NFL Week 8 Odds: Looking For Value in Totals

The unders continue to dominate in this year’s over/under betting. With a 5-8 showing last week, totals are now 41-64-1 on the season. Things would be a lot more lopsided if not for a 13-3 totals mark in Week 2. It’s becoming tougher to pull the trigger on overs. It’s either bet your NFL picks against the spread or bet the unders. The NFL Week 8 odds have three games with totals of 38 or lower. The highest total on the board is 46 for the games involving K.C. and Miami.

The Baltimore Ravens (5-2) visit the Arizona Cardinals (1-6) in a late afternoon game Sunday. Temperatures have cooled down in the Phoenix area, so game time temps will be near 80 degrees. The Ravens enter the game off a 38-6 victory over Detroit. Baltimore gained 503 total yards and allowed 337. It was the first time the Ravens scored more than 28 points this season.

For the year, the Ravens are averaging 24.4 points and allowing just 13.9. Baltimore is running more than it throws, but both aspects of the offense are working right now. The Ravens are rushing for 145 yards per game and passing for 217.6.

It’s the defense that has been the big story for the Ravens so far. Baltimore is No. 1 in scoring defense and yards per play. The Ravens allow 95.7 rushing yards per game and 176 passing yards per game. It’s no surprise to see Baltimore leading the NFL standings in the AFC North.

The Cardinals were expected to field one of the worst NFL teams in the NFL this season and they haven’t disappointed. An inexplicable 28-16 win over Dallas is only thing keeping Arizona from being winless. The Cardinals aren’t a bad rushing team, gaining 5.2 yards per carry and 139 yards per game. But the passing game is a bit below par.

Arizona needs to run the ball here to try and shorten the game and that’s probably where its best chance of moving the ball is going to happen. The Cardinals need to stay within striking distance as long as possible. If the Cardinals are forced to throw almost every down, it could be a long day. With the NFL Week 8 odds having the total at 44.5, the under is the way to look in this one.

The Houston Texans find themselves in the strange role of road favorites, as they visit Carolina for an early Sunday game. The NFL Week 8 odds have Houston -3 and the total is 43.5. The last time Houston was favored on the road was 2020.

The Texans are averaging 22.5 points per game on the NFL season, with the passing game doing most of the damage. Houston is averaging 258.5 yards per game through the air. Only 88.8 yards come on the ground each week. But the Texans have also been decent on defense, allowing 18.8 points per game. The rushing defense is a little better than the passing defense.

The hype surrounding this game will be Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud facing each other, but football is still a team game. And right now Stroud has received more help than Young.

The Panthers are averaging 18.7 points per game and neither the running game or passing game have been too effective. Carolina rushes for 98 yards per game and throws for 196.7 yards. The Panthers do need to run the ball a little better to be competitive.

Defensively, Carolina has been dismal, allowing 31 points per game and have allowed 42 points in back-to-back weeks. The Panthers are allowing 4.9 yards per rush, which doesn’t cut it in the NFL. The pass defense hasn’t been bad, but the NFL updates show safeties Xavier Woods and Vonn Bell both questionable for the game. Bell missed practice Wednesday, while Woods was a limited participant.

Considering how bad the Panthers have been on defense, the total may seem to be a bit on the low side. But there’s good reason for that number. Teams that allowed 40 or more points in back-to-back weeks are 13-23-1 in totals dating back to 1989. Coupled with this season’s trend of games involving away favorites going 15-27-1, the under is the play here.

For NFL scores and odds, NFL odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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