NFL Gridiron Guide Week 8 picks: Jets get win and cover against Bills

BILLS (4-3) AT JETS (1-6), 1 p.m.

Jets by 3; O/U: 40 1/2

TV: Ch. 2; Radio: ESPN (98.7)

Has there ever been a 1-6 team with more optimism and hope than the Jets? A big trade will do that. The team got Percy Harvin from Seattle a day after playing one of their best games of the season, albeit a loss to the Patriots. It's tough to gauge how much the talented wideout will be used this week. The Jets haven't covered at home this season. However, this feels like a great spot for them. The Bills have never won at MetLife Stadium and haven't been victorious in the swamps of Jersey since 2009. The Bills are 3-15 overall on the road vs. AFC East foes in their last 18 such games. The tide turns here for the Jets, who are 5-2 against the spread (ATS) in last seven AFC East games.

The pick: Jets

LIONS (5-2) vs. FALCONS (2-5), at London, 9:30 a.m.

Lions by 3 1/2; O/U: 46 1/2

TV: Ch. 5; Radio: WFAN (660, 101.9)

Finally I get to feel like a West Coast-football fan! When I roll out of bed Sunday morning, I'll get to watch this one. Falcons QB Matt Ryan, behind an O-line decimated by injuries, will need to wear his running shoes against one of the NFL's top defenses. Since Atlanta scored 56 points in a Week 3 win, it has lost four straight and scored a combined 68! It will be a London mauling. The pick: Lions

BEARS (3-4) at PATRIOTS (5-2), 1 p.m.

Patriots by 6; O/U: 50

Radio: WNYM (970)

Bears WR Brandon Marshall uttered the word "unacceptable" 17 times during last week's postgame rant. Was he looking at my picks? I agree, Brandon, 6-9 is unacceptable. Chicago is 3-1 ATS on the road, but only 6-14 ATS in last 20 regular-season games. I'll back the Pats, 8-3 ATS in their last 11 home games.

The pick: Patriots

SEAHAWKS (3-3) at PANTHERS (3-3-1), 1 p.m.

Seahawks by 5; O/U: 44 1/2

Will the real Seahawks please stand up? The same team that beat Green Bay and Denver lost at St. Louis. Visiting favorites are 15-12-2 this year. Can the defending champs really fall below .500?

The pick: Seahawks

RAVENS (5-2) at BENGALS (3-2-1), 1 p.m.

Ravens by 1; O/U: 46

I've faded the Ravens a lot, mostly because of the early-season turmoil. It didn't help that they were 12-18-2 ATS the previous two seasons. The Bengals, who are 11-0-1 overall in last 12 home games, have been hit by injury bug.

The pick: Ravens

RAMS (2-4) at CHIEFS (3-3), 1 p.m.

Chiefs by 7; O/U: 44

The NFL gives Missouri what MLB couldn't: a St. Louis-Kansas City matchup. K.C. is 3-8 ATS in last 11 home games. Take the points.

The pick: Rams

VIKINGS (2-5) at BUCS (1-5), 1 p.m.

Bucs by 2 1/2; O/U: 42

Tampa Bay struggles at home. Good spot for Teddy Bridgewater and Vikes to snap three-game skid.

The pick: Vikings

TEXANS (3-4) at TITANS (2-5), 1 p.m.

Texans by 3; O/U: 42

Rookie QB Zach Mettenberger will make his first NFL start for the Titans. Don't expect J.J. Watt to give him a warm welcome. The Titans' recent ATS home record (1-8-2) plus the Texans smarting from Monday night's loss add up to a Houston win.

The pick: Texans

DOLPHINS (3-3) at JAGUARS (1-6), 1 p.m.

Dolphins by 6; O/U: 42 1/2

Welcome to the winner's circle, Jacksonville & Blake Bortles. I'm not sure how many more times the Jags will hit the win column this season so I hope they enjoyed it. The Fins, coming off impressive win vs. Bears, are 3-1 ATS in last four games as favorites of six or fewer points.

The pick: Dolphins

EAGLES (5-1) at CARDINALS (5-1), 4:05 p.m.

Cardinals by 2 1/2; O/U: 48

TV: Ch. 5; Radio: WFAN (660, 101.9)

The Eagles are coming off a bye. So are the Cardinals. Wait, they played the Raiders last week, you say? Like I said, they had a bye. I couldn't resist. The Philly pass rush could make it a long day for Carson Palmer. Philly is 3-0 ATS as an underdog of four or fewer points under Chip Kelly. Works for me.

The pick: Eagles

COLTS (5-2) at STEELERS (4-3), 4:25 p.m.

Colts by 3; O/U: 49

TV: Ch. 2

Last Monday night in Pittsburgh was strange. I saw empty seats at a regular-season game in the Big Ketchup Bottle. I also heard (gasp!) the home fans boo early. Then the Steelers scored 21 points in 73 seconds. I think it will be the visiting Colts (five straight covers) scoring points in bunches this time.

The pick: Colts

RAIDERS (0-6) at BROWNS (3-3), 4:25 p.m.

Browns by 7; O/U: 43 1/2

Brownies are 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine games as favorites of 7 1/2 points or fewer. This shouldn't be a cupcake: Oakland has covered eight of its last 11 road games. Will 15-game Eastern Time Zone losing streak end? The pick: Raiders

SUNDAY NIGHT

PACKERS (5-2) at SAINTS (2-4), 8:30 p.m.

Saints by 1 1/2; O/U: 56

TV: Ch. 4; Radio: WFAN (660, 101.9)

Some had Super Bowl aspirations for the Saints (present company included). I'm treating this as the more-desperate-team-has-to-win-kind-of game. Saints (-8 turnover margin) are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 home games. The Packers (NFL-best +10 turnover margin) are 6-6 ATS in last 12 regular-season games. Tread softly.

The pick: Saints

MONDAY NIGHT

REDSKINS (2-5) at COWBOYS (6-1), 8:30 p.m.

Cowboys by 9.5; O/U: 50

TV: ESPN; Radio: WFAN (660, 101.9)

If you had Colt McCoy in Week 7 of the Washington QB contest, you won! So did the Redskins, as McCoy led them to a win last week. Now the former University of Texas star goes back to The Lone Star State against Dallas. How 'bout them Cowboys! Dallas was as high as a 90-to-1 long shot to win the Super Bowl this preseason. Now? Try 9-to-1. Wow! Dallas wins again, but my gut tells me Washington stays close enough.

The pick: Redskins

Bye week: Giants, 49ers

STAFF PICKS (against the spread; best bets in caps)

JOHN BOELL: 56-48-1, 3-4 best bets; Last week: 6-9

Jets Lions Patriots Seahawks Ravens Rams Vikings Texans Dolphins Eagles COLTS Raiders Saints Redskins

BOB GLAUBER: 50-54-1, 2-5; Last week: 7-8

Jets Lions PATRIOTS Seahawks Bengals Chiefs Bucs Texans Jaguars Cardinals Steelers Browns Packers Redskins

TOM ROCK: 54-50-1, 3-4; Last week: 8-7

JETS Lions Patriots Seahawks Ravens Chiefs Vikings Texans Dolphins Eagles Colts Raiders Packers Cowboys

KIMBERLEY A. MARTIN: 55-49-1, 2-5; Last week: 6-9

Jets Lions PATRIOTS Seahawks Ravens Rams Bucs Texans Jaguars Eagles Steelers Browns Packers Cowboys