Getting Thursday night picks right apparently mean having terrible afternoons. That’s two weeks in a row where the afternoon games sunk a great week. Back to the .500 mark though.
To the picks!
Point spreads were provided by Bet MGM.
Week 8 record: 7-6
Season record: 73-73
CLEVELAND (-2.5) vs. Pittsburgh
These teams are having this weird Freaky Friday season where the Steelers have the record the Browns should have, and the Browns have the record the Steelers should have. There’s an off chance this is Freddie Kitchens’ final game as the Browns’ head coach.
Pick: Browns (-2.5)
New Orleans (-5.5) vs. TAMPA BAY
The Saints lost to the Falcons last week, which either means they’re not very good, or they’re due to bounce back in a big way in Tampa.
Pick: Saints (-5.5)
CAROLINA (-5.5) vs. Atlanta
PREDICTION: Christian McCaffrey goes off and we really ramp up the “McCaffrey for MVP” conversation where everyone jumps back on the ‘running backs are valuable again’ train way too fast.
Pick: Panthers (-5.5)
INDIANAPOLIS (-3.5) vs. Jacksonville
This game is the Nick Foles of NFL games.
Pick: Jags (+3.5)
MINNESOTA (-10.5) vs. Denver
There’s a really strong chance John Elway vastly overpays Kirk Cousins sometime in the very near future.
Pick: Vikings (-10.5)
WASHINGTON (-1.5) vs. New York Jets
Do you know who’s going to be the loser in this game? Everyone who watches it.
Pick: Jets (+1.5)
Buffalo (-5.5) vs. MIAMI
The combined winning percentage of teams the Bills have beaten is .214. That is the lowest mark in the AFC by a pretty substantial margin.
Pick: Dolphins (+5.5)
BALTIMORE (-4.5) vs. Houston
There’s not a more fun matchup all year than Lamar Jackson vs. Deshaun Watson. Two young, exciting quarterbacks playing at MVP-caliber levels. Sign me up.
Pick: Ravens (-4.5)
SAN FRANCISCO (-11.5) vs. Arizona
11.5 points is a lot for a team as beat up as the 49ers are, especially since they only beat the Cardinals by three two weeks ago.
Pick: Cardinals (+11.5)
New England (-3.5) vs. PHILADELPHIA
If the Eagles are going to make a Super Bowl run, it’ll have to start Sunday against the Patriots.
Pick: Patriots (-3.5)
OAKLAND (-10.5) vs. Cincinnati
THE RAIDERS ARE FAVORED BY 10.5 POINTS!
Pick: Raiders (-10.5)
LOS ANGELES RAMS (-6.5) vs. Chicago
Mitchell Trubisky has to face a defense with Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. Hopefully he can turn the TVs off at halftime.
Pick: Rams (-6.5)
KANSAS CITY (-4.5) vs. Los Angeles Chargers
There is not a more confusing team in the league than the Chargers, who are either terrible or a Super Bowl contender.
Pick: Chiefs (-4.5)
