Week 8 Betting Preview: Predictions for every matchup

Each week during the NFL season, theScore's Dane Belbeck will handicap every matchup and offer up a three-pack of picks.

Week 5 record: 7-8
Overall: 58-48

Houston Texans at Seattle Seahawks (-5.5)

Deshaun Watson has been a revelation in his rookie campaign, but the Legion of Boom are a whole different beast for the Texans' first-year quarterback. While the former Clemson star has put up some gaudy touchdown numbers, many of those scores have come in garbage time, and he's failed to top the 60 percent completion mark in the past two games. Look for a couple rookie mistakes to help Seattle get the big home win. Seahawks 24, Texans 14

Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints (-9)

Mitchell Trubisky has been the starter for three games and the Bears have won two, so clearly the quarterback of the future has arrived in Chicago, right? Not so fast. In Trubisky's two wins, he's combined to complete only 12 passes. That's not a typo, the Bears have actually won two straight games in which their quarterback completed a combined 12 passes. Chicago's defense and special teams have masked the offensive struggles, but the Saints will run the score up and get the big home win. Saints 31, Bears 10

Los Angeles Chargers (+7.5) at New England Patriots

After a disappointing 2-2 start, the Patriots have rattled off three straight wins to reclaim their place among the league's elite. The defense has cleaned up a rough start with three straight strong showings, but Philip Rivers has a plethora of weapons at his disposal. The key to beating Tom Brady in the past has been to pressure with the star pivot with a four-man rush, and the Melvin Ingram-Joey Bosa tandem is among the best in the league. This feels like a classic Rivers game where the Chargers have the ball down four points with 20 seconds left, needing to go the length of the field. Patriots 28, Chargers 24

Remaining matchups

Minnesota Vikings (-9.5) vs. Cleveland Browns

Deshone Kizer's reward for claiming the starter's job for the second straight game is to face Mike Zimmer's defense in England. The Vikings are among the last defense's you would want to see as a struggling quarterback and it's likely this one doesn't end well for Kizer and the Browns. Vikings 28, Browns 7

Atlanta Falcons (-4) at New York Jets

The move to bring in Steve Sarkisian as offensive coordinator looks to be a massive error as the Falcons have lost three in a row and failed to score 20 points in each game. The Jets may just be the recipe to get back on track. Falcons 24, Jets 14

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2)

The Bucs' defense was dreadful late against the Bills, but the Panthers showed last week that the offense is a serious question right now. Bucs 30, Panthers 21

San Francisco 49ers (+13) at Philadelphia Eagles

After losing by three points or less in each of the last five games, the 49ers' dam finally broke in a 30-point defeat by the Cowboys. San Francisco gets back to losing close this week in Philadelphia. Eagles 27, 49ers 20

Oakland Raiders (+2.5) at Buffalo Bills

Derek Carr appears rejuvenated following last week's win over the Chiefs and the league's 26th-ranked pass defense should have the quarterback excited for this one. Raiders 28, Bills 24

Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals (-10.5)

Expect Andy Dalton and A.J. Green to go wild on the league's second-worst passing defense. Bengals 30, Colts 13

Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins (+2)

After blasting the 49ers last week, the Cowboys roll into Washington full of confidence for the NFC East showdown. Look for the Redskins' run defense to limit Ezekiel Elliott and the home team to win a close one. Redskins 24, Cowboys 23

Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5) at Detroit Lions

Despite coming off a bye, the Lions remain a banged-up outfit, and will likely have problems keeping Le'Veon Bell under wraps. Steelers 27, Lions 20

Denver Broncos (+7.5) at Kansas City Chiefs

The Broncos have looked terrible the past two weeks, but a rivalry game against the Chiefs should get them fired up enough to make this a close one. Chiefs 21, Broncos 20

Byes: Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars

Picks summary
Seahawks -5.5 (Gold)
Saints -9 (Silver)
Chargers +7.5 (Bronze)
Vikings -9.5
Falcons -4
Buccaneers -2
49ers +13
Raiders +2.5
Bengals -10.5
Redskins +2
Steelers -2.5
Broncos +7.5

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