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Best Bets: Steelers () , Vikings () & Rams ()
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Up to $1,000 Back in Bonus Bets Over First 10 Days*
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Best NFL Week 8 Picks Against the Spread
- Steelers ()
- Vikings ()
- Rams ()
Pittsburgh Steelers () vs. Cleveland Browns
The Steelers will host the Browns after losing to them 27-24 on the road in Week 4. In that game, the Browns held a commanding 21-7 lead, but the Steelers tied it late at 21-21 before the Browns won 27-24 on a 56-yard field goal from kicker Andre Szmyt.
In the loss, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw 40 times and had 299 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Those two interceptions were the most he’s had in any game this year. He had a lot of passing yardage success because of the two main coverages the Browns play: Cover-1 and Cover-3. Against those specific coverages in that game, he threw for 247 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. However, he completed just 51.6% of his passes.
Since then, against those same coverages, he’s performed much better against the Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New Orleans Saints. He’s completed 73% of his passes for 488 yards, 7.7 yards per attempt, one touchdown, and one interception. If he can stay out of the interception column, that’ll fare much better for him.
Furthermore, the Steelers pass rush has been playing better since that loss. Since then, the Steelers are tied for ninth in pressures in the NFL with 40. In Week 4, when pressured, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson completed just 3 of 7 passes for 27 yards and an interception. Overall this season, Watson has just one touchdown pass when pressured.
Minnesota Vikings () vs. Detroit Lions
At first glance, seeing the only undefeated team in the NFL as underdogs might be surprising. That said, the Vikings offense has been so lackluster that it’s not a huge concern. The Vikings head into this game against a 4-2 Lions squad. Their offense has played well, but their defense is giving up a lot of production, including 27.5 points per game (26th in the NFL). They held the Green Bay Packers to 17 points, and a big part of that was shutting down an already-bad Packers run game.
As for the Vikings, their running game is leagues better. They average 119.3 rushing yards per game (12th in the NFL). The Vikings’ issue has been the passing game. They average only 162.3 passing yards per game (29th in the NFL).
But I’d say a lot of that has to do with simply not throwing much. Since quarterback Kyler Murray came back from injury in Week 3, he ranks 24th in the NFL in pass attempts. This is a spot where he can definitely ramp that up. Why?
The Lions rank dead last in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game at 291.8. They play Cover-3 more than any other coverage, and against it, in Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints, he completed 82.4% of his passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Beyond the offense, the Vikings have an unbelievable defense, allowing 252.8 total yards per game (second-fewest in the NFL).
Los Angeles Rams () vs. Los Angeles Chargers
When the NFL schedule makers drew up “The Battle of LA” for Week 8, they thought it would be between two much better teams. Instead, the Chargers are a miserable 0-6 while the Rams are 3-4 and dealing with an obscene number of injuries.
For starters, the Rams will be without Myles Garrett, Davante Adams, Terrance Ferguson, Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, and potentially Colby Parkinson, Joe Cardona, Coleman Shelton, Trent McDuffie, and Nate Landman. Despite that, the Rams are still first in the NFL in total offense per game at 399.1 yards.
Next up, they face a Chargers team that’s 28th in that same category at 287.2 yards per game. As for scoring, the Rams are 11th at 24.3 points, while the Chargers are 32nd with just 15 points per game. At less than a touchdown favorite, I have to side with the Rams. There’s simply been no sign of life from the Chargers offense to this point. Not only that, but the defense is allowing 330 yards per game, which is 15th in the NFL.
The Rams have generated 91 pressures this season (16th in the NFL), but when Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been pressured (99 times), he’s completed just 50% of his passes for 435 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
When it comes to the Chargers, you’d have to think they’ll snap out of it eventually with Herbert, running back Omarion Hampton, and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, but until they do, I’m taking the opposite team, especially when the spread is under 7 points.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
