2008 NFL Football Season Preview: Week 8
There’s no place like home for the holidays – even for Columbus Day. Home teams were 11-3 SU and 8-6 ATS last week in the NFL; home dogs won three of five games outright, led by the St. Louis Rams (+9) beating the Dallas Cowboys 34-14 and causing panic throughout the great state of Texas.
Dallas gets to return home to face Tampa Bay this Sunday, but we didn’t know as we went to press whether or not Tony Romo would play, so no betting odds were available. That’s fine for now – there are more games where that came from. Here are three of the most interesting matchups on the docket for Week 8.
St. Louis at New England
Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.
1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
50% chance of rain, 54 degrees, 10 mph winds SE
St. Louis: 2-4 SU, 2-4 ATS, Over 4-2
New England: 4-2 SU, 3-3 ATS, Under 3-2-1
The Rams were impressive on the ground against Dallas, gaining 180 yards and putting Steven Jackson in the end zone three times. But the Patriots were even better on Monday night against the Denver Broncos. Sammy Morris had 138 of New England’s 257 rushing yards in a 41-7 rout, leading the Pats to the pay window as 3-point faves.
St. Louis has the worst rush defense in the league in terms of efficiency – yes, even worse than Denver’s. New England’s defensive problems have been against the pass, and those problems are mounting. Safety Rodney Harrison is out for the year and possibly for good with what has been identified as a torn thigh muscle.
This is the first meeting between these two clubs since 2004, when New England buried the Rams 40-22 as 2-point road dogs. Many of the key players from both teams remain. However, it’s still Matt Cassell subbing for Tom Brady, and there’s a slight chance the Rams will be without Jackson (quad strain), which was enough to keep the odds off the board at press time.
Get all your NFL betting in the Bodog Sportsbook.
N.Y. Giants at Pittsburgh
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
4:15 p.m. ET, FOX
50% chance of rain, 50 degrees, light winds
New York: 5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS, Over 4-2
Pittsburgh: 5-1 SU, 3-3 ATS, Over 4-2
Don’t be fooled by these two 5-1 teams. The Giants have played better this year – according to the statheads at Football Outsiders, Big Blue is the best team in the league. Pittsburgh checks in at No. 4, but with a struggling offense. The Steel Curtain has picked up the slack by allowing just eight TDs in six games. New York has given up the same eight majors (plus two more field goals), while the Giants offense just happens to be the most efficient in the NFL, in both rushing and passing.
The Steelers are 3-point home favorites for Sunday’s matchup, with the juice at +105. 
The betting public seems to like the over on the total of 42 points; this could be typical public bias for the over, but the trends are very strong in this situation – including 42-15-2 in Pittsburgh’s last 15 home appearances.
Indianapolis at Tennessee
LP Field, Nashville
Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Clear, 50 degrees, light winds
Indianapolis: 3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS, Over 3-3
Tennessee: 6-0 SU, 6-0 ATS, Over 3-3
You’d have a hard time coming up with two teams more wildly different than the Colts and Titans. The Colts have been achingly inconsistent this year, failing to generate much scoring after having one of the best and most reliable offenses in the league for the past five seasons. And Tennessee is simply crushing everyone with defense and power running.
It starts on defense for the Titans. They lead the AFC with 10 interceptions and a takeaway/giveaway ratio of plus-6. Indy has just five picks and a plus-2 ratio. Then Tennessee brings rookie Chris Johnson (5.3 yards per carry) and short-yardage specialist LenDale White (eight TDs) to the table. The Colts have seen five different tailbacks reach the 100-yard mark this year – two of them from the same team, as both Fred Taylor (121 yards) and Maurice Jones-Drew (107) of the Jaguars hit the ton.
The Titans are a 4-point chalk with a total of 41.
