NFL Free Picks Week 8

Denver Broncos                +3 (+105)

Total      42

Baltimore Ravens             -3 (-125)

The undefeated Broncos travel to Baltimore to face a Ravens team desperate to get back on the winning track. This year the Broncos defense has been what the Ravens defense was supposed to be, dominant and suffocating.  The Ravens are favored in this game but playing at home accounts for the 3 points.  Baltimore needs this game or they risk falling too far behind the Bengals and the Steelers in the NFC North.

Sportsbook Veteran NFL Free Pick: Baltimore

Cleveland Browns            +14 (-120)

Total      40

Chicago Bears                    -14 (EVEN)

This looks like another bookie killer, even though 14 points is a lot of points for a middle of the road turnover prone team like the Bears, the Browns are just awful.

Sportsbook Veteran NFL Free Pick: Chicago

Houston Texans               -3½ (-115)

Total      41½

Buffalo Bills                         +3½ (-105)

Buffalo has a two game win streak going, the defense is coming through where the offense can’t. Intercepting 8 passes in the past two games.  Matt Shaub will have to be at his league leading best. The Texans offense is too strong for the Bills to completely shut down and the Bill offense has no chance to hang with the Texans over 60 minutes.

Sportsbook Veteran NFL Free Pick: Houston

San Francisco 49ers         +13

Total      44½

Indianapolis Colts             -13

Peyton Manning had a down game last week, only 235 yards and 3 TD passes and the Colts won by 36. The 49ers present a tougher challenge for the Colt but the Colts should win the game outright.

Sportsbook Veteran NFL Free Pick: Indianapolis

Miami Dolphins                 +3½ (-125)

Total      40½

New York Jets                   -3½ (+105)

The Jets will be looking for revenge against the Miami Dolphins. Defense will be a big factor if the Jets want to pull out a win. They must stop the tandem of Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown who have been running up big rushing totals against opponents with their Wildcat based offense.  The Dolphins choked last week against the Saints and I don’t see them doing the same this week.

Sportsbook Veteran NFL Free Pick: Miami

St. Louis Rams   No Line at time of writing

Detroit Lions

In a game where both teams have a great chance to lose, I wouldn’t be surprised if this one ends in a tie. The line is off the board because of injuries but I don’t think it will matter who plays, this will be a horrible game. It stands and St. Louis’s best chance to pick up a win all season.

Seattle Seahawks            +10 (-115)

Total      46

Dallas Cowboys                 -10 (-105)

Tony Romo and the Cowboys have put back to back wins for the first time this season on the strength of the Tony Romo to Miles Austin connection. The Seahawks have shown they can win big or lose big this season and with their constant struggle with injuries they are likely to lose big to the Cowboys.

Sportsbook Veteran NFL Free Pick: Dallas

New York Giants              -1

Total      44

Philadelphia Eagles          +1

The Yankees and Phillies are locked in a battle…oh wrong New York – Philadelphia matchup. The Giants and Eagles battle for NFC East supremacy. The Giants have lost their last two but I think they turn in around against the Eagles. Philadelphia will likely be without star running back Brian Westbrook due to injury.

Sportsbook Veteran NFL Free Pick: New York

Oakland Raiders               +17 (-115)

Total      41½

San Diego Chargers         -17 (-105)

The biggest line of week is in the Chargers-Raiders game but after the Jets blew Oakland out 38-0, the line is well deserved.  I loathe taking any line this high but a score of 28-10 is reasonable and that covers the spread.

Sportsbook Veteran NFL Free Pick: San Diego

Jacksonville Jaguars        +3 (-115)

Total      45

Tennessee Titans             -3 (-105)

What amazes me about this game is the Titans are favored. What amazes me even more is after talking to a bookmaker friend, a lot of the early money is on the Titans moneyline.  I don’t see it, the Titans season long tank-a-thon continues.

Sportsbook Veteran NFL Free Pick: Jacksonville

Minnesota Vikings           +3

Total      47

Green Bay Packers          -3

In case you haven’t heard Brett Favre makes his return to Green Bay this Sunday. The key to a Packers victory will be protecting Aaron Rodgers, right now Jared Allen is killing quarterback. The key to a Vikings victory is keep running Adrian Peterson, last week the Vikings relied too much on Favre’s aging arm and it cost them.

Sportsbook Veteran NFL Free Pick: Green Packers

Carolina Panthers            +10½ (-115)

Total      41

Arizona Cardinals             -10½ (-105)

Jake Delhomme hasn’t been the same since the Cardinals in last season’s playoff meeting picked him off five times.  After a slow start the Cardinals look like the team that won the NFC title in 2008. They were able to slow the rush of the New York Giants last week on their way to a big upset. This game will get ugly and the rapid downward spiral of Jake Delhomme’s career continues although it can’t go much lower.

Sportsbook Veteran NFL Free Pick: Arizona

Atlanta Falcons                                 +10½ (-115)

Total      54

New Orleans Saints         -10½ (-105)

The game against the Falcons is the Saints first divisional game of the season.   The Falcons are the Saints only real challenger in the NFC South, they lost badly to the Cowboys last Saturday and will have the same trouble slowing the Saints high-powered offence.  I don’t see Atlanta being able to go score for score with the Saints.

Sportsbook Veteran NFL Free Pick: New Orleans