In this week’s NFL update, let’s look at key NFL betting trends through the first two months, including summarizing NFL Week 8 action and previewing NFL Week 9 games, as well as our NFL betting picks.
NFL Week 8 summary
NFL Week 8 helped us further separate contenders from pretenders with the help of some key upsets. Let’s examine how each game compared to its closing NFL betting lines and totals to better inform your online sports betting in the coming weeks.
Atlanta Falcons 25, Carolina Panthers 17
Closing line Panthers -1.5; closing total 52
Falcons +9.5 ATS; UNDER -10
Indianapolis Colts 41, Detroit Lions 21
Closing line Colts -3.5; closing total 49
Colts +16.5 ATS; OVER +13
Las Vegas Raiders 16, Cleveland Browns 6
Closing line Browns -1; closing total 47.5
Raiders +11 ATS; UNDER -25.5
Miami Dolphins 28, Los Angeles Rams 17
Closing line Rams -3.5; closing total 46.5
Dolphins +14.5 ATS; UNDER -1.5
Minnesota Vikings 28, Green Bay Packers 22
Closing line Packers -6; closing total 48
Vikings +12 ATS; OVER +2
Buffalo Bills 24, New England Patriots 21
Closing line Bills -4; closing total 41
Patriots +1 ATS; OVER +4
Kansas City Chiefs 35, New York Jets 9
Closing line Chiefs -19.5; closing total 49
Chiefs +6.5 ATS; UNDER -5
Pittsburgh Steelers 28, Baltimore Ravens 24
Closing line Ravens -4; closing total 44.5
Steelers +8 ATS; OVER +7.5
Cincinnati Bengals 31, Tennessee Titans 20
Closing line Titans -7; closing total 49
Bengals +18 ATS; OVER +2
Denver Broncos 31, Los Angeles Chargers 30
Closing line Chargers -3; closing total 44.5
Broncos +4 ATS; OVER +16.5
New Orleans Saints 26, Chicago Bears 23
Closing line Saints -5.5; closing total 41
Bears +2.5 ATS; OVER +8
Seattle Seahawks 37, San Francisco 49ers 27
Closing line Seahawks -1; closing total 54.5
Seahawks +9 ATS; OVER +9.5
Philadelphia Eagles 23, Dallas Cowboys 9
Closing line Eagles -10; closing total 43.5
Eagles +4 ATS; UNDER -11.5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25, Chicago Bears 23
Closing line Bucs -13; closing total 47
Giants +11 ATS; OVER +1
The Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Washington Football Team had their bye in NFL Week 8.
Key NFL Week 8 sports betting trends
Key NFL betting trends to keep in mind after NFL Week 8 include the following:
- Favorites went 4-10 against the spread again this week, and are now 51-67-1 on the season, meaning NFL betting lines continue to favor many a sportsbook casino so far this season.
- The Cowboys yet again failed to cover, falling to 0-8 against the spread. The Jets, still winless on the season, fell to 1-7 against the spread. The Steelers advanced to 6-1 against the spread and the Saints improved to 7-0 on overs.
- More games went over than under, 9-5, improving overs’ season lead to 63-55-2.
- Road underdogs continue to impress, covering at a 59% clip (45-32 on the season); road teams, in general, are covering 54% of the time (64-55-1).
Several teams have also been especially notable so far this season for NFL betting:
- The Saints went over yet again, remaining the only teams to go over the total in each of their games. (The Raiders went under for the first time, joining the Seahawks as the only teams with only one under on the season.)
- As the Cardinals were on their bye, they remain the only team with only one over—despite being 5-2 against the spread on the season.
- Teams averaging 30 points per game or more: Seahawks (34.3 ppg), Chiefs (31.6 ppg), Packers (31.3 ppg), Buccaneers (30.9 ppg), and Steelers (30.1 ppg).
- The Dolphins (18.6 ppg), Ravens (18.9 ppg), Rams (19 ppg), Chiefs (19 ppg), and Colts (19.4 ppg) are excelling on defense.
NFL Week 9 preview
Four teams have their bye week in NFL Week 9: the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, and Philadelphia Eagles. Let’s preview the fourteen games scheduled this week, as well as key information for smart online sports betting.
NFL betting picks
These are our picks for NFL Week 9 action, as well as key insights to inform your NFL betting odds:
Green Bay Packers (5-2, 3-1 away) at San Francisco 49ers (4-4, 1-3 home)
Current line: Packers -5.5, over/under 50.5
The Packers have historically struggled against the 49ers and are currently without any healthy, active running backs (lead back Aaron Jones remains questionable, and Jamal Williams, AJ Dillon, and Patrick Taylor Jr are all out). Aaron Rodgers has a history of procuring magic, but there’s some seriously bad juju working against the Packers here.
Our pick: 49ers 26, Packers 16
Seattle Seahawks (6-1, 2-1 away) at Buffalo Bills (6-2, 3-1 home)
Current line: Seahawks -2.5, over/under 53.5
If Josh Allen plays like the Josh Allen of the first quarter of the season, this could turn into a shootout. If he continues to play flat (as he has the last few weeks), the Seahawks have plenty of weapons to pull away, especially if Russell Wilson continues to play at an MVP-level. (Also of note: the Bills and Jets have each gone over 6 times this season.)
Our pick: Seahawks 31, Bills 23
Chicago Bears (5-3, 3-1 away) at Tennessee Titans (5-2, 3-1 home)
Current line: Titans -5.5, over/under 46.5
The Titans need a pick-me-up after falling flat in consecutive weeks against the Steelers and Bengals. Can Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry get back on track against Chicago’s surprisingly stout D? Both teams are coming off consecutive losses and need this to solidify their position in the playoff picture.
Our pick: Titans 27, Bears 23
New York Giants (1-7, 0-4 away) at Washington Football Team (2-5, 2-2 home)
Current line: Washington -3, over/under 41.5
In any other division, this would be a battle for draft positioning. Alas, in the NFC East both teams remain alive in the playoff picture; even at 2-5, Washington still has the second-best odds for winning the division.
Our pick: Washington 19, Giants 16
Detroit Lions (3-4, 3-1 away) at Minnesota Vikings (2-5, 0-3 home)
Current line: Vikings -1, over/under 51.5
The Lions look to bounce back from their home humiliation at the hands of the Colts as the Vikings hope to continue their momentum toward a playoff push as they come off a big road upset of the Packers.
Our pick: Vikings 26, Lions 24
Houston Texans (1-6, 0-3 away) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6, 1-2 home)
Current line: Texans -6.5, over/under 51.5
The Texans look to complete the season sweep (they won 30-14 in Week 5) as they visit Jacksonville; both teams are coming off their bye week.
Our pick: Texans 28, Jaguars 18
Carolina Panthers (3-5, 2-2 away) at Kansas City Chiefs (7-1, 3-1 home)
Current line: Chiefs -10.5, over/under 52.5
After showing life in a three-game win streak, the Panthers have looked flat in losing their last three. Expect Mahomes to tee off on a suspect secondary; a second consecutive 400-yard week is a distinct possibility.
Our pick: Chiefs 33, Panthers 21
Denver Broncos (3-4, 2-1 away) at Atlanta Falcons (2-6, 0-4 home)
Current line: Falcons -1, over/under 49.5
Both teams looked a bit more lively in Week 8, as Drew Lock got his first career game-winning drive against the Chargers and the Falcons looked strong at Carolina.
Our pick: Falcons 24, Broncos 20
Las Vegas Raiders (4-3, 3-1 away) at Los Angeles Chargers (2-5, 1-2 home)
Current line: Chargers -1, over/under 52.5
The Raiders are 4-3 despite playing the NFL’s hardest schedule thus far; their schedule the rest of the way ranks as only the 25th most difficult. Additionally, a win against the Chargers would put them fully back in the thick of the playoff race in their first season in Vegas.
Our pick: Raiders 28, Chargers 27
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-0, 3-0 away) at Dallas Cowboys (2-6, 2-2 home)
Many online sportsbook casinos are not currently accepting wagers on this game, given that quarterback Andy Dalton has been placed on the COVID-19 list.
Miami Dolphins (4-3, 2-1 away) at Arizona Cardinals (5-2, 2-1 home)
Many online sportsbook casinos are not currently accepting wagers on this game after two Cardinals players tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.
New Orleans Saints (5-2, 2-1 away) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2, 3-0 home)
Current line: Bucs -5.5, over/under 51.5
The Sunday night game this week comes with major division and playoff ramifications, as the winner will have the inside track on the NFC South title. Though both teams underwhelmed in Week 8 (squeaking by the Bears and Giants, respectively), they’re both built to win this year. The Saints have come-from-behind in winning their last four games; the Bucs have done the same in their last three games. Expect fireworks, cannons (literally, as the game is in Tampa), and a rollercoaster.
Our pick: Bucs 38, Saints 35
New England Patriots (2-5, 0-3 away) at New York Jets (0-8, 0-4 home)
Current line: Patriots -7, over/under 42.5
With the Patriots’ playoff odds below 10% after their four-game skid, they need this win badly. Fortunately, the Jets are starting to look like they have a real shot—and many casinos are accepting wagers—toward both the top pick in the draft and an 0-16 season.
Our pick: Patriots 20, Jets 11
Get in on the Week 9 NFL action with BetMGM
While some NFL fans may have been disappointed about the schedule changes caused by COVID-19, there are still many games you can bet on in the upcoming week. To place your bets, be sure to visit BetMGM. At BetMGM sportsbook and casino, you can enjoy some of the best betting odds on the upcoming NFL games, as well as a variety of other sports.
To find out more, or place a wager, visit our site today.
