🏈 The NFL’s Two Extremes Have Something in Common
The Vikings are 6-0. The Chargers are 0-6. But here’s something they have in common: They’re the only two teams in the NFL with fewer than 10 offensive touchdowns.
Chargers (+6½) at Rams: Steve Makinen notes that Circa money is heavily tilted toward the winless Chargers. He expected the Rams to be closer to 9- or 10-point favorites. What does he make of the actual 6½-point spread?
» Steve Makinen’s eight NFL best bets
Vikings (+3½) at Lions: “A 6-0 team can never be called a bad team,” Wes Reynolds writes. But he has concerns about Minnesota’s defense, especially against Jared Goff and the blitz. Wes has plays on both this game and Chargers–Rams.
» Wes Reynolds’ six NFL best bets
More NFL Best Bets
Matt Youmans: Six picks
Zach Cohen: Best bets and player props
Dave Tuley: Takes on every game
Adam Burke: Player props | First-TD picks
Dustin Swedelson: Three props with OptaAI
John Hansen: 17 player props on video
🏈 Lamar Jackson Returns. But How Much of Him?
Lamar Jackson is expected back against Buffalo after an ankle injury, but Dr. David Chao warns that his mobility may be limited. That could affect both Baltimore’s offense and Jackson’s rushing production. VSiN’s BOLT has a player-prop recommendation for the matchup.
» See BOLT’s player-prop recommendations | Latest NFL injury report
SIC Picks is 22-7-1 (75%) on its 3-Star Pick of the Week. Get a free week with promo code VSIN (Premium weekly package).
Your Sunday NFL Betting Toolkit
Start with the NFL Week 8 Betting Hub for previews, picks and analysis. Check betting splits, matchup stats, power ratings and injury updates before finalizing your card.
📺 Your Sunday Starts With VSiN
9 a.m.–Noon ET: Pro Football Tailgate Show with Mitch Moss and Pauly Howard.
Noon–1 p.m. ET: Countdown to Kickoff with Stormy Buonantony and Jonathan Von Tobel.
Watch for Dr. David Chao and Steve Fezzik’s halftime injury reports throughout Sunday’s action.
🌧️ Weather Alert: Keep an Eye on Florida
I’m sure our VSiN crew will be keeping an eye on the weather today. All three NFL games in Florida could see rain.
Kevin Roth sees the greatest concern in Falcons–Buccaneers and Patriots–Dolphins, with scattered downpours possible. Colts–Jaguars could see showers, too. Winds aren’t expected to be strong enough to significantly affect play, but the rain bears watching for totals and props.
» Kevin Roth’s latest NFL weather forecasts
🏆 A Perfect Week Puts Alex White on Top
Alex White went 7-0 in the Circa Friday Football Invitational after going 6-1 last week. That’s 13-1 in two weeks, vaulting White into first place.
The Chargers +6½ against the Rams drew unanimous support from the four contestants who picked the game. Jason Jarvis and Jack Lenenberg made the Chargers their Best Bets; Tony Gordon and Chris Macero also backed them.
» Invitational standings and all the picks
🏈 Circa Million: A House Divided
The undefeated Vikings visit the favored Lions, and Circa Million contestants are divided: Lions -3½ drew 1,529 picks; Vikings +3½ drew 1,318. That’s 2,847 of 5,730 submitted cards—nearly half the field—on one side of this game.
The top five selections: Bills -3 (1,809), Steelers -3 (1,536), Lions -3½ (1,529), Broncos +1½ (1,490) and Vikings +3½ (1,318).
In the EdgeBoost Average Joe Contest, Bills -3 was the most popular NFL pick. » See the Average Joe betting splits
💰 A $25 Million Bengals Sweat
660 entries remain in Circa Survivor, chasing $25,017,000 winner take all. More than half—350 entries (53%)—are on Cincinnati against Tennessee. The next most popular: Washington (81), New England (55), Jacksonville (54), Dallas (49) and the Rams (37).
All three remaining Circa Grandissimo entries are also on the Bengals. A Cincinnati win sends all three forward in the $7.7 million contest. A loss eliminates the entire Grandissimo field and more than half of Survivor.
» See Survivor entries listed for sale
🏈 No. 2 Falls, No. 1 Survives
USC (+6) upset No. 2 Ohio State 30–18 in Los Angeles, shaking up the playoff picture. No. 1 Miami (-13) barely escaped North Carolina 38–35.
No. 5 Notre Dame (-31) beat Navy 35–13 but didn’t cover. No. 6 Utah (-7) rolled past Cincinnati 49–25, and No. 7 UCLA (-23) shut out Nevada 27–0.
Looking ahead: No. 1 Miami visits No. 5 Notre Dame in Week 10, with the Fighting Irish 3½-point home favorites. The nation’s top-ranked team is an underdog. That’s a line worth watching.
🏀 College Basketball Tips Off in Rome
Notre Dame and Villanova open the season Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET on FOX. Adam Burke sees Villanova as stronger on paper, but the Wildcats played at one of the slowest tempos in the country last season. Will the unusual setting change that?
» Adam Burke’s Notre Dame–Villanova preview and pick
Our College Basketball Betting Guide covers every conference, with individual team breakdowns for the top 10. » Get the betting guide
DONBEST: The College Basketball Rotation Book is $4.99. Get the Rotation Book.
🏁 Hamlin Sets the Pace at Martinsville
Denny Hamlin won the pole for Sunday’s Xfinity 500, and Steve Makinen has him comfortably atop his final projections. Martinsville’s half-mile paper-clip track gets an A- for handicap-ability; track position, brakes and bump-and-run passes are critical.
Steve’s top five: Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell and Joey Logano.
Underdogs worth considering (+1200 or longer): William Byron, Kyle Larson, Bell and Chase Briscoe.
Favorites to struggle: Bubba Wallace, Chris Buescher, Carson Hocevar and Shane van Gisbergen.
» NASCAR race previews
» Steve Makinen’s NASCAR Race Simulation
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