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Picks: With a good game from Ezekiel Elliott, the Dallas Cowboys will win their sixth in a row

Last Sunday, three teams were marked favorites by at least 12 points and two of them complied: Tampa Bay (-12.5 against Chicago) and Arizona (-17.5 against Houston). The Rams (-15 at home to Detroit) they fell short, and for this Week 8 there are four teams that start favored by 10 points or more.

Those lines are usually very treacherous and my recommendation will always be to stay away from them.

The Rams themselves are 14.5 favorites to beat the Texans, arguably one of the worst teams in the NFL, while the Bills appear -14 at home to the Miami Dolphins, who have lost six in a row.

I’m surprised the Chiefs, who haven’t played well, are -10 against the Giants on Monday Night. It’s true that Kansas City is 2-0 against the NFC East Division this season, but coach Andy Reid’s team is very erratic and Patrick Mahomes turned into an interception machine overnight.

Perhaps the ones he trusts the most are the Bengals, favorites by 10 points to beat the Jets.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Dallas (-2.5) and Minnesota

Recovering from a calf injury that even required him to wear an orthopedic boot, Dak Prescott appears poised to make a comeback on Sunday Night Football following the fiery Dallas Cowboys bye week.

Prescott and the Cowboys are awaited by Minnesota Vikings that no one should underestimate.

Minnesota is the fifth best offense in the league and sixth through the air. It is true that Trevon Diggs (NFL leader with seven interceptions) is playing at the All-Pro level, but the Vikings have enough wide receivers, and the list is headed by Justin Jefferson (41 receptions, 542 yards and 3 touchdowns), who surely he will be defended by Diggs for most of the match.

Kirk Cousins ​​also has Adam Thielen (37-393-5) and KJ Osborn (26-311-2), so the Dallas perimeter will face their biggest challenge since Week 1, when they dealt with Tom Brady and his collection of goals. in Tampa Bay.

In fact, Dallas’ defense will need a round game in Minneapolis, as the Vikings attack also includes Dalvin Cook in the backfield, who in Week 6 had a 140-yard rushing game and is looking for his third game in a row with over 160 combined yards against the Cowboys.

For the Minnesota defense the mission is even more complicated.

Hand in hand with Prescott, Dallas’ offense is the most powerful in the league averaging 470.2 yards and 34.2 points per game.

Ezekiel Elliott is averaging 86.8 yards per game, more than 20 (65.3) from what he did in 2020, a disappointing year for the Cowboys running back. In addition, Tony Pollard is an excellent complement to “Zeke” and gives Prescott an extra option in the air attack.

And since we are talking about the passing attack, the one in Dallas is simply spectacular with CeeDee Lamb (33 receptions, 497 yards, 4 touchdowns), Amari Cooper (30-373-4) and tight end Dalton Schultz (31-359-3) .

In the trenches one of the duels to follow is the one between the Cowboys tackle, Tyron Smith, against the end Danielle Hunter, leader of the Vikes with six sacks.

El pick: Minnesota has enough ammo to respond to Dallas’ scoring and so this could be a very entertaining game to close out Sunday. Prescott and company, however, are in a tough plan and to win this game they will need a good performance from Ezekiel Elliott. Cowboys 31-27 Vikings

SURE PICK

Los Angeles Rams (-14.5) en Houston

The top three draft picks and other players they will get in the trade for Deshaun Watson are a danger in the hands of Texans general management. Rams 41-21 Houston

UPSET

Philadelphia (-3.5) en Detroit

I’ll probably regret this pick all week. Probably not. Lions 27-24 Eagles

TWO MINUTE DRILL

Green Bay in Arizona (-6.5)

Too bad Aaron Rodgers won’t have two of his best wide receivers. Cardinals 28-20 Packers

Carolina at Atlanta (-3)

Four losses in a row for Carolina and Sam Darnold has looked worse each week. Falcons 29-20 Panthers

Miami at Buffalo (-14)

With Deshaun Watson this would be a very entertaining duel. With Tua? Well… Bills 31-19 Dolphins

San Francisco (-3.5) at Chicago

Five losses in a row for San Francisco? 49ers 24-21 Bears

Pittsburgh en Cleveland (-3.5)

The team of coach Mike Tomlin He can’t afford to go 0-2 in divisional games. Steelers 28-25 Browns

Tennessee (-1) en Indianapolis

If there is anyone who can get the foot of the Titans, those are the Colts at home. Tennessee 28-25 Indianapolis

Cincinnati (-10) en New York Jets

The Bengals look like legitimate contenders in the AFC; the Jets cling to being the same misfortune year after year. Bengals 38-17 Jets

New England en Los Angeles Chargers (-5.5)

New England’s three wins are against the Jets (2) and Texans. Chargers 27-17 Patriots

Jacksonville en Seattle (-3)

The Seahawks are 0-3 at home and haven’t won since the beginning of the month. It won’t be easy against Trevor Lawrence and the rested Jaguars. Seattle 23-20 Jacksonville

Washington en Denver (-3)

Two teams with similar problems: little stability in the quarterback position and a defense far from the expected level. Broncos 19-17 WFT

Tampa Bay (-5) in New Orleans

The Saints have won five in a row (regular season) in this rivalry, but this time Sean Payton’s team doesn’t seem up to the task. Bucs 28-17 Saints

New York Giants en Kansas City (-10)

Many won’t like this: Patrick Mahomes is part of the problem, not part of the solution. Chiefs 27-19 Giants

OVER UNDER

WFT vs. Denver UNDER 43.5

Dallas vs. Minnesota OVER 55

Bengals vs. Jets OVER 42

Last week: 9-4

In the season: 70-37

Ariel: 74-33

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