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NFL Betting Predictions: Week 8 Opening Line Report and Picks

by Mike Pruitt - 10/25/2021

NFL predictions Dalton Schultz Dallas Cowboys Week 8 opening line report and picks

Week 7 was another fun one for NFL fans, and I am sure we all won some and/or lost some like we always do in the betting world. The sportsbooks know exactly what they're talking about, so we should respect that, first and foremost.

Sun Tzu talked about this all the time.

"If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle." This is day one stuff. What a great book. The Art of War.

It is only natural for us to question ourselves, and that doubt can lead to us feeling the need to disrespect our opponent’s knowledge and capabilities. And from there, you can imagine how London Bridge came tumbling down.

The sportsbooks set these lines right where they need to be, and it takes a sharp mind to attack them from an egoless space. And even from there, we are going to need some luck. Over time, though, the cream eventually rises to the top, and the consistent performers are the ones who are still there.

It reminds me of a quote from one of the OG’s of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the U.S., Chris Haueter. He said: It isn’t who’s the best, it’s who’s left. Plenty of hot shots come and go. However, if you want to be the real Charlie Sheen, you have to be consistent. Accept the losses but never become a loser.

That is another discussion, so let’s move on to some of this week’s betting action and which lines we should attack early.

Doc’s Sports offers NFL expert picks for every game on our NFL predictions page.

First off, how about those Las Vegas Raiders?! Derek Carr continues to impress. And even with everything that went on with former head coach Jon Gruden, this squad has stuck together like a kindergartener's hands and the last bottle of glue.

The Cincinnati Bengals, after moving into a tie with the Baltimore Ravens, have an opportunity to finish Week 8 in sole proprietorship of first place in the AFC North. Qarterback Joe Burrow has the Bengals playing better than they have in decades.

He went 23-38 with 3 touchdowns and 1 pick en route to a 41-27 victory. Should we expect a hangover performance in week 8 from Cincy? Or are the cats as confident as ever and cover the spread vs the lowly New York Jets?

Let’s look at that game as well as another game for you guys to target with your early week bets before the line movement destroys our value.

Cincinnati Bengals vs New York Jets (-10, 43.5)

I am all over the Cincinnati Bengals here. I will come out and say it. I understand about the hangover effect after easily the biggest win of their season. However, at the same time, I don’t think the New York Jets can slow down Joe Burrow.

Star Bengals running back Joe Mixon has been back on the field as well for a couple of weeks, and I think he will shine in the second half. If Cincy can run the ball effectively, I think they win by 20 points. But if not, covering the 10 might be a sweat.

Both of the Bengals losses have been by 3 points this year, and their previous two wins came by 23 and 24 points, respectively. They are running the ball more effectively lately. But how does the New York Jet run defense stand up to that?

The Jets are atrocious when you look at their overall defensive statistics, but they do a good job against the run, ranking 10th in the NFL. I think this stat is flawed, though, because they are usually losing by two scores and expecting the run from their opponents, who are just trying to work the clock.

The Jets rank 22nd in the league in yards per pass attempt allowed this season, and the Bengals are 2nd in the league averaging an astounding 9.2 yards per attempt through the air. Joe Burrow is something else.

I don’t think the cats stumble here. Cats don’t really stumble a lot anyway, but this is the NFL, and at the end of the day, parity is king. I like our spot here, though, on the much better football team headed in an entirely different direction.

Pick: Cincinnati (-10)

Dallas Cowboys vs Minnesota Vikings (-2, 54)

Dak or no Dak, that is the question…

Isn’t that a Shakespeare quote or something? I am not sure. I minored in American Lit, so I don’t know. Romeo and Juliet were cool and all, and I love the all’s fair in true love and war thing as scary as it is, but he has nothing on Thoreau, Kerouac, and now Anthony Bourdain.

Let’s move on before I shed another tear for AB.

The Dallas Cowboys are the only team in the NFL to cover the spread in all of their wins this year. Prescott is proving to us that he may very well be that guy to lead the Dallas Cowboys back to a Super Bowl for the first time since 1996!

Yes, it’s been a while. My Atlanta Braves are making their first appearance in the Fall Classic since ’99, so maybe it is one of those years. I love the Braves and hate the Cowboys, but I have to be real with myself. They have a good team this year, and the NFC looks significantly weaker than the AFC, so it is certainly a good possibility.

Dak and the Boys are averaging 9 yards per pass attempt over their past 3 games, and I don’t really know if the Minnesota Vikings are going to be able to slow him down. He is dealing with a calf injury, but the latest reports out of the Lone Star State are that he will miss Monday’s practice but be ready for this weekend’s game.

Dallas knows darn well how important it is to have Uncle Mo by their side, so I think they will certainly play Dak this weekend. And from there, (-2) isn’t much for one of the best teams in the conference to cover.

They give up the same amount of points on defense, but I still rank the Cowboys higher because they are usually allowing a team to get some points in return for much time being ran off the clock.

The respective offenses, though, are different. Dallas, after 7 weeks, scores 12 more points a game than Minnesota. The Boys are on the road here, but they will be playing on turf just like their home field.

I like Prescott to air it out on Halloween and the Boys to get the double-digit dub.

Pick: Dallas (-2)

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