NFL Week 8 odds movement is stingier than the swings we witnessed a week ago. With the greatest point spread affected by 2.5 total points, the weekend may have greater movement in store for us as injury news shakes out across the league from now until Sunday. Considering quarterback conundrums in a couple of spots along with some key questionable tags due to unveil playability, the window to take action on some of the best odds may be slim over the next day or so.
Each week in this article we’ll identify the greatest point spread movements spanning Monday through Friday to factor what caused them to occur and any edges that may be available before additional movement takes place heading into the weekend. Utilizing the FREE tools at OddsShopper, we’re able to recognize when the line movements transpired and solidify the best odds available to capitalize upon before the weekend movement is ushered in.
Let’s take a look at the largest point spread movements for NFL Week 8 beginning with an early matchup in London, England.
Week 8 NFL Betting Line Movement Today: Expert Betting Picks
Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars
Game Time: 9:30 a.m. ET, Wembley Stadium
Opening Line: JAC -4.5 (-105)
Current Line: JAC -2.5 (-110)
Since a hopeful 2-1 start, the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) have lost four straight and seek to rekindle some of the fire overseas against the Denver Broncos (2-5), who have endured an identical season to this point. The point spread opened last Sunday evening with the Jaguars as -4.5 favorites, moving one full point early Monday and regressing another point by Tuesday, where the line has remained the rest of the week. The movement towards Denver is satcheled with the biggest concern being the injury status of Russell Wilson, who missed Week 7 with a hamstring injury, along with 60% of the bets coming in on Jacksonville.
The sledding may be rough at times for Trevor Lawrence and the Jags’ offense against a Broncos defense allowing 173.1 passing yards allowed per game (second in NFL). However, since trading running back James Robinson to the New York Jets earlier this week, the continued emergence of Travis Etienne could be the difference maker for the Jags to get back into the win column. Though Wilson is again expected to play despite last week’s absence under the same premise, he may be hobbled on the hamstring as he tries to jumpstart a Denver passing offense with 219.1 passing yards per game (20th in NFL).
Broncos at Jaguars Lean
The Broncos have been in an offensive slump all season, now with a question mark at quarterback and a rotation of three running backs since Javonte Williams went down for the year. The Jaguars coughed up a win they led most of the game against the Giants last week, and led until the fourth quarter against the Colts the week prior. Though Denver’s defense can definitely keep them in this contest, Jacksonville is actually producing on offense by contrast (the Texans game aside). The Jaguars’ defense is also middle of the pack in rushing yards allowed (13th in NFL) and points allowed per game (T-10th in NFL), while Jacksonville is also 4-2 in London.
Since the line hasn’t budged since Tuesday, we know the betting public is awaiting the news on Wilson’s playing status. Grab the Jaguars on the 2.5 before the line moves back up if Wilson is confirmed out prior to Sunday, or include in a teaser to get the Jags at +1 or greater (up to +5).
New England Patriots at New York Jets
Game Time: 1:00 p.m. ET, MetLife Stadium
Opening Line: NE -1.0 (-110)
Current Line: NE -2.5 (-110)
The AFC East has a new look with the New England Patriots (3-4) suddenly drifting back to Earth as they head into MetLife Stadium to face their upstart division rival New York Jets (5-2). The point spread opened with the Patriots as one-point favorites on the road, moving up a half-point on Monday despite an upset loss at home to Chicago, and teetering back and forth between a point before settling with New England at -2.5. With 59% of the public bets on the Patriots, it’s likely the line movement stems from New England’s 12-game winning streak against the Jets, as well as the uncertainty in the Jets’ backfield since the season-ending injury to Breece Hall.
The Patriots are coming off an embarrassing 33-14 loss at home to Chicago on Monday Night Football, where a quarterback controversy became official as coach Bill Belichick benched Mac Jones in his first game back from injury following just one early interception and only six pass attempts. While Bailey Zappe finished out the game, it’s expected for Jones to draw the start in Week 8 after taking reportedly 90% of the snaps with the offensive starters at practice this week. New York will play their first game without their sensational rookie running back in Hall, as he went down with a torn ACL in last week’s win against the Broncos following an impressive start to the game and the season. The Jets have since acquired James Robinson in a trade with the Jaguars, and he is expected to split carries with Michael Carter against a Patriots defense allowing 136.7 rushing yards per game (25th in NFL).
Patriots at Jets Lean
Coming off impressive road wins against both Green Bay and Denver, the Jets return home as underdogs against a Patriots team struggling with their identity on offense. A 5-2 start and being dogs at home against their archrivals couldn’t be greater fuel to the fire for New York, while the defense has been the only consistency for New England. Despite the Patriots’ offense looking like they were getting it together upon reaching 3-3, the unraveling in Foxboro against one of the league’s worst teams suggests otherwise.
Although the Pats remain 2-1-1 against the spread on the road this season, covering three points against this Jets team is a big ask, especially given the circumstances on offense in the environment they’re heading into. Grab the Jets on the +2.5 points or tease it up to +3 for safety before the potential weekend reverse line movement.
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
Game Time: 1:00 p.m. ET, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Opening Line: ATL -6.5 (-110)
Current Line: ATL -4.0 (-110)
After a Tampa Bay loss on Thursday Night Football, suddenly the NFC South is up for grabs as the Carolina Panthers (2-5) visit the Atlanta Falcons (3-4) to determine the division’s leader for the time being. The point spread opened with the Falcons as -6.5 favorites last Sunday evening, moving two full points in Carolina’s favor in less than one day and an additional half-point in the Panthers’ direction on Thursday. As the biggest mover of Week 8 thus far and 50% of the public bets on each team, the spread shift likely comes from the belief that the Carolina defense can keep this close in a divisional matchup under the “nobody believes in us” narrative, along with a division up for grabs.
While Baker Mayfield is said to be available for Week 8, it’s PJ Walker getting the start once again at quarterback for Carolina. Coming off a two-touchdown performance against the Buccaneers, Walker faces a Falcons defense ranked 30th against quarterbacks, allowing 318.29 passing yards and 1.86 passing touchdowns per game. Atlanta will try to regain their offensive prowess after a 35-17 drubbing against Cincinnati on the road last week, though they’ve averaged 156.9 rushing yards per game (fifth in NFL) and 23.3 points per game (12th in NFL). The Falcons will face a Carolina defense allowing 120.9 rushing yards per game (20th in NFL) and 21.3 points per game.
Panthers at Falcons Lean
With a line dipping toward field goal territory and half of the public bets coming in on either team, the line becomes more intriguing considering the division at stake. The Falcons remain 3-0 at home against the spread and seeing this line dwindle for them against a Panthers team in rebuild mode is a further incentive. Though it’s a divisional contest and Carolina’s motivated after an improbable win against Tampa, the Falcons can score points on offense and run the ball down your throat while doing so. While the Falcons’ defense remains suspect at best, the home-field advantage should help with a crowd factoring against the Panthers’ offensive timing led by a backup quarterback along with several other backups starting on offense. Wait to see if the line moves any further toward Carolina and grab the Falcons on the points the moment reverse line movement rears its head (or simply tease it down to ATL -3).
