NFL Week 8 Picks Straight Up – Predicted Upsets and Underdogs Showing Value
- NFL Week 8 upset picks are live ahead of Sunday’s slate
- Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers are 3.5-point underdogs facing CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans in a battle of the first two players chosen in the 2023 NFL Draft
- Check out our favorite NFL Week 8 upset picks below
Will the comforts of home be as rewarding for NFL teams in Week 8 as it was during Week 7? Last week, home teams were 9-4 in the straight up picks. Home underdogs were a stellar 4-1 SU.
In the Week 8 SU upset picks, two home teams are looking like sound investments – the Tennessee Titans (+120) against the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers (+150) playing host to the Houston Texans.
Which straight up upset picks are feeling like the best bets for Week 8 of the NFL season? Let’s look at that here.
NFL Week 8 Upset Picks
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Pick | Units Risked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Titans vs Atlanta Falcons | TEN +2.5 | +120 | TEN | 1 |
| Carolina Panthers vs Houston Texans | CAR +3.5 | +150 | CAR | 1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals vs San Francisco 49ers | CIN +4 | +170 | CIN | 1 |
Certainly the marquee matchup on the Week 8 NFL slate sees a rematch of teams that have twice met in the Super Bowl, as the San Francisco 49ers welcome the Cincinnati Bengals to the Bay Area. Joe Burrow and company are coming to the home of Rice A Roni and Tony Bennett as +170 underdogs.
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Odds as of October 27th at BetMGM. Check out the best NFL betting promos before wagering on your favorite Week 8 upset picks.
NFL Week 8 Upset Picks
Along with the Titans and Panthers, let’s add the Bengals to the list of likely NFL Week 8 straight up outright upset winners.
Suddenly, It Isn’t Purdy for 49ers
Two weeks ago at 5-0, the 49ers were one of the NFL’s two remaining unbeaten squads. And they haven’t won a game since. the chances of San Francisco extending that losing streak to three games is looming larger.
QB1 Brock Purdy is in NFL concussion protocol and an uncertain starter for their Week 8 game. That would leave journeyman veteran Sam Darnold as next man up under center to face a Cincinnati team that’s been to the AFC Championship Game each of the past two seasons. The Bengals are 3-1 SU in their last four games following an 0-2 start.
#49ers QB Brock Purdy (concussion) is present and participating during early open portion of practice. pic.twitter.com/xnWZNAHIRc
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) October 26, 2023
Though San Francisco remains the favorites in the Bengals vs 49ers odds, the line has shrunk from 49ers -4.5 to San Francisco -4. It’s as short as 3.5 points at some books.
NFL Upset Picks: Cincinnati Bengals Moneyline (+170)
Titans Are Underdog Bettor’s Delight
No team rises like the Titans do when the oddsmakers bet against them. Straight up they’ve won 24 times under coach Mike Vrabel when kicking off as the betting underdog.
Even with the possibility that rookie Will Levis and second-year man Malik Willis will alternate at QB if injured starter Ryan Tannehill (ankle) can’t go, take the Titans. Last week’s win at Tampa Bay was Atlanta’s first road victory in a year. Now the Falcons are supposed to do it in successive weeks?
Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith used to be Tennessee’s offensive coordinator, so the Tennessee defense is going to know what he has up his sleeve. The Titans will be decked out in Houston Oilers throwbacks, with Oilers legend Billy (White Shoes) Johnson on hand as the guest of honor. They can’t take the L in front of the NFL icon who invented the choreographed end zone celebration following a TD.
NFL Upset Picks: Tennessee Titans Moneyline (+120)
Bryce Young Over CJ Stroud
It’s the NFL’s #1 and #2 picks from the 2023 NFL Draft going head-to-head as QB Bryce Young, the first overall selection and the Carolina Panthers tangle with #2 pick QB CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans. This is only the fifth time during the NFL’s Super Bowl era (since 1966) that QBs selected 1-2 in the draft have met during their rookie season.
CJ Stroud and Bryce Young first faced each other when they were just in seventh grade.
At the time, they didn’t really know each other, but by the end of high school they were like brothers.
Young finished high school as the No. 1 QB prospect out of California and Stroud No. 3.… pic.twitter.com/0AilC1JTO5
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) October 26, 2023
Against the spread, the Panthers are the only NFL team yet to cover this season at 0-6 SU and 0-5-1 ATS. It’s been a bumpy ride for Young, who’s last in the NFL with a QBR of 32.1.
Bryce Young vs CJ Stroud Comparison
| Player (Team) | Completion % | Yards | TD Passes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers) | 63.2 | 967 | 6 |
| CJ Stroud (Houston Texans) | 59.6 | 1660 | 9 |
Meanwhile, Stroud has tossed nine TD passes against one pick. He’s the current favorite in the NFL OROY odds. So even though he went #1, Young will definitely be the one with something to prove in this game.
The people aren’t buying Carolina pulling off the upset here. In the NFL public betting splits, the Texans are getting 54% of spread handle and 77% of moneyline handle.
NFL Upset Picks: Carolina Panthers Moneyline (+150)
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
