NFL Betting Picks Week 8: Our Staff's Locks of the Week

NFL Betting Picks Week 8: Our Staff's Locks of the Week

If you're anything like me, you've walked into Target too many times to count and your head starts spinning because you can't figure out what unnecessary item to purchase first.

Sports betting is essentially the same.

These days, there are thousands of bets you can place each week of the NFL season, and narrowing it down can be a daunting task. The friendly staff at OddsChecker is here to help!

Every week, in addition to an ever-growing abundance of top-notch content, our staff will be providing us with their favorite overall plays each week of the season. Now, unlike shopping at Target, where you don't leave until you've purchased the entire store, our staff can only pick one bet.

For this piece, our staff will be covering whatever Week 8 bets they feel strongest about -- no limitations. Let’s get to it!

Top Week 8 NFL Bets and Predictions

Atlanta Falcons -3.0 (-110)

Putting this much faith in the Atlanta Falcons is probably going to hurt me, but the gap in quarterback performance in this matchup would not be any wider. Matt Ryan has been one of the league's best quarterbacks over the past month, while Sam Darnold has thrown seven picks in four games and was benched at the end of a winnable game last week. The Panthers' roster is better overall than the Falcons', but I trust Ryan to outgun Darnold here.

-- Derrik Klassen (@QBKlass)

Los Angeles Chargers -4.0 (-110)

Just because the Patriots' offense put 54 points on the Jets last week does not mean I am all of a sudden buying this team. New England has beaten the Jets twice and the Texans once. Until they beat a proven contender, I will trust teams like the Chargers who have proven they can beat the league's best. There is no doubt Justin Herbert has had the embarrassing 45-0 loss to New England in the back of his mind all week, and he and his teammates will be out for revenge on Sunday.

-- Mike Spector (@MikeSpector01)

Denver Broncos -3.0 (-115)

The Broncos are one of my favorite plays this Sunday, they've had extra time to prepare and Jerry Jeudy's return will be a huge boost. For as bad as Denver is, Washington is worse, and the worst overall unit on the field in this game might be Washington's secondary who won't be able to stop the Denver receivers on the road.

-- Geoff Fienberg (@gfienberg17)

Los Angeles Chargers -4.5 (-105)

Every time I look, this line continues to move in the wrong direction. How the New England Patriots are touted that highly I don't quite understand. They've beaten the Jets twice and the Texans once for their only three wins of the season, and outside of good defensive performances against Miami (who also isn't very good) and Tampa Bay, they've gotten torched by the Cowboys and Saints. This Chargers team should have no issue moving the ball on New England. As for that Charger defense, they're top 10 in pressure rate, so expect them to get home to Mac Jones. Justin Herbert revenge game incoming.

-- Matt O’Leary (@MattOLearyNY)

Emmanuel Sanders Over 54.5 Receiving Yards (-115)

Emmanuel Sanders may be the most efficient and effective target for Josh Allen this year. That's saying a lot considering Stefon Diggs is on the team. Sanders has 5 or more targets in every game this season and 4 or more receptions in 4 of 6 games. Sanders had just 48 yards against the Dolphins in Week 2, but that was his last bad game. Since then, he has had 74 or more receiving yards in 3 of his last 4 games. The Miami Dolphins have given up over 54 yards to a wide receiver 12 times this year.

-- Nate Hamilton (@DomiNateFF)

Joe Mixon Anytime Touchdown (+104)

This was one of those lines that I was surprised to see at better than even money at some books. I really wanted to find you guys a bet that was at even money or better. The other option here would be Jonathan Taylor to score at (-125), but I'm opting for Mixon based on the odds. Here's my reasoning. The Jets are bad. The Bengals are good. (Thanks, Captain Obvious). The Jets have allowed the most scores to opposing running backs in 2021. The Patriots scored four rushing touchdowns last week. Four! The Jets have allowed a touchdown to an opposing running back every week except in Week 1 when Sam Darnold took a goal line rush in from 1 yard out, vulturing one away from CMC. Running backs facing the Jets have an expected 38.3 adjusted points allowed in fantasy terms -- that's by far the highest in the league. The Jets have had their bye week already and have allowed 10 rushing touchdowns -- two more than the next team. Mixon has now scored in four straight weeks and in five out of seven games. Let's make it five games in a row for a Mixon touchdown in Week 8. Best of luck if you tail!

-- Tom Viera (@Tom_Viera)