Week 8 Picks

I'm posting up my picks ahead of my Week 7 Recap as I want to lock in a few key numbers while still available. This board is a little more playable than last week (I had only one pick, which lost, despite going down to the wire).

Despite Miami almost always playing the Pats tough, I'm going with the Pats -6 ½. They will be playing angry after the loss to the Jets (the team they hate losing to more than any other, with the possible exception of the Giants). I think the Pats will be up for this game, and will take out their frustration on a Dolphin team on the slide.  Pats -6 1/2.

I like the Giants and Eagles over. I don't play a lot of overs, but this has historically been a series where the number is high. Coming off a woeful offensive performance against an under-rated Cowboys D, I look for the Eagles to put up points against an improving (but not elite) Giants defense. Yes, they shut out the Vikings offense (the lone touchdown was a special teams play in the Monday night game), and shut down the reigning MVP on the ground. However, the only reason they were able to hold AP to 28 yards rushing was the lack of any passing threat from Freeman. They won't be able to stuff the box against the Eagles, and the Eagles running game should gash them, especially late in the game, and open up opportunities for big plays down the field. The Eagles defense isn't great either, and Eli (who has been... well, better, if not good) and his slowly improving receiving corps should be able to wing it at will. I like this to be a shootout. Giants/Eagles over 53.

I also like the Cowboys as road dogs. This is a squad that has very often played better on the road than at home. Detroit isn't a great team, and I love getting the +3 ½ that is fastly disappearing off the boards. Dallas +3 ½.