As is the case every week, injuries are a key factor impacting NFL Week 8 betting odds. COVID caused some concern in the Green Bay Packers-Arizona Cardinals Thursday night game, though the Pack overcame that issue. More difficult to overcome is the prospect of Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott missing Sunday night’s game at Minnesota.
Props.com’s Countdown to Kickoff serves as a one-stop-shop for details on injuries, weather conditions, and Pros vs Joes action. Check back regularly for injury updates, significant weather impacts, and notable contrasts between NFL Week 8 sharp bets and public money.
NFL Week 8 Injuries
Dallas Cowboys: Apparently, Dak Prescott’s calf injury isn’t in as good of order as was thought earlier in the week. As of Saturday evening, Prescott’s status is a game-time decision. But the speculation over the past couple of days was enough to make the line run away from Dallas.
The SuperBook opened the Cowboys-Vikings Sunday nighter at pick ’em and quickly got bet to Dallas -1.5. The line reached Cowboys -2.5 Monday, then slowly began to back up before jumping the fence to Cowboys +1.5 Thursday. Dallas is now a 3-point ‘dog, and the total is at 51.5, from a 53.5 opener and 55 high point.
Cleveland Browns: Quarterback Baker Mayfield returns from a Week 6 dislocated shoulder to face Pittsburgh on Sunday. However, wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones (groin) is out, and fellow WR Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder) is questionable as of Friday. The Browns are up to -4 from a -3 opener, while the total dipped from 44 to 42.5 by Monday and stuck there.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Tight end Eric Ebron (hamstring) is the lone questionable skill player as of Friday night. Pittsburgh opened +3 at The SuperBook, moved to +3.5 Monday and +4 Friday. The total has been at 42.5 since Monday, after opening at 44.
New York Jets: Rookie quarterback Zach Wilson suffered a knee injury in the Jets’ blowout loss at New England and will be sidelined two to four weeks. That means unheralded Mike White starts this week, even after New York re-acquired Joe Flacco in a trade with the Eagles. Wideout Corey Davis (hip) is doubtful and tight end Tyler Kroft (back) questionable. The SuperBook opened the Jets +9.5 and stretched to +11.5 briefly Wednesday, then backed up to +10.5. On Friday, the line rose to Jets +11. The total dipped from 43.5 to 42, then rose to 43 Thursday.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tight end Rob Gronkowski (ribs) is again questionable this week but might return at New Orleans after missing four games. Wideout Antonio Brown (ankle) will miss his second straight game. The Bucs opened -4.5 at The SuperBook and reached -5.5 Wednesday morning, then peeled back to -4.5 Thursday.
Chicago Bears: Wideout Allen Robinson (ankle) is questionable, and linebacker Khalil Mack (foot) could be out Sunday against the 49ers and beyond. And coach Matt Nagy is in COVID protocols and won’t coach Sunday. The Bears opened +4 and shortened to +3 Monday, but on Wednesday were back to +4 at The SuperBook.
Philadelphia Eagles: Running back Miles Sanders (foot/ankle) is out Sunday at Detroit and beyond after being placed on injured reserve. Philadelphia bounced between -3 and -3.5 a couple of times this week and stood at -3.5 Friday at The SuperBook.
Detroit Lions: Running back D’Andre Swift (groin) is on the injury list every week, then plays every week. Swift has double-digit touches in every game this season, mostly on the ground, but he also has a lot of receptions. Winless Detroit was a 3.5-point ‘dog at Philadelphia on Friday night at The SuperBook, up from a +3 opener.
Miami Dolphins: Wideout DeVante Parker (shoulder/hamstring) is questionable for Sunday’s trip to Buffalo. Further, Miami has a few questionables among its defensive starters. The Dolphins opened +13 and on Monday moved to +13.5, where the line remained Wednesday night.
Buffalo Bills: Tight end Dawson Knox, with a team-leading five TD receptions, had hand surgery during the Bills’ bye last week. He won’t return this week against Miami, but that’s not impacting the line. Buffalo on Monday moved from -13 to -13.5 at The SuperBook.
Tennessee Titans: Wideouts Julio Jones (hamstring) is out Sunday at Indianapolis. This number bounced around through midweek at The SuperBook, from Titans +1 to pick ’em to -1, then made its way back to +1 Wednesday. By Thursday night, Tennessee was +2.5, where the number sits Friday night.
Indianapolis Colts: On Friday, wideout T.Y. Hilton (quad) — who’s played just once this season — was still listed as questionable. Indianapolis flipped from -1 to +1 and back to -1 by Wednesday at The SuperBook. The Colts on Thursday night reached -2.5, where the number remains Friday night.
Los Angeles Chargers: Running back Austin Ekeler (hip) is questionable Sunday against visiting New England. The SuperBook opened the Chargers -5.5, got to -6 Wednesday and backed up to -4.5 by Thursday night. The total is on the rise, going from 47.5 to 49.5 by Friday afternoon.
Carolina Panthers: Wideout Terrace Marshall Jr. (concussion) is out Sunday at Atlanta. The Panthers bounced between +2.5 and +3 this week at The SuperBook and are +3 Friday night.
Seattle Seahawks: Running back Alex Collins (groin) is questionable at home Sunday against Jacksonville. Seattle moved from -3.5 to -3 early in the week at The SuperBook, then returned to -3.5 Thursday.
Washington Football Team: Wideout Curtis Samuel (groin) is out at Denver. Washington opened +4 at The SuperBook, touched +3 a couple of times and is +3.5 Friday night.
Denver Broncos: Wideout Jerry Jeudy, out since Week 1 with an ankle injury, was activated Saturday and might play Sunday vs. Washington. Denver dropped from -4 to -3 early in the week, then crept to -3.5 Friday night at The SuperBook.
Green Bay Packers: Already facing a road trip in a short week, Green Bay also has a dinged-up defense. But more important, stud wideout Davante Adams was put on the COVID/reserve list Monday and likely will miss Thursday’s showdown with Arizona. Fellow wideout Allen Lazard also was put on the list as a close contact and definitely won’t play, as he’s not vaccinated. And defensive coordinator Joe Barry also tested positive for COVID and is unavailable.
On the Adams news, The SuperBook incrementally moved from Packers +3.5 to +6 over the course of about 90 minutes Monday afternoon. As the outlook worsened Tuesday, the Pack crept to +6.5. The total went from 52.5 to 53 Sunday night, but by Tuesday afternoon was down to 50.5. On Wednesday, the total briefly dipped to 49.5, then returned to 50.5.
“It’s not only Adams, but they don’t have great depth at the wide receiver position. That’s compounded by injuries and facing a 7-0 team on the road in a short week,” SuperBook risk manager Neil Fitzroy said.
Arizona Cardinals: Generally, defensive players don’t land in this report. J.J. Watt is an exception as an athletic disruptor. Watt has a shoulder injury and is out for Thursday’s clash with Green Bay. Like their opponent, the Cardinals also have star wideout concerns, as DeAndre Hopkins (hamstring) is questionable. Arizona remained at -6.5 Wednesday, a number it reached Tuesday after opening -3.5 at The SuperBook. However, the total on Wednesday briefly dipped from 50.5 to 49.5, then returned to 50.5. That’s still down from the 52.5 opener and 53 high point.
NFL Week 8 Weather
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns: In what’s become commonplace, weather could have an impact in Cleveland. The Friday forecast calls for rain Sunday morning and winds of 15-25 mph throughout the day. The SuperBook opened the total at 44 and by Monday morning dipped to 42.5, where it’s remained through Friday evening.
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills: About 200 miles from Cleveland on the other end of Lake Erie, Sunday’s weather in Buffalo could be similar. There’s a 40 percent chance of rain early in the day, and 10-20 mph winds throughout the day. The total bounced around at The SuperBook, from 49 to 48 to 49.5, then stabilized at 48.5 Thursday morning.
Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets: It could just a touch breezy at MetLife Stadium, with the Friday forecast calling for 10-15 mph winds. The total dropped from 43.5 to 42 by midweek, then rose to 43 Thursday at The SuperBook.
San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears: The Windy City could be looking at breezes of 10-20 mph on Sunday. This total quickly plummeted at The SuperBook, from 43 Sunday night to 39.5 by Monday afternoon. The total remained at 39.5 Friday night. Much of that early move likely stemmed from the 49ers’ lackluster Week 7 Sunday night performance in a 30-18 home loss to Indianapolis.
NFL Week 8 Pros Vs Joes
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts: The public is definitely on Derrick Henry and Co. at WynnBet, while the wiseguys are backing Indy. The Titans are taking 79% of bets/62% of money on the spread, but the line moved from pick ’em to Colts -2.5.
“Even with more tickets and money on the Titans, the line has shifted toward the Colts,” WynnBet junior trader Patrick Wall said. “Sharper players have been on that side. WynnBet will be pulling for a low-scoring win and cover for the Colts on Sunday.”
Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets: It’s not the spread, but the total in this matchup that’s seeing a little sharps vs. squares action at TwinSpires. The number dipped from 44 to 42.5, with sharp play and 70 percent of money on the Under, and public play/60% of tickets on the Over.
