Free NFL Football Picks & Best Bets Today – Week 8 (2024)
The 2024 NFL season is finally here, and we’ve got you covered with our free NFL football picks & best bets today. In this article, we’ll break down our top free NFL picks against the spread and highlight the best bets for Week 8 action. Plus, we’ll share the top betting targets for your favorite sportsbook. Let’s win some money together.
Happy Week 8 to all. How about the NFC North? Eight weeks into the season, it is clear that it is the strongest division in football. In fact, it’s the first division in which every team has tallied at least four plus wins through week 6. Along with this, the NFC North also boasts the top four teams in point differential in 2024.
What’s amazing is there have only been two games this season played between NFC North opponents: the Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers showdown in Week 4 and the Detroit Lions vs. Vikings game this past Sunday. With the Lions holding a narrow lead at the top, the race for the division crown is still wide open, making this one of the most exciting races in recent memory. As always, enjoy the games this Sunday, and let’s make some money. Coming off a 4-2 week, here are the picks.
Free NFL Football Picks and Best Bets Today – Week 8
With our free NFL football picks and best bets, you’ll be able to make the most out of your money. Whether you’re a hardcore sports bettor on a popular sportsbook such as DraftKings or just enjoy betting casually, we’ve got you covered. Continue reading for our Week 8 free NGL football picks and best bets for today in the NFL.
Philadelphia Eagles (+2.5) vs Cincinnati Bengals (-2.5)
Philadelphia knocked off its fellow NFC East Rival, the New York Giants, on Sunday. Running wild in his return to the Meadowlands, Saquon Barkley tallied 176 yards on the ground while adding a rushing score. Jalen Hurts and company have not turned the ball over in each of their last two games. Furthermore, the Eagle’s defense harassed Daniel Jones all afternoon long, sacking him eight times.
Winners of three of their last four games, the Bengals remain in the thick of the AFC Playoff Race. One of the hardest teams to figure out this season, the team has lost by one score in every game, including a 16-10 defeat to the lowly New England Patriots in the season opener. Joe Burrow could very well be in the MVP talk if Zac Taylor’s group were not sitting at 3-4. The former number-one overall pick has thrown 14 touchdown passes to two interceptions. Look for him to have a big day to help Cincinnati even up its record.
Pick: Bengals (-2.5)
Atlanta Falcons (-2.5) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+2.5)
First place in the NFC South will be on the line when the Falcons travel to Tampa Bay. Atlanta fell 34-14 to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday despite outgaining their opponent by 30 yards. Kirk Cousins turned the ball over three times, including a pair of interceptions.
The Buccaneers lost both the game and two of their best players on Monday night. Baker Mayfield and company were knocked off 41-31 by the Baltimore Ravens behind a stellar performance from both Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. The former threw five touchdown passes while the latter rushed for 169 yards. Along with this, Tampa Bay lost both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to injuries. The Falcons are 3-0 against the NFC South this season. Furthermore, they are 4-1 against the spread in their last five meetings with the Buccaneers. Look for that trend to continue on Sunday in one of the games of the weekend.
Pick: Falcons (-2.5)
Indianapolis Colts (+5.0) vs Houston Texans (-5.0)
In the second matchup of the season between these two AFC South rivals, the Texans squeaked out a narrow 29-27 victory over the Colts in week one. Currently holding onto the second wildcard spot in the AFC, Indianapolis took advantage of a depleted Miami Dolphins team in a 16-10 victory on Sunday. They held Mike McDaniel’s group to just 149 passing yards.
Houston saw its three-game winning streak snapped on Sunday in a last-second 24-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Unable to get anything going offensively, C.J. Stroud was held to just 86 passing yards, the lowest total of his career. Moreover, Houston went a miserable 4-13 on third down. The Texans have won three of the last four meetings between these two and have a significantly better roster. It’s hard to trust Anthony Richardson in any spot with the way he is playing right now.
Pick: Texans (-5.0)
Chicago Bears (-3.0) vs Washington Commanders (+3.0)
The battle between the top two overall picks in April’s NFL Draft may be postponed until a later date. Jayden Daniels suffered a rib injury on Sunday during the Commanders’ win over the Carolina Panthers. As a result, he has not practiced this week. Whether it is Marcus Mariota or the former Heiman Trophy winner, the Bears enter this one red hot. Chicago has won its last three games.
Caleb Williams has tossed seven touchdown passes to just one interception over that stretch of time. Furthermore, Matt Eberflus’s defense is holding its opponents to just 16.8 points per game, the fourth-lowest mark in the league. They also sit fifth in yards per play (5.0) and eighth in sacks per game (3.0). With Daniels unlikely to play in this one, look for Williams and company to take care of business and keep pace in the ultra-competitive NFC North.
Pick: Bears (-3.0)
Carolina Panthers vs Denver Broncos (O/U 40.5)
Andy Dalton missed a third straight practice on Friday and is doubtful for the game after suffering a sprained thumb in a car crash earlier in the week. With Bryce Young likely to start in this one, the Panther’s offense averaged just 6.5 points in the two games the former number-one picked played in before being benched.
Denver has won four of its last five games and is currently holding onto the final Wild Card spot in the AFC. The Broncos dominated the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football a week ago by routing them 33-10. Vance Joseph’s defense has now given up 13 points or fewer in four of their last six games while ranking first in red zone defense. Pair this with the struggles of Young and we are going to play the under in this one.
Pick: Under 40.5
New York Jets vs New England Patriots (O/U 40.5)
The Jets have lost four of their last five games, including a 37-15 beatdown by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football. In the second matchup of the year between these two teams, New York outgained New England 400-139 in a 24-3 victory in week 3. Furthermore, the Jets have a much deeper receiver room this time around following the addition of Davante Adams.
Beginning to make strides after taking over from Jacoby Brissett under center, Drake Maye has thrown five touchdown passes to three interceptions in his two starts. Along with this, the Patriot’s weapons are beginning to play better under the rookie quarterback. Demario Douglas has eclipsed the 50-yard receiving mark in two of his last three games. Moreover, Hunter Henry tied his season high with eight catches on Sunday. New England’s defense is no longer the dominant group it has been in years past. Demarcus Covongton’s group sits 24th in the league in points allowed per game (25.0). In what feels like a low total, it is easy to see each team scoring 20+ points to cash the over.
Pick: Over 40.5