Patriots open as 7.5-point road favorites in Week 8

SportsLine’s computer model projects the Pittsburgh Steelers will cover a 3.5-point spread at home against the Cleveland Browns this Sunday. The simulation tool, which runs 10,000 iterations for each game, also predicts the Los Angeles Rams will cover a 7-point spread against the San Diego Chargers. The Rams’ game is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET.

The Week 8 NFL schedule features only domestic matchups, offering a break from international games. Several high-profile contests carry spreads that could influence playoff seeding, including the Baltimore Ravens versus the Buffalo Bills, the Minnesota Vikings versus the Detroit Lions, the Kansas City Chiefs versus the Denver Broncos, and the Chicago Bears versus the Seattle Seahawks.

The largest line on the board belongs to the New England Patriots, who are opening as 7.5-point road favorites against the Miami Dolphins. If the line holds, Boston becomes the third-biggest road favorite of the season. Miami is one of only two home underdogs in the league for this week.

Other notable spreads include the Cincinnati Bengals as 10-point favorites over the Tennessee Titans, the Jacksonville Jaguars as 7.5-point favorites over the Indianapolis Colts, and the Rams as 7-point favorites over the Chargers. The Chargers play in their home stadium but are listed as visitors for betting purposes. They are the only team in the league with a winless record against the spread.

The Steelers’ home dominance is a key factor in the model’s projection. Pittsburgh has won 22 consecutive home games against Cleveland, a streak that began in 2004. The Steelers are 3-0 against the spread at home this season, while the Browns are 2-2 on the road. Cleveland ranks 28th in scoring offense, while Pittsburgh has scored at least 30 points in its last two home games.

The Chargers have lost nine straight games, a losing streak that dates back to the previous season. Quarterback Justin Herbert has thrown 12 turnovers against six touchdowns during that run. Coach Jim Harbaugh’s team is also winless against the spread in those nine games. The Rams, by comparison, are 6-2 against the spread in non-conference games since 2025, the second-best record in the NFL.

The betting model has posted a 58-51 record on top-rated picks since 2024. It is up more than $5,000 for players betting $100 units on top-rated selections. The model has identified seven teams projected to win by double digits in Week 8. All updated lines for the week are now available for public betting.