NFL Week Eight predictions, odds and betting tips: Lawrence on a roll

Free American football tips, best bets and analysis for Week Eight of the 2021 NFL season.

Best bets

Under 43.5 points in Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets5pm Sunday
1pt 4-5 BoyleSports

D’Andre Swift over 45.5 receiving yards5pm Sunday
1pt 5-6 Betfair, Paddy Power

Damien Harris to score a touchdown8.05pm Sunday
1pt 11-8 bet365

Trevor Lawrence over 240.5 passing yards8.05pm Sunday
2pts 10-11 bet365

Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets

5pm Sunday

From the high of recording the franchise’s biggest-ever victory over divisional rivals Baltimore in Week Seven, the Bengals must now motivate themselves to face the lowly Jets in what looks like a classic letdown spot.

The Bengals are 10.5-point favourites to take care of a Jets side who had the worst offence in football before their first-choice quarterback went down injured. Zach Wilson will miss this game with a knee injury and Mike White, who has rarely graduated from the practice squad in his professional career, will operate under centre against Cincinnati.

It looks like being a stroll in the park for the Bengals and they certainly won’t need quarterback Joe Burrow and top receiver Ja’Marr Chase to repeat the career days they had a week ago. With the Jets averaging a league-low 13.2 points per game and the Bengals likely to hold back, expect the under to land for the seventh time in Cincinnati’s last nine games.

Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions

5pm Sunday

The Detroit Lions have had no luck this season, failing to win a game in seven attempts and regularly losing players to injury, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. The injuries have left quarterback Jared Goff with little to work with, except for explosive running back D’Andre Swift.

Swift is now not only the top running back on the team but also the number one pass-catcher, leading the Lions in receiving yards (391) after a career-high 96 yard haul in the gallant loss to the Rams. He led the team in targets in LA and has posted more than 50 receiving yards in four of his seven games this season.

His match-up this week is favourable against an Eagles side who have struggled to come to terms with running backs, giving up 348 receiving yards to opposition backs.

New England Patriots at Los Angeles Chargers

8.05pm Sunday

The Chargers were completely run over by the Baltimore Ravens in Week Seven and the last person they’ll want to see in LA this week is in-form Patriots running back Damien Harris.

Harris has gone over 100 rushing yards in back-to-back games the last two weeks, averaging 7.6 yards per carry in the annihilation of the New York Jets. Harris has got in the endzone three times in two outings, taking his tally for the season to five and has a good chance to burst through the Chargers defensive lines.

The Bolts have allowed nine touchdowns to running backs on the year and there should be opportunities for Harris to punch one in as part of an improving Patriots offence.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Seattle Seahawks

8.05pm Sunday

It’s been a rocky start to life in the NFL for this year’s number one draft pick Trevor Lawrence but with a first win under his belt, he could be ready to kick on. Lawrence has looked more comfortable in this Jaguars system in recent weeks, throwing for 319 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Miami Dolphins.

Following a bye week, the Jags head out west to face a Seattle team who are giving up over 414 yards per game, predominantly through the air. Even in driving rain in Monday’s loss to New Orleans, the Seahawks still allowed Saints quarterback Jameis Winston to rack up 222 passing yards.

Not only can Seattle not defend the pass, but they also haven’t been getting to the quarterback and Lawrence could have plenty of time to stack up the yards.

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