NFL picks against the spread 2017, Week 8: Eyeing the underdogs

How much football is too much football? The answer is a like a Tootsie Pop — we don’t really know. We’ll know it when we get there, and we’re there. We’ve got Thursday night games, Monday night games, Sunday night games, and in certain parts of the season, Saturday games.

The absolute worst of the bunch though are the 9:30 a.m. ET games that the NFL is sticking in the UK. I don’t care so much about the league tapping into the European market. That’s fine. And it was relatively unobtrusive last week when the Rams and Cardinals played a game overseas that slotted into the usual 1 p.m. ET time slot.

But bright and early Sunday morning? And a Sunday morning game featuring the Vikings and the damn Browns? There is absolutely no reason to get up early to watch that game. Even if you’re a fan of one of those two teams -- and if you’re a Browns fan, we do feel for you — you watch that game, maybe a little bit from the 1 p.m. games and that’s it.

That’s enough. More than enough.

I enjoy football quite a lot, but the NFL from 9:30 a.m. to Midnight on a Sunday is just too much. NOTHING is that entertaining for 14 hours.

Then you’ve got to do it again Monday night. And before you know it, holy shit, it’s Thursday before you haven’t even had a chance to think about your fantasy lineup.

Throw in trash people like Texans owner Bob McNair, who makes news because he thinks of players — players, you know, the people we actually watch these games for 14 hours a day to see — as inmates, and we’re getting force-fed the NFL seven days a week, 52 weeks out of the year.

Hanging around for the gambling might be the best way we’ve got left to actually enjoy the product. Games can be played whenever. Hell, you don’t even have to watch them, just check the scores, keep up with the headlines throughout the week. Collect your money. (Or, if you’re relying exclusively on my advice, breaking even!)

Okay, enough, let’s get to the spreads and picks. Home teams are in all caps, and the odds come to us via OddsShark.

Vikings (-10) over BROWNS

The Browns have covered the spread in two of their games this year. I don’t know how. Even with that, don’t bet on the Browns. If you do bet on the Browns, you deserve to lose your money.

EAGLES (-12.5) over 49ers

SAINTS (-9.5) over Bears

Cowboys (-2) over WASHINGTON

Steelers (-2.5) over LIONS

BENGALS (-10.5) over Colts

I was tempted to give the Colts some love with this pick. But it’s the Colts. Not that the Bengals are exactly a formidable team these days, but this is the Colts we’re talking about.

SEAHAWKS (-6.5) over Texans

So this game is fraught with all kinds of narrative beyond just what should be a pretty good game. So, yeah. Texans players are pissed off. They should be. I don’t know how that will impact their game, but I’d bet it’s going to be on their minds.

All that aside, the Seahawks are a tough out at home. If Houston had J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus, the Texans would be good underdogs picks just because of the matchup against Seattle’s terrible offensive line.

Seattle’s defense is playing really well right now, and that’s going to be difficult for this Texans offense to overcome.

CHIEFS (-7.5) over Broncos

I don’t think this one is as much of a sure thing as it seems. The Broncos’ problems are on offense. I think they can find a way to make it work because they have to. They can’t afford to lose three in a row. Neither can the Chiefs.

Panthers (+1) over BUCCANEERS

JETS (+6) over Falcons

Julio Jones defended Steve Sarkisian this week. Give that man some credit for taking the high road, being a bigger man. Sure, I would’ve ripped Sark because he stinks. Anyone familiar with his college resume could’ve told you that.

Worse, the Falcons seem like they’re on the verge of unraveling. They look like a team that’s completely lost its confidence right now after laying an egg against the Patriots last week.

Maybe they just need a new perspective on those 28-3 jokes. Like, hey, at least it’s a reminder that this offense could once score 28 points in a game, something they’ve only managed to do twice since the Super Bowl.

Chargers (+7.5) over PATRIOTS

This is where I must remind you that I’m picking the Chargers to cover the spread, not win outright. New England’s offense has been having trouble protecting Tom Brady, who’s actually doing some of his best work in years. But the dynamic duo of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram can really get after it. To me, that’s a big factor in giving the Chargers some love this week.

I also like to think that San Diego’s Los Angeles’ offense can do some damage against a struggling Patriots defense that just lost Dont’a Hightower.

Then again, it’s the Chargers playing a 1 p.m. game on the East Coast, so maybe I’m way off here.

Raiders (+2.5) over BILLS

I had actually picked the Bills to win this one outright, but that was before they traded one of their best defensive players, Marcell Dareus. Of course, he hasn’t been a huge factor for the Bills defense this year. But, all things being equal, the Raiders have no excuse for not covering this week.