NFL - Week 8 Predictions

Ringer's Record
Last Week ATS: 6-7
Last Week SU: 9-4

Season ATS: 54-48-1 (53%)
Season SU: 72-31 (70%)

Arizona (+13.5) at Baltimore
Baltimore's offense was exposed in Monday night's shocking loss in Jacksonville. The defense was stout, but it didn't matter as their offensive ineptitude was enough to cost them 1st place in the AFC North. They head home to face an Arizona team that has lost their last 5 games. The Cardinals offseason acquisition of Kevin Kolb has not paid off yet. Kolb will struggle against a Ravens D that is sure to be angry. Look for the Ravens to bounce back in a big way.

Prediction - Baltimore 27 Arizona 13

Minnesota (+3.5) at Carolina
2 of the QBs taken in the 1st Round of the 2011 NFL Draft will square off in Charlotte on Sunday. Cam Newton has been electric for the Panthers, though their record is just 2-5. Christian Ponder took over for the Vikings last week and made enough plays to allow them to hang around with the undefeated Packers. Most of the spotlight will be on the QBs, but this game will come down to which team can control the ground game. Carolina has a 3-headed monster that includes Newton to offset AP.

Prediction - Carolina 27 Minnesota 22

Jacksonville (+9.5) at Houston
The Texans regained the top spot in the AFC South this week after they beat down the Titans in Tennessee. Jacksonville had an impressive win of their own. Despite not scoring a TD, the Jags defense completely shut down the Ravens to give them a 12-7 win. Going on the road after a short week is never easy. Especially not for a 2-5 team visiting a division leader. The Texans should maintain their AFC South lead with a win over Jacksonville.

Prediction - Houston 31 Jacksonville 10

Miami (+10.5) at NY Giants
The Miami Dolphins remain one of the top candidates for the services of Andrew Luck. They lost their 6th straight game to begin the season, as they blew a 15-0 4th Quarter lead to Denver last week. This week they travel to the Meadowlands to face the Giants. The G-Men hold 1st place in the wide open NFC East. They have had a tendency to lose games like this in the past - just ask the Seahawks a couple weeks ago. It won't happen this time.

Prediction - NY Giants 28 Miami 14

New Orleans (-15.5) at St. Louis
Did anybody see the Saints' performance on Sunday night? If you didn't you missed a 62-7 drubbing of the winless Indianapolis Colts. Luckily for Saints fans, they get to face another winless team this week. The Rams welcome the Saints to St. Louis and have the very tough task of slowing this offense. It's another matchup versus a porous defense for the Saints.. I don't think they will put up 62, but they should exploit the Rams for what they are - are bad team.

Prediction - New Orleans 34 St. Louis 14

Indianapolis (+9.5) at Tennessee
It is pretty bad when Tennessee lost by 34 points last week and they are coming into this game playing better football than the 0-7 Colts. Indy has looked completely lifeless without Peyton Manning. If they continue playing this way, Manning could be tutoring Andrew Luck next year. The Colts have been awful on both sides of the ball. This should be the perfect opportunity for Chris Johnson to break out of his season-long slump and lead the Titans to victory.

Prediction - Tennessee 28 Indianapolis 19

Washington (+6.5) vs. Buffalo in Toronto
Washington and Buffalo head north of the border to square off in Canada this week, in what is considered a "home" game for the Bills. Buffalo had a bye week to rest up and get healthy for this game. Washington can't say the same. The 'Skins lost 2 of their biggest playmakers in RB Tim Hightower and TE Chris Cooley to season-ending injuries. Buffalo will add insult to injury and hand Washington their 3rd straight loss.

Prediction - Buffalo 21 Washington 13

Detroit (-3.5) at Denver
As their alma maters prepare to renew their rivalry this weekend, Matthew Stafford and Tim Tebow also look to renew theirs. Their NFL team may not be division rivals, but Stafford and Tebow certainly know each other from their college days. There aren't too many QBs in the league that are getting more publicity than Stafford this year, but Tebow certainly is now. Stafford was one of very few opposing QBs that beat Tebow in college, he will get it done in their first NFL face off as well.

Prediction - Detroit 24 Denver 14

New England (-3.5) at Pittsburgh
It is not every week that you see the Pittsburgh Steelers as home-field underdogs. That tends to be the case when New England rolls into the Steel City though. Tom Brady and the Patriots are one team that has dominated the Steelers in recent years. They will need to win again in order to maintain the lead for the AFC's best record. If Pittsburgh were to overcome their poor play versus New England they would gain the inside track to the AFC's top spot. I expect for the AFC Playoffs to go through Foxborough.

Prediction - New England 26 Pittsburgh 21

Cleveland (+9.5) at San Francisco
How have the 49ers dealt with all of the media attention being on their coach? We will find out this week when they welcome the Browns into town. Despite winning their last 4 games, the focus in San Francisco has been on Jim Harbaugh's post game handshakes instead of how well this team has been playing. The 49ers are great at running the ball and great at stopping the run. That is a tough combination for Cleveland to deal with. Unless Colt McCoy can sling the ball effectively, the 49ers will move to 6-1.

Prediction - San Francisco 21 Cleveland 14

Cincinnati (-3.5) at Seattle
Who could have seen this type of start for the Cincinnati Bengals? Cincy has nearly matched the win total I predicted they would have all season, and only 6 games in. They travel to the Pacific Northwest to Seattle this week. The Seahawks are coming off of an ugly 6-3 loss in Cleveland, in which the offense looked dreadful. Look for Cincy to employ a similar strategy to Cleveland and win with rushing the ball and a solid D.

Prediction - Cincinnati 20 Seattle 16

Dallas (+3.5) at Philadelphia
The Cowboys and Eagles renew one of the most bitter rivalries in the NFL in Philly on Sunday night. Neither team has gotten off to the type of start that they would have liked. Each has the talent to be Super Bowl contenders, but each has underperformed immensely. The loser of this game will be a long way away from title contention. The winner will be in the thick of things in the NFC East. The Eagles have has a week to prepare, but something tells me that they won't be ready. I'm taking the Cowboys.

Prediction - Dallas 24 Philadelphia 20

San Diego (-3.5) at Kansas City
This has suddenly become a very important game in the AFC West race. A week ago it looked as if the Chargers were clear cut favorites to win the division, and that if anyone would challenge them it would be Oakland. Now here we are, and the Cheifs will be in a 3-way tie for 1st with a win. San Diego can't afford to be in a close battle in this division. They need to separate themselves while they can, and they will.

Prediction - San Diego 28 Kansas City 21