Upset Picks for NFL Week 8, 2020

If you can hit on an underdog play, it’s a good week. I offered three NFL upset picks last week, and one delivered, with the Detroit Lions coming up big in the clutch.

It took a wild finish to get us there, to be sure. Not only did Todd Gurley make the weird decision of not falling short of the goal-line, but then Matthew Stafford found T.J. Hockenson as time expired to get the win.

One upset pick is better than none, and depending on what you bet on Detroit, week seven could have been a ton of fun.

Just make sure you’re using the best online sportsbooks before placing any bets. You can get started with this list of top NFL betting sites here.

More good times could follow, as there are some very interesting bargain buys this week. If you’re down for a little risk, read on for my top NFL upset picks for week 8.

The Lions made me look good last week – albeit at the very last second – so, why not go right back to the well?

Detroit is rarely easy to trust, but they’re a fun underdog at home, with a nice +140 price at BetOnline. The Lions are surging a bit, as they’re now 3-3, with two straight wins.

They have yet to win a home game in 2020, but they host the turnover-prone Philip Rivers. Indy is just 1-2 on the road this year, and while they’ve been on fire ever since a week one loss, it’s possible they’ll be without star linebacker Darius Leonard.

Indy just isn’t the same without him.

The Colts miss LB Darius Leonard. They had allowed one rushing TD over the first four weeks. Now they've allowed 4 rush TDs in the last 6 quarters without him.

— Michael Fabiano (@Michael_Fabiano) October 18, 2020

If so, the Lions new running game could control this one. Even if it doesn’t, of course, I like Detroit’s chances of creating a few turnovers. I’ll take the discount at home in a game they need to have.

The Steelers are all alone as the NFL’s only unbeaten team.

The last undefeated team in the NFL?

The Pittsburgh Steelers. pic.twitter.com/PTt4L4iPzi

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 26, 2020

That is not who I pegged as the last team to lose this year, but as long as the Steelers aren’t losing, I’m not sure we should be actively betting against them.

Pittsburgh does not come off as an elite team, but they’re built very well structurally. The Steelers have the best-run defense in football, they have more sacks than anyone else, and they push out a well-balanced offense.

Both sides of the ball get a stiff test on the road against the Ravens this week, but it’s not like Lamar Jackson and co. have looked exactly right in 2020.

If you feel more comfortable just picking the Steelers to stay in it, look at my notes for this game in my early week 8 NFL betting lines breakdown. That said, I love the value with them at +160 in a huge divisional clash.

More value can be had in Seattle this week, as the Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers.

Russell Wilson is still very much on his NFL MVP Tour, but it stalled a bit in an overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals this past week. Wilson and co. will be at home this week, and this last loss was their first of the year, but this week’s matchup is tougher on paper.

San Francisco has been decimated by injuries, but they’re quietly right in the thick of the NFC West race at 4-3. Jimmy Garoppolo is back to playing good football, and he has an amazing matchup in front of him. 

The Seahawks still make sense as the home favorites, but this is a really nice price for a Niners team that pretty much has to win here if they have any hopes of winning the division.

Lastly, let’s aim high with Dallas. I mean, you can somehow get crazier by betting on the Jets this week (+1150!!), but they’re not taking down the Chiefs. Right? Right.

Dallas is up against it, too, as they’re on the road against the hated Eagles. They aren’t even sure if they’ll have Andy Dalton on hand for this one.

This is the first concussion for Cowboys’ QB Andy Dalton, who is now in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Dalton has been durable throughout his career, but took a vicious blow Sunday and is now questionable for Sunday vs. the Eagles.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 26, 2020

It looks really bad for Big D; no doubt about it. However, the Eagles barely beat the Giants last week, and lost to the Washington Football Team in week one.

You can’t seriously look at this and say “no way does Philly lose”. There’s no guarantee here, so given the Cowboys’ talented offense – and how wide open the NFC East somehow still is – Dallas is super alluring with +265 odds.

My apologies if the Cowboys bet makes you a little sick, but the Eagles are one of the least trustworthy teams in the NFL.

Dallas has looked dreadful, but in this spot at +265, I’m all for it. I like the other week eight NFL upset picks you see here, too, and fully expect at least a couple of them to hit.

The goal is to get them all, and later in the week I may slide one into my favorite NFL parlay. For now, you can roll with these NFL upset picks, or you can play it a bit safe with my favorite week 8 NFL locks.

Whatever you do, I wish you luck. Thanks for stopping by, and happy betting!