for the Broncos makes me nervous but Teddy Bridgewater didn’t look right last week. There’s definitely some Drew Lock possibility here and there’s too much turnover potential to back the Broncos, even at home.”
Will Brinson is taking a Washington upset this week! To read his breakdown of every game in Week 8, click here.
Cowboys at Vikings
Time: Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC), stream on fuboTV (try for free)
Open: Cowboys -2.5, O/U 52
Current: Vikings -3, O/U 51.5
“Sunday Night Football” will be an interesting matchup. Mostly because we don’t know if Cowboys star quarterback Dak Prescott will suit up. Before you make your pick, you have to hear what R.J. White has to say. White, a CBS Sports fantasy and gambling editor, is an amazing 37-17-3 on his last 57 against the spread picks involving the Vikings, returning nearly $1,800 to $100 players!
He’s very wary of the Prescott situation, and covered both scenarios in his pick. To see it, head on over to SportsLine.
Giants at Chiefs
Time: Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN), stream on fuboTV (try for free)
Open: Chiefs -13, O/U 54
Current: Chiefs -9.5, O/U 52
Can Daniel Jones take advantage of the struggling Chiefs in Kansas City this Monday? Before you lock in your pick, you need to see which side SportsLine expert Larry Hartstein is on. He is a blistering 18-5 in his last 23 NFL picks involving Kansas City, returning more than $1,200 for $100 bettors!
We can tell you Hartstein is leaning under, but he has a strong play on the spread. Head over to SportsLine for his full ATS prediction.
