2024 Week 8 Picks

Cleveland Browns'Myles Garrett

dresses up as Terminator before the Ravens game 

Minnesota Vikings @ Los Angeles Rams -  The Vikings look to continue their winning ways coming off a bye although Puka has returned back to the lineup.

Philadelphia Eagles (+2.5) @ Cincinnati Bengals - The Bengals offense has played better lately although their defense hasn't been tested in a few weeks.  The Eagles are looing to keep pace with the Commanders who beat the Bengals on the road earlier this season. With AJ Brown's return, the Eagles look slightly better than the Bengals although perhaps the Eagles play down to their competition.   

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns(+9) - Perhaps the Browns can keep it close against a division rival although Lamar Jackson running up the score is a distinct possibility.  

Tennessee Titans @ Detroit Lions (-11) - The Lions are looking to put the hammer down on the Titans who look like one of the worst teams in the NFL this season. 

Arizona Cardinals(+3) @ Miami Dolphins - Tua makes his return meaning a possible revival of Tyreek Hill.  There could be some rust but the Dolphins appear to not be a pushover.  

New York Jets @ New England Patriots (+7)-  The Jets seems to be in perpetual laughing stock although they will get a potential break in playing the Patriots.  Drake Maye will make another start who showed flashes but also committed a few turnovers.

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+2.5) - The Bucs are looking to avenge an overtime loss to the Falcons earlier in the season.  The Falcons are looking to add to its road wins which include games against the Eagles and Panthers.

Green Bay Packers(-4.5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars - The Jaguars are coming off a win against the lowly Patriots but the Packers are coming off 3 straight wins and looking to continue that trend to keep up with the Lions.

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans (-6) - The games between these two division rivals have been lose although the Texans appear to be playing with an axe to grind after a close loss to the Packers.  

New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Chargers (-7.5) - The Saints look like a shell of their former self without Derek Carr.  The Chargers are coming off a close loss to the Cardinals and look to regain their form.

Buffalo Bills @ Seattle Seahawks(+3.5) - The Bills are a bit banged with their middle line backer Bernard out.  The Seahawks will be without DK Metcalf so the Bills have a chance to pull out a road win here.  

Carolina Panthers @ Denver Broncos (-9) - The Panthers surge with Andy Dalton appears to have been a blip in the pan while the Broncos could run up the score if Bo Nix plays well.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders (+10) - The Antonio Pierce led Raiders did manage to play spoiler against the Chiefs last season.  Mahomes does get a new weapon in DeAndre Hopkins although it could take a bit for him to get acclimated.  

Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders (-1.5)(LOCK) - It looks like Jayden Daniels will play despite the rib injury.  The battle of the number 1 and number 2 picks should be a fun matchup.  The Commanders secondary will be interesting to watch in how it deals with Caleb Williams.  

Dallas Cowboys @ San Francisco 49ers (-4.5)(LOCK) - The Cowboys are coming off a bye to lick its wounds only to face a 49ers team that is looking to rebound from a tough loss to the Chiefs.  It looks like the 49ers just have the Cowboys number.  Dak Prescott needs to show something here for the Cowboys to be taken more seriously in the postseason.

New York Giants @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-6.5)(LOCK) - Daniel Jones was benched against the Eagles.  Things could get ugly here for whoever the Giants decide to roll out at quarterback against a Steelers team that has given the keys to Russell Wilson as a quarterback.   

Week 5 Against the Spread- 6-9

Week 5 Straight up – 7-7

2024 Against the Spread- 55-54

2024 Locks – 5-6-1

2024 Straight up- 67-40

2024 Week 6 Picks

According to Jonathan Jones,  Robert Saleh considered firing Nathaniel Hackett before getting fired himself

San Francisco 49ers (- 3.5) @ Seattle Seahawks - Two teams are coming off surprising losses.   For now I give the edge to the 49ers given Kyle Shanahan's coaching acumen but the Seahawks keeping it close would not be surprising especially with all the injuries the 49ers have been dealing with.  

Jacksonville Jaguars(+2.5) @ Chicago Bears - The Jaguars look to continue their streak of winning at London.

Washington Commanders(+7)(LOCK) @ Baltimore Ravens - It has been some time since the Commanders were featured in the game of the week category.   Both teams have QBs that have been playing lights out (Daniels/Jackson), great running attacks, and tight ends who have been considered washed up (Ertz/Andrews).   The Ravens pass defense has been in question especially with their defensive coordinator going to the Seattle.   Certainly a toss up game, unless the Ravens see something from the game film and can dissect how Daniels has been doing.   

Tampa Bay Bucs (-3.5) @ New Orleans Saints - Derek Carri s out with an injury.  The Bucs suffered a bad loss to Atlanta and this game is a relatively must win given that their schedule gets much harder over the next five (Ravens, Falcons, Chiefs, 49ers).  

Detroit Lions (-3) @ Dallas Cowboys -  The Cowboys pulled out a nice win against Pittsburgh.  The Lions are coming off a bye and look to be a superior team than the Steelers especially in the passing attack.  

Cleveland Browns(+8.5) @ Philadelphia Eagles - DeShaun Watson has reached epic levels of terrible.  Although maybe the Browns can continue the streak of teas that play Washington getting a win.  Maybe but unlikely given the Eagles are coming off a bye and getting AJ Brown back from an injury.

Arizona Cardinals(+5) @ Green Bay Packers - Kyler Murray and the Cardinals looked impressive against the 49ers.  They go against another former Washington assistant head coach in Matt LaFleur.  The Packers might be on par with the injury riddled 49ers plus I'm not sure how consistent the Cardinals are even coming off a win.  

Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (+3) -  The Chargers are coming off a bye and a  quality loss to the Chiefs where they were held scoreless after the first quarter against the Chiefs.  Still, everything seems to be clicking for the Broncos. who are on a 3 game winning streak.

Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) @ Las Vegas Raiders - The Steelers look to get right in Las Vegas.  Right now the Steelers seem to be playing better although Fields inconsistency could allow the Raiders to perhaps pull out an upset.  

Houston Texans (-7)(LOCK) @ New England Patriots - The Patriots appear to be a true work in progress and for now appear to be one of the worst teams in the NFL.  Complacency by the Texans could allow the Patriots to remain in the game although an upset seems unlikely.  

Indianapolis Colts (-1) @ Tennessee Titans - The Titans are coming off a bye and Michael Pittman is out with an injury.  In the short term the Colts seem more likely to win if Flacco plays although Richardson may still do enough.  

Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers (+6) - Two teams that are playing at polar opposites.  Hard to say how the Falcons will play in a easy game but for now one has to project a win against the Panthers whose defense has ben playing at abysmal levels.  

Cincinnati Bengals (-4) @ New York Giants - The Giants are coming off a nice win against the Seahawks.  If the Giants win this game, perhaps the NFC East will be considered significantly stronger then AFC North.   

Buffalo Bills (-4) @ New York Jets - The Jets are testing the theory of winning after firing a head coach.  I would give the Jets a better chance to win the game if they had actually lost to a team that wasn't good last week since the Vikings are undefeated and if Robert Saleh firing coincided with the firing of Nathaniel Hackett. 

Week 5 Against the Spread- 6-8

Week 5 Straight up – 7-7

Week 5 Locks – 2-0

2024 Against the Spread- 39-41

2024 Locks – 4-6

2024 Straight up- 46-32

2024 Week 5 Picks

 

 Davante Adams has requested out of Las Vegas and could be traded. 

Tampa Bay Bucs (+2.5) @Atlanta Falcons - The Bucs with Mayfield have been playing well including Baker Mayfield and Bucky Irving.   The Falcons keep pulling out wins although Cousins and Pitts looked shaky last week. 

New York Jets @ Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) (LOCK) (London) – Rodgers looked shaky against the Broncos.   The Vikings defense could force Rodgers into some bad decisions. 

Buffalo Bills (-1.5) @ Houston Texans – The Bills are looking to rebound after a tough loss to the Ravens.  The Texans pulled out a win against the Jaguars, but they easily could have lost if not for a goal line stand.

Carolina Panthers @ Chicago Bears (-3.5) - Caleb Williams has been playing OK for a rookie quarterback although the Bears fans are hoping that he plays closer to the level of Jayden Daniels.   The Panthers offense looks competent with Andy Dalton although they face a tough Bears defense that does a good job forcing turnovers.    

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals (+2.5) – Perhaps the Bengals can pull out a win against a division rival although they will have their hands full with Derrick Henry

Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (-1) - Drake Maye is not scheduled to play yet.  The Dolphins offense has looked dreadful without Tua. 

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) – The Colts could take a bit of a hit with Jonathan Taylor out, although the Jaguars have been finding ways to lose all season.  The Jaguars gave up 2^nd half leads to the Dolphins and the Texans- maybe they are due for a win.  Jacksonville beat Indianapolis twice last season by double digits. 

Las Vegas Raiders (+3) @ Denver Broncos - A division rivalry game that could go either way.  Bo Nix only threw for 60 yards last week.  Gardner Minshew also struggled- so it could be a low scoring game. 

Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers (-7.5) – The 49ers are dealing with a number of injuries, but the 49ers also seem to take care of lesser opponents.

New York Giants @ Seattle Seahawks (-6)- Daniel Jones and the Giants have played their division opponents close in loses but might struggle on the road against an explosive Seattle offense. 

Green Bay Packers (-3.5) @ Las Angeles Rams – Jordan Love and the Packers looked much sharper in the 2^nd half against the Vikings and look to continue that momentum against the Rams who are still dealing with a slew of injuries to their wide receiving corps. 

Dallas Cowboys @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5)- Both teams are dealing with injuries.  The Cowboys are playing without their top two defensive players in Lawrence and Parsons.  The Steelers are running out of healthy running backs with Jaylen Warren out.  While the Cowboys need this win more theoretically, the Steelers are already coming off a loss and cold bounce back. 

 

Cleveland Browns @ Washington Commanders (-3.5)- The Browns defense could do better at slowing down the Jayden Daniels lead offense than either the Bengals or Cardinals.   Still, Washington’s defense did seem to find some semblance of competence as they only gave up 14 points, and only 7 after the Cardinals put up a score on the opening drive. 

 

New Orleans Saints @ Kansas City Chiefs (-5)- Derek Carr did enough to lead the Saints to a win even though he struggled.  The Chiefs offense has struggled due to injuries to Pacheko and Rice.  The Saints goal line offense has struggled when Taysom Hill left with a rib injury.

 

Week 4 Against the Spread- 9-7

Week 4 Straight up – 9-7

Week 4  Locks – 1-1

2024 Against the Spread- 33-33

2024 Locks – 2-6

2024 Straight up- 39-25