NFL Betting Trends, Week 8: Public Bettors Not Believing in Justin Fields

Bettors who watched the Chicago Bears’ Monday night explosion want more proof. Gamblers backing the San Francisco 49ers over the Los Angeles Rams have all the proof they need. And Miami Dolphins backers dispute recent proof, supporting a road favorite that hasn’t covered the spread in four weeks.

These angles headline the midweek betting trends for NFL Week 8, impacting both point spreads and Over-Unders.

Here’s a look, with DraftKings odds and betting percentages.

How Bets are Trending Ahead of NFL Week 8

Chicago Bears vs. Dallas Cowboys

Bettors are backing Under 42.

They weighed in at 84% handle for the Under despite Chicago’s overdue outbreak in a 33-14 romp over the Patriots this past Monday night.

At +8.5 and +300 on the moneyline, the visiting Bears whipped the Patriots behind the flash of quarterback Justin Fields and a sound defense.

The Bears had all of seven points against the Washington Commanders in Week 6. Then they put up 33 points against a team that had yielded 15 total points in its last two games.

On any given Monday …

But gamblers who saw Dallas prompt four fourth-quarter turnovers in Week 7’s 24-6 triumph over the Lions are backing the D in Big D. They presumably think the host Cowboys can keep Fields in the pocket, where he is less effective.

The Cowboys defense has been special all year. It has allowed only one opponent to score 20 points in a game. The latest hot streak is 12 points allowed in the last six quarters.

Gamblers did give some respect to Chicago’s Monday night blowout. They prompted the line to be lowered from Dallas -10.5 to -9, but 73% of the handle is on Dallas.

Midweek betting favors the Cowboys in a low-scoring game.

The Fields Factor

Fields had himself a game in Week 7 in New England. He had a Lamar Jackson-esque 14 carries and was the game’s leading rusher with 82 yards. He also passed for 179 yards.

Fields used his wheels to peel off long runs and buy time for receivers running secondary routes.

If bettors believe he’s able to do that against Dallas, they will give the Over a deeper look.

Fields also scored the first touchdown of the game against New England. In recent weeks, a QB scoring first has been returning +650 and up, Fields, like Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles, is a viable threat.

Also read: Bears vs. Cowboys Week 8 prediction

49ers Ramming Los Angeles

The Niners have won seven straight regular-season games against the Rams. When the Rams went 12-5 last year, two losses came against the Niners

Even after the Rams won the 2022 Super Bowl, the Niners drubbed them 24-9 earlier this season.

In between all of that, the Rams topped the Niners 20-17 in the NFC Championship game and went on to win it all.

But this is the regular season. And a whopping 95% of the handle backs San Francisco at -1.5. On the road.

What makes betting trends look more rivalry-specific is the result of Week 7. The Niners were outgunned 44-23 by the Chiefs. Should they be favored in Los Angeles?

The public says “yes”

Rams Need Wakeup Call

The Rams, meanwhile, come off a bye at 3-3. Perhaps they used the off week to declare the party’s over from their Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals. They have been sluggish.

Tua Gets a Mulligan

The Dolphins — fluctuating between -3 and -3.5 — have 84% of the handle against the host Detroit Lions, even though they haven’t covered the spread since that wild 21-19 victory as 4-point dogs vs. the Buffalo Bills in Week 3.

This looks like a Tua Tagovailoa rebound opportunity.

Tua looked sharp early in his Week 7 return from a three-week absence. The Dolphins, who had been 0-3 without him, gained a quick 10-0 edge on the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers, and the rout was on.

But the rains came, and he went quiet, with Miami holding on to a non-covering 16-10 win at -7.5.

Now he’s playing in Detroit. Weather won’t be a problem indoors, and bettors think he’ll take this opportunity to light it up.

Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill prop bettors have another favorable matchup.

Angle to Consider

Detroit has been bad in its last two weeks, outscored 53-6. But this is the Lions’ first home game in a month. They are a different team there, especially with a healthy Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The Lions’ star receiver passed concussion tests Monday. Although he is still in the protocol, he’s expected to play. St. Brown has been plagued by injuries in recent weeks. He left the Cowboys game after taking a first-quarter shot to the head. Previously, he had an ankle injury.

The Lions moved the ball better than what the box score showed against Dallas. Given that, and with Miami’s defense not being Dallas, this total of 51.5 is the highest on the board.

NFL Week 8 Totals Betting Trends

Top Game for the Over: The Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings have a total of 49, with 89% of the handle going Over.

Top Game for the Under: The Cowboys-Bears.

Lowest Projected Total: The Denver Broncos, of course. Denver and the Jacksonville Jaguars have an over-under of 39.5 with 81% handle on the Under. The Broncos, in their seven regular-season games, hit 11 points once and nine points twice. Their 100 points scored this season is the lowest in all of football.

They also have one of the league’s top defenses, yielding just 115 points, further enticing Under wagers.

The Broncos face a Jacksonville squad that failed to put away the New York Giants in the fourth quarter. The Jags were then stopped on the 1-yard line on the final play of a 23-17 loss.

This matchup offers a strong defense vs reasonably good offense, in London.

Prime Time Preferences

Here’s a look at the “island” games, the Thursday, Sunday, and Monday night events that have the stage to themselves.

There is emphatic non-support for Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers in the Thursday and Sunday matchups, respectively, as the NFL hierarchy is changing.

Thursday Night

Brady and the Bucs took a double-digit dip. After losing outright at -10.5 and -13 to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers, they are a home dog to the Baltimore Ravens.

Tampa Bay (+1.5) has only 28% of the betting handle.

The Bucs are averaging just over 17 points a game and had all of three against the Panthers in a lopsided 21-3 setback last week.

Quarterback Tom Brady is being heavily criticized.

That said, the Bucs still lead the NFC South at 3-4. But for how long?

Also: Ravens vs. Bucs odds and prediction

Sunday Night

An Aaron Rodgers-led team has never been a double-digit underdog. But once the Packers hit +10 against the host Buffalo Bills on Thursday night, they kept climbing. They hit +11 early Wednesday morning with Buffalo getting 75% of the handle. BetMGM and Caesars, in fact, are dealing+11.5 as of Wednesday afternoon.

Early this week, Rodgers called out the team’s mental errors and lack of focus.

Bengals Roll into Monday Night

Can the Cincinnati get over a hump against the host Cleveland Browns at -3.5?

Ninety percent of the handle, much of that at -3, indicates “yes.”

The defending AFC champs took a long time to get out of their own way this year. They have not been above .500, but here’s another chance.

The 3-3 Bengals finally showed shades of 2021 in the last quarter of their 30-26 victory over the Saints in Week 6 and then all throughout the Week 7 romp, 35-17, over the Atlanta Falcons.

Joe Burrow threw for 481 yards. Tyler Boyd had 155 receivin, Ja’Marr Chase notched 130, and Tee Higgins had 93.
The 2-5 Browns are snakebit. They were stunned by two late touchdowns in losing to the New York Jets and missed a game-winning field goal against the Los Angeles Chargers. They came close to beating the Baltimore Ravens Sunday but fell short 23-20.

The Browns are starting to unravel, and the Bengals are picking up steam.

FanDuel Wager for Unbeaten Eagles

The 6-0 Philadelphia Eagles have completed a little more than one-third of their journey to an unbeaten season.

FanDuel has them at +1600 to notch a perfect campaign.

It also posts a week-by-week prop about when the Eagles will lose their first game.

How far will Philadelphia Eagles fans look ahead?

Here is a glance through the next six games, which would put them more than two-thirds of the way home.

For the Eagles to lose their first game Sunday, at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers, is +370.

If they suffer the first loss four days later, on the road against the Houston Texans, it’s +460. This is an interesting test because although Houston has only one victory, it hangs tough at home. A Thursday night game after a Sunday matchup is a ripe time for a team to be picked off.

In Week 10, the Eagles face the Washington Commanders. Odds to see loss No. 1 in that game are +600. The Eagles have a decisive victory over Washington when Carson Wentz was the Commanders QB. Now it’s Taylor Heinicke, who gives teams more trouble than Wentz. He just directed Washington to an upset victory over the Green Bay Packers. The Commanders are not an automatic out.

Should the Eagles clear that hurdle, they are in Indianapolis in Week 11 Their odds are +550 to lose their unbeaten season against the Colts, coached by their former assistant Frank Reich.

In Week 12, they face the Packers at home. Odds to drop their first game then are +550.

One week later, they are +1200 to suffer their first setback against the visiting Tennessee Titans, winners of four straight.

One of the more interesting selections is the Eagles losing their first game Dec. 24 on the road versus the Dallas Cowboys. That’s +1900.

It’s a difficult road to project because opponents hit high and low periods. But it’s a fun futures bet.

In Week 2, some bettors took this prop at +1400 for the Eagles to lose their first game Nov. 27 against the Packers.
If the Eagles reach that game 10-0, bettors might take a moneyline bet on them to beat the Packers and at least break even on the futures wager.

DraftKings: Odds for Eagles to go undefeated

The Eagles start the journey off a bye as a huge favorite against a strong young quarterback.

Kenny Pickett looks confident leading the Steelers. He is going to be mistake-prone while learning the game. But Pickett has a presence similar to Justin Herbert and has elevated the pace of the game for the Pittsburgh offense.

George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth have emerged as excellent receivers.

If he can stay healthy — Pickett was knocked out of Pittsburgh’s Week 6 game against the Bucs — he is a future star. Pittsburgh is going to build around him. That may take time, but they have something with him.

The Eagles have 83% of the moneyline handle and 69% of the spread handle at -10.5.

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