NFL Predictions Week 8: Top Underdog Picks, Vegas Odds and Score Predictions

Entering Week 8, bettors who enjoy rolling with underdogs must know how to do it well.

This idea applies every week, but especially in Week 8 with six teams on bye, including crafty possible underdogs such as the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins.

As one can see from the midweek lines, no game comes with a major spread, which means even Las Vegas has taken a reserved approach to the slate with so many teams sitting out.

Bettors don’t need to avoid the week by any means, but finding the right underdogs to back will take more work than usual. Let’s take a look.

NFL Week 8 Odds

Odds courtesy of Odds Shark.

Washington at Cincinnati (-2.5)

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The meeting between the Washington Redskins and Cincinnati Bengals is rather funny. 

Both teams lost to the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. Both blew away the Cleveland Browns. Both have to make the trip across the pond in Week 8 to play in London.

Chances are that this line only grows in favor of the Bengals, though. They racked up more than 550 yards of offense while beating Cleveland in Week 7, and they remain in the thick of things in the AFC North despite a sluggish start.

It’s interesting to point out, however, that the Bengals are 3-4 and the Redskins are 4-3. The Bengals aren’t their usual selves on defense anymore. Opposing passers have hit them up for 14 touchdowns, and opposing backs average 4.6 yards per carry.

That’s a big problem against a potent Washington rushing attack:

Knowing they don’t want to deal with A.J. Green (50 catches, 775 yards, three scores) on a regular basis, the Redskins will employ this rushing attack early and often on the road to keep the Cincinnati defense on the field.

Speaking of the road, Washington has won two games away from home, while Cincinnati has won one. It would be easier to roll with the favorites here if the Bengals had started the season hotter, but instead they’ve shown a weaker-than-usual defense even after …

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