Free NFL betting tips: Week Eight including Pittsburgh Steelers, Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts

Recommended Bets

1pt Pittsburgh Steelers (+4.0) to beat the Baltimore Ravens at 5/6

1pt Las Vegas Raiders to beat the Cleveland Browns at 5/4

1pt Indianapolis Colts (-3.0) to beat the Detroit Lions at 10/11

1pt Tennessee Titans (-5.5) to beat the Cincinnati Bengals and Over 56.5 Total Match Points at 10/3

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Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens

• When: 18:00 GMT
• TV: Sky Sports NFL

The first of two underdogs I’m throwing my weight behind this weekend.

Early birds will have been overjoyed to see the Steelers given a 5.5 point advantage when the markets opened at the start of the week, and many will have been involved at that point. The line has slipped since though, and may even fall further as we approach kick-off time. However, Pittsburgh getting any kind of head-start here is nothing short of a god-send.

The Baltimore Ravens, coming fresh off a bye week, represent the undefeated Steelers’ toughest task of the season so far but I do believe Pittsburgh match up very well against the Ravens in this eagerly-anticipated AFC North clash.

Little needs to be said about Roethlisberger’s offence. Due to the current play of his receiving weapons, there isn’t a defence in the NFL that can stop the Steelers scoring points. So let’s focus on the other side of the ball.

Everyone knows the key to Baltmore’s success is the run game, and no team in the NFL runs a better scheme against the run than Pittsburgh. Last week, the T.J. Watt-led defence contained the electric Derrick Henry to 3.8 yards per carry and that experience will have done nothing but prepare the Steelers for the task that awaits them.

The first seven weeks of the campaign have given us every reason to believe that Pittsburgh will have the antidote to Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards and co. on the ground. Of course, this doesn’t take into account the talents of reigning MVP Lamar Jackson though, so by default there’s a train of thought that the talented quarterback could be the difference.

But let’s look at the history.

In his young career, Jackson has started just once against the Steelers. At first glance, the form looks good for the All-Pro passer, as the Ravens picked up an overtime victory at Heinz Field last October.

However, the score line only tells half the story. Those familiar with Pittsburgh’s 2019 run will know that the Steelers had Mason Rudolph and Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges’ at quarterback last season, meaning their offence was far from the dynamic outfit it is today.

On the day, Lamar Jackson had his worst game of the season. The Ravens QB threw three interceptions, took five sacks and had a fumble.

In other words, the Steelers were the only team in the NFL that successfully figured Lamar Jackson out. Mike Tomlin has a long memory and there is no way he’s thrown away that blueprint.

Best bet: Pittsburgh Steelers (+4.0) to beat the Baltimore Ravens at 5/6

Las Vegas Raiders @ Cleveland Browns

• When: 18:00 GMT
• TV: NFL Redzone on Sky Sports Mix

Although the Browns are currently favoured by 2.5 points in this one, I’m firmly on board with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Cleveland may be 5-2, but two of those wins were against hapless NFC East teams and the record also includes a pair of narrow victories over the Cincinatti Bengals that were both far too close for comfort. The Browns’ only real victory of merit came against Indianapolis in Week Five and even in that game, Cleveland’s offence was completely shut down in the second half. They were only spared their blushes by Philip Rivers imploding in trademark fashion.

The point is, when this Cleveland side is faced with a stiff task, they struggle. Just check their two heavy defeats to the Ravens and the Steelers for reference.

The Raiders are a different story though.

Victories over the NFC South pair of Carolina (with Christian McCaffrey starting) and New Orleans can now be taken as very solid form, and let’s not forget that it was Derek Carr and the Raiders that ended the Kansas City Chiefs’ unbeaten run.

I’m willing to scratch the recent Tampa Bay loss from my reckoning - as it’s doubtful anyone can stop the Buccaneers in the sort of mood they’re in – and stick my neck on the line that Las Vegas will give the Browns everything they can handle and more this Sunday.

When Derek Carr is allowed to take a game by the scruff of the neck like he did in the Kansas City upset, the Raiders are a challenge for anyone. On the basis that the Browns offence gave up 406 yards and three touchdowns to Joe Burrow last week, I’m going to bank on Carr guiding Las Vegas to victory here.

Best bet: Las Vegas Raiders to beat the Cleveland Browns at 5/4

Indianapolis Colts @ Detroit Lions

• When: 18:00 GMT
• TV: NFL Redzone on Sky Sports Mix

This one is relatively straight-forward in my eyes, with the money line only as slim as it is due to Matt Stafford’s last-minute heroics in Georgia last weekend.

Although the Lions have managed to stitch two consecutive wins together, the challenge of facing a fresh and healthy Colts team on Sunday is far removed from the more minor threats of Jacksonville and Atlanta in recent weeks.

The return of defensive general Darius Leonard is massive for Indianapolis and a bitter blow for a Lions team that depends on at least some production in the run game.

The trio of Swift, Peterson and Johnson have been effective for Detroit lately, but they have not faced anything like the front seven that Indy possess. The Colts ship just 88.3 rushing yards per game on average (3rd in the NFL) and this will undoubtedly force Stafford to try and win the game through the air.

The problem with that? Indianapolis also have the NFL’s second-best defence against the pass, and remarkably average under 200 yards per game.

All-in-all, it’s a perfect storm for the Colts and an ideal opportunity for Frank Reich’s team, coming off a bye week which they will have relished.

Unforced errors on the offensive side of the ball are the only thing that could slip Indianapolis up, but with an (almost) full contingent of talent back on the starting roster this week, the Colts should easily surpass the spread on route to taking down the Lions.

Best bet: Indianapolis Colts (-3) to beat the Detroit Lions at 10/11

Tennessee Titans @ Cincinnati Bengals

• When: 18:00 GMT
• TV: NFL Redzone on Sky Sports Mix

Two teams that love to score points, while conceding them by the dozen.

Tennessee, carrying just one loss so far, are the obvious favourites here as there’s no reason (at all) to suggest that the Bengals’ depleted defence will have answers for Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill. Cincinnati rank 28th in the NFL against the run and that will simply be music to Henry’s ears, who will be keen to get back on track with a triple-figure yardage game this weekend.

The Titans should have a field day on offence, but even though I’m anticipating a semi-comfortable win for the AFC South leaders, I don’t believe the Bengals will just stand aside with a whimper.

Cincinnati were merely seconds (and a miracle throw) away from a win over the Browns last Sunday and their offence has shown some promising signs. Well, I should re-phrase. Rookie quarterback Joe Burrow has shown some promising signs.

2020’s first-overall draft pick has a car crash of an offensive line in front of him and he’s consistently forced to run for his life. Despite this, Burrow is one of only four quarterbacks in the league to have put up over 2,000 yards so far this season and the Bengals have managed to score a commendable 23 points or more in all but two of their games this season.

With Tennessee’s defence hardly firing on all cylinders so far (and especially against the pass: 26th in the NFL) I think it’s safe to assume there will be plenty of points in a game where the Titans should improve their record to 6-1.

Best bet: Tennessee Titans (-5.5) to beat the Cincinnati Bengals and Over 56.5 Total Match Points at 10/3

Odds correct as of 1615 GMT (29/10/20)

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