Everything to know for betting NFL Week 8: Sharp action, public betting splits and big bets

Week 8 of the NFL season has arrived, and it's time to get those bets in. 

We've compiled where the public is betting at BetMGM sportsbooks, along with some notable wagers, and asked around at several other books to find out where the sharp action has come in for this weekend's games.

[For all of our NFL betting content, be sure to check out our betting hub right here.]

Week 8 NFL best bets| Betting trends | Survivor picks

Week 8 odds

Sunday

1 p.m. ET

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (-7.5, 44)

Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons (-7.5, 44.5)

New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals (-6.5, 44.5)

Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots (-7, 40.5)

Buffalo Bills (-7, 46.5) at Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens (-6.5, 49.5)

San Francisco 49ers at Houston Texans (-2, 41.5)

4 p.m. ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3.5, 46.5) at New Orleans Saints

Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (-14, 47.5)

Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos (-3.5, 51)

Sunday Night Football

Green Bay Packers (-3, 45.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers

Monday

Washington Commanders at Kansas City Chiefs (-12.5, 48)

Bye-week teams: Lions, Raiders, L.A. Rams, Cardinals, Seahawks, Jaguars

Public betting splits

Here is where the betting public has landed on Week 8 games at BetMGM sportsbooks.

Five most-bet games (by total number of wagers)

1. Chicago Bears +6.5

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -4

3. San Francisco 49ers +1.5

4. Pittsburgh Steelers +3

5. Philadelphia Eagles -7.5

Five most-bet games (by total dollars wagered)

1. Chicago Bears +6.5

2. Pittsburgh Steelers +3

3. Denver Broncos -3.5

4. Kansas City Chiefs -12.5

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -4

Most-bet totals (by total number of wagers)

1. New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles Over 44

2. Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers Over 45.5

3. New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals Under 44.5

4. Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos Over 51

5. Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts Over 47.5

Most-bet underdogs to win (by total number of wagers)

1. Chicago Bears +230

2. San Francisco 49ers +105

3. New York Giants +310

4. Pittsburgh Steelers +140

5. Dallas Cowboys +150

From the bookmakers

"The Broncos have won four straight, and the Chiefs look like Super Bowl contenders once again. The recent success has bettors supporting both favorites to cover. The Bears facing Lamar Jackson in his return from injury and the Steelers at home are the two most popular underdogs in Week 8." — Christian Cipollini, BetMGM trading manager

Bears-Ravens

Thomas Gable, sportsbook director at The Borgata: "We are operating under the assumption that Lamar was more than likely to come back this week, so a good sign [that he practiced]. Only scored 13 points the last two games without him. We opened Baltimore -6, total of 49.5. We’re up to -6.5, total touched 50 and now back to 49.5. Pretty balanced action overall on the game."

Joey Feazel, head of NFL trading at Caesars Sportsbook: "We’re anticipating Lamar playing coming on. It briefly got up to 7. A little bit more Bears money coming in, which is surprising, but the Ravens haven’t given bettors anything to be excited for. I assume once it’s announced that Lamar is playing, that’ll flip the other way. Chicago is playing solidly. A little more two-way on the total, but I anticipate people coming in on the over. So far, it’s been one-way traffic on the Bears."

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Bills-Panthers

Gable: "Bills currently -7.5, total sitting 45.5. Relatively balanced action on the side and total. Not too much of a decision. Relatively lightly bet game and no real line movement either. Total has come down a bit from the opener of 47. Bills are in a lot of parlays."

Feazel: "Bills coming off a bye. Bryce Young doubtful. Bills certainly aren’t showing that they're the No. 1 team in the AFC the last few games. I think the problem everyone perceives with Buffalo is that they’re too reliant on Josh Allen. Seen very limited action on this game so far. I anticipate more Bills money to come in, especially [if Bryce Young] is out. Bettors tend to love to bet against the Panthers, we’ll see if that comes through. We’ll probably need the Panthers on Sunday."

Cowboys-Broncos

Gable: "We opened Broncos as 3-point home favorites. They’re up now to 3.5. Total has been bet up from 48 to 50.5. Now at 3.5. We are starting to see some Dallas money come in. Dallas looked good last week. I could see this going back and forth between 3 and 3.5 this week.

Feazel: "Broncos seem to be getting away with wins. I think their defense is going to be there, but at times the offense is stale. The Cowboys have the opposite problem; offense is explosive week in and week out, so far we’re seeing mostly Cowboys action here. This total opened 47.5, now up to 50.5. Anytime you’re scoring a bunch of TDs, that’s good for SGPs. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ll really need the Broncos in this spot, despite Denver being a better team as a whole. Denver is a team the sharp guys love. Rare spot where we’ll need the favorite to cover."

Packers-Steelers

Gable: "Early money came in on the over. Early betting has been pretty split on the side at Packers -3." 

Feazel: "Steelers have the slight rest advantage with mini-bye. Pretty two-way action here. Despite being perceived as an elite team, Green Bay's offense is struggling. A lot of good drives by the Cardinals against this D. Week in and week out, the Packers aren’t covering and that’s noticed on the public side. We’ll probably need the Steelers, but it won’t be as lopsided as the Lions-Packers Week 1 game."

Sharp action

It's always notable where respected bettors have landed on this week's games. While these prices may not currently be available at all sportsbooks, knowing where sharps have wagered can also be instructive for in-game wagering.

Yahoo Sports conversed with several bookmakers over the course of the week, and here is where some sharp action has been (and the numbers it came in at):

• Ravens -6.5

• Bengals -5.5, -6

• Browns +7.5

• Steelers +3

• Commanders +12.5

Big bets

We'll be keeping track of six-figure (and larger) Week 8 NFL bets from sportsbooks, as well as if they end up cashing.