NFL Week 8 Predictions: Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets

Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets
Sunday, 10/26/14, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: New York -2.5
Current Betting Line: New York -3
Opening Total: 41
Current Total: 41.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The New York Jets have lost their last six games

Buffalo has alternated wins and losses over its last four contests, as it comes off a 17-16 victory over the Minnesota Vikings as 6.5-point home favorites last Sunday, while going UNDER the betting total for the sixth time in seven affairs. The Bills are trying to find their running game again, which is important to consider when making your Week 8 NFL predictions, as they sit 19th in the league after ranking second in that category in 2013. A big reason for the decline in that statistical category is the franchise playing two rookies on the offensive line and running back C.J. Spiller suffering a broken collarbone. Buffalo is 0-6 SUATS as road underdogs of three or fewer points the last two-plus seasons.

The Bills will now rely on backup runners Bryce Brown and Anthony Dixon to carry the load on the ground, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NFL betting odds, with Brown being the featured player due to averaging 4.6 yards per carry the previous two seasons as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Buffalo shouldn’t be overlooked in this matchup, as it possesses a winning record after seven games for the first time since the 2011 campaign.

New York has lost six games in a row since a season-opening victory against the Oakland Raiders, as it attempts to bounce back from a 27-25 defeat to the New England Patriots as 9.5-point road underdogs on Oct. 16. The Jets are hoping to build off their offensive performance from Week 7, as they gained a season-best 423 yards, with running back Chris Ivory getting the bulk of the carries and finishing with 107 yards on the ground. New York is 3-3 SU and 2-4 ATS off a loss against a division rival the last two-plus seasons.

The Jets liked what they saw from second-year signal-caller Geno Smith last time out, as he completed 20 of 34 passes for 226 yards with a touchdown and didn’t throw an interception for the first time in 2014. He’ll have a new target on the field at MetLife Stadium this afternoon, as the team acquired wide receiver Percy Harvin in a deal with the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 18.