Media by Associated Press – Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rondale Moore runs a pass route against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Week 8 of the NFL Season is underway as we close in on the halfway mark of the campaign. Let’s take a look at a 3-team parlay to pick for this weekend’s games.
Arizona +4
The Minnesota Vikings are coming off a bye week, but their advantage is minimized since their opponents are on a mini bye. The Arizona Cardinals played on Thursday last week and also got a jolt to their offense with the return of All-Pro wideout Deandre Hopkins. Both teams should be well rested for Sunday’s game in Minnesota, and both are coming off a win.
The Vikings are 5-1 and lead the NFC North by three games. They have won four straight games, but that winning streak has come against Detroit, New Orleans, Chicago, and Miami, who had a rookie third-string quarterback. Three of those teams scored at least 22 points on Minnesota, and the Vikings won the four games by a combined 22 points, with all decided by one possession.
Now the Vikings face Kyler Murray and the Cardinals. The only other time the season they have faced a mobile quarterback was in a Week 2 17-point loss at Philadelphia. Jalen Hurts carved them open for 333 passing yards, 57 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns.
Arizona scored 42 points last week, with the defense adding a pick-six. Murray threw to Hopkins 10 times for 103 yards and a touchdown, and Eno Benjamin ran for 92 yards and a touchdown, filling in for injured James Conner. Conner is likely out again this week with Benjamin and Keaontay Ingram running the ball while Hopkins, Zach Ertz, and Rondale Moore give Murray multiple weapons to throw to.
The Cardinals should be able to keep this game close, as they did against the Eagles and Rams. Look for Arizona +4 to start the parlay on Sunday.
NY Giants +3.5
The oddsmakers keep disrespecting the New York Giants, and the G-men keep on covering. Take them again this week at +3.5 on the road in Seattle. The Giants are 6-1 ATS and 6-1 SU with wins as underdogs over Baltimore, Carolina, Tennessee, Green Bay, and Jacksonville.
As the 6-1 Giants face the also surprising 4-3 Seattle Seahawks, this game is the only matchup of Week 8 where both teams have a winning record. Seattle is 4-3 ATS but 0-1 as the favorite, losing by four at home against Atlanta when they were -1 in Week 3.
Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley lead the Giants’ offense, and they have scored between 18 and 27 points in every game. The defense has only allowed more than 20 on one occasion, a 27-22 win over Green Bay in London.
Seattle’s offense has been hit or miss on the season with Geno Smith at quarterback. They have games with 48, 37, and 32 points but also have games with 7, 17, and 19. The Giants have been more consistent, at home and on the road, and should cover again on Sunday afternoon.
Buffalo -10.5
Very little has gone right for the Green Bay Packers this season, with their first losing streak under coach Matt LaFleur. With top wideout Allen Lazard likely out this week, things get harder for a struggling offense and Aaron Rodgers as they head to Buffalo. The Green Bay offense hasn’t scored more than 22 points in the losing streak, and they haven’t scored more than 27 in any game this season.
Meanwhile, Josh Allen and the Bills are a well-oiled machine on offense. They have topped 31 in three games this season, with 41 and 38 in their two home games. The Bills are also coming off a bye week, and the crowd should be insane for a Sunday Night game.
The Packers’ defense has struggled to control Bailey Zappe, Daniel Jones, Zach Wilson, and Taylor Heinecke over the last four weeks. Now they have to try and reign in Allen, who can beat them with his legs and his arm. Washington ran for 166 yards on the Packers while the Jets tallied 179 yards, so it’s not just the quarterbacks who have decimated Green Bay this season.
If no one steps up for the Packers on offense, they will have a hard time keeping up with Buffalo. Rodgers has been knocked down and sacked a lot this season, and the Bills will bring the pressure with a secondary looking for picks too. Take the Bills -10.5
Parlay Picks
Arizona +4 (-105)
NY Giants +3.5 (-110)
Buffalo -10.5 (-110)
Total Parlay: +611
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