NFL Week 8 Upset Picks (Sell High on Vikings, Trust Taylor Heinicke and Davis Mills Among Top Predictions)

The BetSided team hit a trio of upset picks in Week 7 of the 2022 season, with Peter Dewey (New York Giants), Donnavan Smoot (Seattle Seahawks) and Joe Summers (New York Jets) coming through for the team. 

That moves our season record to 16-20 (+7.61 units)! 

We’re back with more upset picks for Week 8, 

Best NFL Upset Picks for Week 8 of 2022 Season

 Arizona Cardinals (+165) at Minnesota Vikings 

The Minnesota Vikings are one of the two most fraudulent teams in the NFL, and I for one am tired of it. Four of their five wins have come against teams under .500 and the lone game that wasn’t came against the Miami Dolphins with a backup quarterback. The one time they faced a good team – the Philadelphia Eagles – they lost by three scores. 

With DeAndre Hopkins back, Kyler Murray will have a security blanket to throw to in order to bail him out. The Vikings are 32 in opponent yards per pass, which means this is a great day to back Hopkins. Minnesota also has the worst red zone defense in the league and is 27th in yards allowed per game. Sell high while you can. – Donnavan Smoot

This is a big time fade of the over-performing Minnesota Vikings. Heading into this week, they rank 30th in opponent yards per play and dead last in opponent yards per pass attempt. 

Even their offense, which was supposed to be one of the most explosive in the NFL, has been lacking, ranking only 16th in yards per play and 17th in third down conversion rate. 

Sure, their record is strong at 5-1, but they don't look like a 5-1 team when you dive into their numbers. The Cardinals are having struggles of their own this season, but if there's one time that Kyler Murray can carve apart with his arm, it's the Vikings. I'll back Arizona to pull off the upset in Week 8. – Iain MacMillan

It's about that time for Kirk Cousins' annual collapse, isn't it?

While the Vikings have four straight wins, the warning signs are glaring that the wheels may soon come off Minnesota's well-oiled vehicle.

In his last five contests, Cousins has just seven TDs to five interceptions. The Vikings rely on their rushing attack, but the Cardinals rank 12th in opponent yards per rush attempt (4.3).

DeAndre Hopkins' return boosts Arizona's offense significantly, while Minnesota ranks dead-last in opponent yards per pass attempt (7.9). As a result, I expect a monster game from Hopkins and Kyler Murray.

The biggest reason to back the Cardinals, though, is how amazing they are in this spot. They've woneight consecutive gamesas road underdogs, covering the spread by an obscene 17.69 points per game. Say what you will about Kliff Kingsbury, but he's the best road underdog coach going right now.

Back Arizona at huge odds to pick up a ninth straight win as road underdogs and take advantage of one-too-many mistakes by Cousins. -- Joe Summers

Washington Commanders (+127) at Indianapolis Colts

This is going to be the first start of Sam Ehlinger’s career, and I already don’t believe in the Indianapolis Colts’ offense after how they’ve played this season. 

Taylor Heinicke led the Washington Commanders to an upset win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 7, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he does it again in Week 8. Washington’s offense is actually filled with playmakers if the quarterback play is competent, and I shockingly give Ron Rivera’s squad the edge here in this matchup. – Peter Dewey

The Colts are going to Sam Ehlinger for this start so there's some unknown here, but it's hard not to look at the Commanders side, who looked rejuvenated on offense with Taylor Heinicke under center in a win against the Packers last week. 

Washington has the better receiving corps and will go against a soft Indianapolis secondary that is 21st in Dropback EPA and will have the ability to slow down Jonathan Taylor and the Indy rush game, top 10 in EPA/Rush.

It's a tall order to expect too much from Ehlinger in his first start, and the Commanders run defense gives me confidence they can stymie the Indy offense all together. – Reed Wallach

Houston Texans (+115) vs. Tennessee Titans

The Houston Texans fell apart, as they often do in the fourth quarter last week on the road to a well-rested Las Vegas Raiders team coming off a bye.

This week, I think they learn their lesson.

Houston hosts Tennessee this Sunday, and while the Titans sit atop an awful AFC South division, this is certainly not a team without plenty of flaws.

The Titans can't score in the fourth quarter, ranking dead-last in fourth quarter points this season despite having one of the most physical and talented running backs in the league in Derrick Henry. Their offensive line remains in shambles as well, ranking bottom 11 in the NFL according to PFF.

Ryan Tannehill is banged up with an ankle injury, and while rookie quarterback Malik Willis' rushing ability might actually make for a better matchup vs. the Texans, I expect Tennessee to have its starter go at less than 100%.

Meanwhile, Davis Mills is noticeably improving each week, and may be coming off his best game as a pro vs. the Raiders despite the loss.

I know Tannehill is 15-3 vs. the AFC South, but it's also been a lousy division for quite some time now. This Houston team has only played at home twice, and despite a 0-1-1 record ATS, their ATS +/u is +1.3.

This line is short for a reason. Go grab them. -- Ben Heisler

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.