Who’s going to be under center for the Jacksonville Jaguars when they host Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles in their Week 8 Inter-Conference clash in London on Sunday?
Do Case Keenum and the Denver Broncos stand a chance of keeping up with Patrick Mahomes and the explosive Kansas City Chiefs?
Last but not least, who’s going to bring home the bacon when the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers meet in their second and final NFC West regular season matchup?
If you’re looking for betting value on the NFL Week 8 schedule, then I’ve got a trio of expert picks on three favorites you just shouldn’t let pass this coming week. Now, let’s get down to business.
NFL International Series: Philadelphia Eagles at Jacksonville Jaguars
Game Information
🏈: NFL International Series: Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4)
⏰: Sun. Oct 28, 2018, 9:30 AM ET
🏟️: Wembley Stadium, London, GB
📺: NFL, DTV: 212
🎰: Philadelphia Eagles: -3 -120 | -160 | O 42 -110
After winning it all last season, the Philadelphia Eagles, like most recent Super Bowl winners, clearly have a Super Bowl hangover. The Birds melted down late in their stunning 21-17 Week 7 home loss against Carolina on Sunday while failing to cover the chalk as a 5-point favorite.
Still, while Philadelphia may be struggling right now, they’re not struggling anywhere near as bad as Jacksonville is right now. The Jaguars lost their third straight game by falling to Houston 20-7 at home on Sunday. Now, heading into Week 8, Jacksonville has big question marks at quarterback after benching starter Blake Bortles – only to see backup Cody Kessler come in a turn the ball over twice as well against the Texans.
I know Philadelphia has lost three of four, but the Birds have been competitive in suffering each defeat by four points or less. Jacksonville has been awful offensively lately in scoring 14 points or less in losing three straight and four of their last five games while getting held to seven points or less in two straight games and three of their last five games overall.
Philadelphia has the big edge at quarterback and Jacksonville looks completely lost right now. The Eagles are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games in the month of October while Jacksonville has gone 2-6 ATS in their last eight games in October and 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall. Carson Wentz and the Eagles are the pick in this one people!
Predicted Score: Eagles 27 Jaguars 13
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
Game Information
🏈: Denver Broncos (3-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-1)
⏰: Sun. Oct 28, 2018 1:00 PM ET
🏟️: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
📺: CBS, DTV: 707
🎰: Kansas City Chiefs: -10 -110 | -600 | U 55 -110
Denver beat the hell out of Arizona 45-10 on Thursday night and now, they’ll be well-rested after the almost 10-day mini-bye. Unfortunately, it won’t matter much with the Broncos facing a clearly superior Kansas City team that recorded a 27-23 win road win in Week 4 while narrowly failing to cover the spread as a 3.5-point home underdog.
By now, there is absolutely no doubt that Andy Reid pulled off a stroke of genius by moving up in last year’s draft to nab quarterback Patrick Mahomes with the 10th overall pick. Now, in his second year, but the first season as a starter, Mahomes is clearly the best young quarterback in the league (sorry Deshaun – and everyone else).
The Chiefs put a 45-10 beatdown on a pretty good Cincinnati team on Sunday night as Mahomes tossed three TD passes like they were nothing and now, I’m expecting him to do the same against a Broncos team that is completely and utterly mediocre in averaging 23.5 points per game and allowing 23.4 points per game defensively.
The Broncos are a dismal 4-14-1 ATS in their last 19 games and 2-11 SU and ATS in their last 13 road games. The Chiefs, conversely, are an unblemished 5-0 ATS in their last five games, and 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games.
I’m expecting a convincing home win for the explosive Chiefs that narrowly covers the chalk and you should too!
Predicted Score: Chiefs 35 Broncos 24
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
Game Information
🏈: San Francisco 49ers (1-6) at Arizona Cardinals (1-6)
⏰: Sun. Oct 28, 2018 1:00 PM ET
🏟️: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
📺: FOX, DTV: 711
🎰: Arizona Cardinals: pk -110 | U 43 -110
San Francisco got pounded unmercifully in its 39-10 Week 7 loss against the Rams just as I predicted while Arizona got similarly beat down in their humbling 45-10 loss to Denver on Thursday night. Now, with the Cards looking to duplicate their 28-18 win over Frisco in Week 5, I’m going to advise you to go ‘the other way’ with your Week 8 pick here and back San Francisco just because the Niners are completely desperate and eerily identical to Arizona right now. Despite giving up about five points more per game than Arizona, San Francisco can at least score the ball (22.5 ppg) while Arizona is averaging a league-low 13.1 points per game this season.
The Niners have gone 5-2 ATS in their last seven road games and a robust 9-3 ATS in their last dozen meetings against Arizona. Not only that, but San Francisco has a big edge in the coaching department with Kyle Shanahan being a fairly proven commodity, at least as an offensive genius while Arizona’s Steve Wilks doesn’t quite have the same stature as he learns the ropes as a first-time head coach. The name of this game will be payback!
Predicted Score: San Francisco 27 Arizona 24
