Los Angeles Chargers v New England Patriots
FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 29: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots evades a tackle from Adrian Phillips #31 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half at Gillette Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Home » Blog » NFL gambling: AFC favorites can’t afford letdown in Week 8

NFL gambling: AFC favorites can’t afford letdown in Week 8

Matt Verderame NFL

The AFC was supposed to be far weaker than the NFC in this years’ NFL gambling. The latter was expected to have a dozen good teams that would be threatening to find their way into the playoffs come the final few weeks of the season.

Well, that isn’t the case. The NFC has three very-good-to-great teams in the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams, while everybody else is just in the mix or completely out of the race. Meanwhile,  the AFC has a load of quality teams including the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers, to say nothing of the Baltimore Ravens and, yes, still the Cincinnati Bengals.

This weekend, some of the biggest favorites are AFC teams, specifically a trio that is trying to defend a divisional lead.

 

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New England is enjoying the biggest spread of the week, laying an absurd 13 points on the road against the Buffalo Bills on Monday night. Buffalo is coming off a brutal 37-5 thrashing at the hands of the lowly Indianapolis Colts, perhaps getting us know it isn’t in the same class as Tom Brady and Co.

The Patriots rarely lose when they shouldn’t, and this is an instance of having to go to Buffalo, not overlook the opponent and take care of business. With a win, New England would stay in one of the top two AFC seeds and remain atop the East.

Meanwhile, the largest spread of Sunday belongs to the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos. With the former laying 10 points at Arrowhead Stadium. This is the rematch from a contest we saw in Week 4, where the Broncos blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead as Patrick Mahomes led two touchdown drives in the final moments.

 

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This time, the Chiefs are at home and trying to remain the only one-loss team in the conference after having pounded the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night, 45-10. Denver will need plenty to go right to win this one, and if it does, the Chargers will close to within a half-game in the AFC West on their bye.

Finally, the Steelers are hosting the Cleveland Browns, laying eight points on the afternoon. This is also a divisional rematch, with the Browns and Steelers having tied at FirstEnergy Stadium back in Week 1. Now, it’s Baker Mayfield getting the start over Tyrod Taylor. Mayfield has been erratic, and he’s trying to keep Cleveland alive on the fringe of the playoff race, coming in at 2-4-1. Pittsburgh is hoping to win its third straight and move to 4-2-1, potentially extending its lead in the AFC North.

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