The best upset picks for Week 8 of the NFL season

Through seven weeks of the NFL season there has yet to be an underdog of greater than 7.5 points win a game. It is an oddity that certainly won’t last, but despite any major shockers there have still been plenty of upsets to reward the bettors who enjoy a good plus-odds reward.

As we look at the Week 8 schedule, here are five underdogs that could pull off an outright win.

Steelers vs. Browns

The Cleveland Browns have had a rough October, losing back to back games to Los Angeles and Arizona before squeaking by Denver in a game they played without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Mayfield is still out for this divisional matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the offensive skill players are not 100%. Running back Nick Chubb is expected to return after several weeks off, while receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. are both listed as questionable.

Perhaps of greater concern is the defense. The Browns have given up 7.3 yards per opponent passing attempt over the last three games, a weakness that was supposed to be a strength given the infusion of talent Cleveland brought in this past offseason.

If the offense can’t get going against a tough Steelers defensive front, the Browns may find themselves falling further behind in the AFC North division race.

Eagles vs. Lions

The Detroit Lions are 0-7 but it isn’t for lack of trying. Despite an absence of elite talent and injuries to many of their starters,  the team is playing hard under intense head coach Dan Campbell.

Last week the Lions had the Rams on the ropes, and earlier in the season they easily could have defeated the Baltimore Ravens. Despite the poor record, they are still 4-3 against the spread and now welcome a struggling Eagles team into Detroit. The Eagles are just 2-5 straight up, and Jalen Hurts is 29th in the league in completion percentage. The defense looked lost against the Raiders in Week 7.

The Lions are far from good, but neither are the Eagles.

Jaguars vs. Seahawks

Jacksonville finally got their first win of the season two weeks ago in London, and have now had two weeks of practice to target their second.

Now they travel just about as far for a game against the Seahawks, who are really struggling on both sides of the ball.

Without Russell Wilson, the Seahawks' offense is incapable of putting together sustained drives. They averaged just 4.8 yards per play against Pittsburgh, and 4.0 yards per play against New Orleans. Take away DK Metcalf’s 84-yard touchdown, and that comes down to just 2.5 yards per play.

Given recent play, the wrong team is favored in this one.

Cowboys vs. Vikings

The Dallas Cowboys are one of the better teams in the NFC this year but face a tough matchup for Sunday night football.

The Cowboys’ strength is their offense, but their weakness is the defensive line. They are just 27th in the league in sack percentage, and while rookie Micah Parsons offers some additional options coming off the edge, their inability to disrupt opposing quarterbacks will hurt them in this matchup.

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is one of the more efficient quarterbacks in the league with a clean pocket, and he will have ample opportunities to target his skilled weapons all over the field against a Cowboys defense that doesn’t look equipped to stop them all. Look for the home team to win a big matchup and keep their playoff hopes alive in a game that has greater implications for the Vikings than the Cowboys.

Buccaneers vs. Saints

The Saints looked poor on offense in the rain against Seattle, but with better conditions back home perhaps New Orleans will find the passing game they need to expose the Bucs’ depleted secondary.

The Bucs are just 1-5 ATS in the last six matchups between these teams, with the only straight-up loss being the playoff defeat that saw the Saints turn the ball over in the second half and blow a double-digit lead.

Beware the road favorite in a key divisional matchup.