NFL Survivor Pool Advice for Week 8: Odds, Picks & Predictions (2026)
For the third straight week, the top Moneyline favorite on the board (Texans) lost outright. But last week’s NFL survivor pool advice got through two of our safest picks (Rams and Cowboys), and two of our three risky plays (Vikings and Broncos) won outright.
This week looks like one of the toughest for survivor pools yet, with nine of the 14 games having spreads of 3.5 points or fewer. On a positive note, we’re advising you to use several teams that likely weren’t under consideration at any point this season.
Read on for our best NFL survivor pool advice for Week 8.
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NFL Survivor Pool Advice for Week 8: Picks & Predictions (2026)
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Here are the odds for the top 10 favorites to win their Week 8 matchups.
Week 8 NFL Moneyline Odds
| TEAM | ODDS |
| Cincinnati Bengals | -600 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | -400 |
| New England Patriots | -375 |
| Los Angeles Rams | -325 |
| Dallas Cowboys | -285 |
| Green Bay Packers | -210 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | -200 |
| Buffalo Bills | -190 |
| Washington Commanders | -190 |
| Detroit Lions | -175 |
Safest Picks
Cincinnati Bengals
If Cincinnati loses, it would be the third straight team to lose outright as the biggest favorite of the week, and it would be a gargantuan upset over a Titans team that has scored 10 or fewer points in three of its seven games.
The Bengals impressively outscored the Ravens 35-0 in the second half last week. They haven't started this well through the first six games (4-2) since the last time they made the Super Bowl in 2021.
Joe Burrow now has 11 games with four or more touchdown passes since that 2021 season (the most in the league). Tennessee's offense has looked better in back-to-back weeks, with 129 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Tony Pollard last week. But its defense is now the bigger concern after allowing a 53.6% rushing success rate to a Browns offense that entered the week with a bottom-five rate in that metric (34.2%).
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville snapped its three-game winning streak in its last game before a bye week. Its defense is also struggling, allowing 400 yards twice in the last three games. But I’m giving the Jaguars a pass for a loss to the Texans, as Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans is 16-5 in division games, the best record by a head coach in the NFL since 2023.
I don’t expect Jacksonville to drop a second straight division game to a Colts team that has lost three straight and is 2-12 in its last 14.
Dallas Cowboys
Many would classify Dallas as the team to avoid in survivor pools this week, as Arizona is responsible for two of the five upsets this season by teams with +350 Moneyline odds or longer. While both upsets came in a domed environment at SoFi Stadium, we may be overvaluing those wins against Chargers and Rams teams that are a combined 3-10.
Arizona's league-worst scoring defense (29.7 points per game) couldn't limit a struggling Denver offense. The Broncos still managed 30 points even though Bo Nix was just 1-for-7 passing on throws downfield.
The Cardinals should have no answer for the elite wide receiver duo of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. This is a smart spot to use the Cowboys, even off a short week. Most of their schedule down the stretch is littered with divisional games or games against the 49ers, Seahawks, Rams and Jaguars.
Risky Popular Plays
New England Patriots
The Dolphins are coming off their first win under new head coach Jeff Hafley - a 28-25 road win over the Jets. Miami was the more disciplined and physical team from the get-go. It jumped to a 14-0 lead (its first lead at any point this season) on two long drives that combined for 21 plays and chewed up almost 12 minutes of clock.
I understand that a win against the lowly Jets doesn't indicate that Miami is "back" by any means. But I'm avoiding New England simply because weird things tend to happen when it travels to Florida’s heat and humidity. The Dolphins have a winning record against the Patriots over the last 19 matchups (11-8), including winning four of the previous five at home.
New England is on a 16-game winning streak as favorites. But there are better spots to use the Patriots in survivor pools down the stretch, like its home rematch against Miami or in Week 16 against the Jets.
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay will be a popular pick against Carolina, who just allowed 40 points to a Tampa Bay team that had just 64 passing yards. While the Buccaneers had the second-best rushing output of any team this season in that win, Green Bay’s rushing attack isn’t built to exploit the Panthers’ weakness.
The Packers are undisciplined and have committed the most penalties in the league (65). They also have the most dropped passes by a wide margin (18).
If you haven’t used Green Bay in survivor pools yet, I’d much rather save them for a Week 15 home matchup against the Dolphins.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh has won three straight games after starting 2-2. Plenty of survivor pool contestants will want to use the Steelers against the Browns, not believing in Cleveland’s best seven-game start since 2020.
Yes, the Browns have played with fire, with Deshaun Watson leading a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime in all five wins. But Pittsburgh could be weary the week after playing in Paris, and I’m not doubting Cleveland’s hot start.
Contrarian Play to Beat a Large Pool
Washington Commanders
Survivor pool strategy picks are meant to be contrarian, not only to avoid the popular plays others use each week, but to save the more elite teams for later in the season when the pickings are much slimmer. Thus, backing a Washington team playing its first full game without Terry McLaurin (torn patellar tendon) and led by Jayden Daniels (0-7-1 in his last eight starts) is certainly an outside-the-box play.
Washington has the ultimate scheduling advantage coming off a bye week and facing an Eagles team that played on Monday night. The Commanders lost to Philadelphia by two points in Week 1 (they were a two-point conversion away from sending the game into overtime). But that game featured a healthy Jalen Hurts, and Washington still overcame allowing 5.4 yards per carry in that road contest.
Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.