There are 11 Sunday games in Week 8, and yet, only four of those games have point spreads smaller than six points. Below, I dive into who I think will win each of those contests, in a week that is shaping up to be very predictable, barring major upsets. Below are my top NFL Week 8 pick’em pool predictions.
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NFL Week 8 Pick’em Pool Predictions (2025)
San Francisco 49ers vs. Houston Texans
The Texans returned from their bye week, and the same offensive problems that had plagued them through the first three weeks still hampered them. After combining for 70 points against the lowly Titans and the beat-up Ravens, the Texans managed just 254 yards and 19 points against the Seahawks. Even worse, the defense forced four turnovers, and yet, they still gave up a season-high 27 points.
There are a lot of questions surrounding the 49ers, and we still don't know if it will be Mac Jones or Brock Purdy in this game. However, Christian McCaffrey already has 981 scrimmage yards this season. Though he didn't make an impact in the passing attack, George Kittle also returned for the 49ers last week. Even with the 49ers’ battered defense, I'm not sure the Texans have the offensive ability to score against a defense allowing just 19.7 points per game.
The only reason I'd give the Texans any chance in this game is because their season is on the line, and all four of their losses have come by eight or fewer points. However, Monday night's final score was not indicative of how the Texans played. They scored with just 2:04 remaining to make the game seem closer than it was.
Pick: San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints
The Buccaneers are only as good as Baker Mayfield. On Monday night, he missed numerous throws against a depleted Lions' secondary, as the Buccaneers suffered a 15-point loss at the hands of the Lions. While the Buccaneers certainly missed some opportunities, it felt like the Lions missed more, and this game could have been even more of a blowout than it was.
While most people will probably overlook the 1-6 Saints, the 4.5-point spread grabbed my attention. Surely, the Buccaneers should be favored by more than that, even if they're on the road. But the Saints have the 12th-best passing defense in the league, and they've lost only one game by more than 12 points this season, despite a pretty brutal schedule.
The Buccaneers continue to suffer major injuries, as Mike Evans is expected to miss most of, if not all of, the remainder of the season. Additionally, the status of Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving is unknown. The Saints are a pesky team that hangs around, entering a matchup against a team that has only won one game by more than three points. If the Buccaneers don't put the Saints away early, this could end up being the upset of the week.
Pick: New Orleans Saints
Dallas Cowboys vs. Denver Broncos
The Broncos just pulled off one of the most incredible comebacks in recent memory, but I'm shocked to see them favored in this game. Two weeks ago, the Broncos defeated the Jets 13-11. Then, they were shut out 19-0 through the first three quarters against the Giants. While their fourth-quarter explosion was exciting, this is not a team that has been convincing over the last three weeks, despite going 3-0 during that span.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys continue to light up the scoreboard, as they've now scored at least 27 points in four consecutive games. They dominated the Commanders last week, and while some will point to Jayden Daniels' injury, the Cowboys were already in control of the game when Daniels went down.
The Cowboys enter this week ranked second in passing yards and points per game. And though the Broncos' defense ranks highly in both of those categories, they just allowed Jaxson Dart to throw for 283 yards and three touchdowns. The Cowboys are going to score plenty in this game, and while Bo Nix may be able to keep up, the Cowboys simply look like the better team, while the Broncos have felt lucky over the last few weeks.
Pick: Dallas Cowboys
Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Since beating the Lions and Commanders in Weeks 1 and 2, the Packers have been confusing. They lost to the Browns, tied the Cowboys, then struggled quite a bit against both the Bengals and Cardinals. The Packers would be the No. 1 seed in the NFC if the season ended today, but they're not playing like one of the best teams in football.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are coming off a shocking loss at Cincinnati on Thursday Night Football. While that game certainly raised questions about the realness of the Steelers, playing a desperate divisional foe on the road in primetime is never easy.
With neither team having a clear advantage in any specific area, I think this game will come down to turnovers. While the Packers have just three giveaways this year, the Steelers have forced 10 turnovers already. Meanwhile, the Packers have only forced three turnovers, which does not bode well for them, as they take on a team with just five giveaways this season. Take the Steelers at home coming off a mini-bye, against a team that is 1-1-1 on the road.
Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers
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Phil Wood is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Phil, check out his archive and follow him @Phil_Wood_Jr.