Prisco's Week 8 Picks: 43-61-3 Season Ends With a Return to Straight-Up Bets

Stephen Prisco is dropping his reliance on point spreads for NFL Week 8 picks after a season-long record of 43-61-3 against the spread. The analyst, who writes for CBS Sports, announced on Tuesday that he will focus solely on winning games rather than covering the number. He cited a recent collapse where every underdog he selected lost, including both prime-time matchups the previous week. His straight-up record this season stands at 62-44-1.

The shift follows a rough stretch for Prisco's predictions. Last week, he went 8-6 on straight-up results but struggled with the point spread, finishing 6-7-1. The defeat included losses for his picks in Sunday and Monday night games. Prisco described his recent performance as "dog doodoo" and stated he is returning to a simpler approach to get back to a .500 winning percentage. He framed the change as a "turnaround time" to focus on one game at a time.

The first game of the week features the Carolina Panthers visiting the Green Bay Packers on Thursday at 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime. The Packers are favored by 3.5 points. Prisco noted that while Carolina allowed 258 rushing yards to the Buccaneers last week, Green Bay does not rely heavily on the run game. He projected a 31-24 victory for the Packers, citing Jordan Love's potential to exploit a defense that allows 27.7 points per game.

On Sunday, the Detroit Lions host the Minnesota Vikings at 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox. The Lions are favored by 3 points. This matchup will determine if the Vikings remain undefeated. Prisco predicted a 23-13 win for Detroit, arguing that Jared Goff's current form will overcome the Vikings' high-quality defense. He noted that while Minnesota limits scoring, Detroit's defense improved in the previous week, which should give them the edge in this contest.

Other notable picks include the Cleveland Steelers defeating the Browns 24-20 and the Jacksonville Jaguars beating the Indianapolis Colts 30-16. Prisco highlighted that the Colts have not won in Jacksonville since 2014. He also projected a 36-10 blowout for the Cincinnati Bengals over the Tennessee Titans, expecting Joe Burrow to continue his strong play. The New England Patriots are picked to beat the Miami Dolphins 28-14, with Drake Mayfield expected to perform well against a limited offense.

The week concludes on Monday night with the Chicago Bears visiting the Seattle Seahawks at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Seahawks are favored by 3 points. Prisco sees the Seattle defense, which recently shut down the Kansas City Chiefs, slowing down Caleb Williams. He forecasts a 24-17 win for Seattle, noting that the Bears' defense has improved but may not be enough to stop the Seahawks' balanced attack on the road.

All lines referenced in the analysis are via DraftKings, and all listed times are Eastern Time. Prisco's full slate of 14 picks covers every game on the Week 8 schedule. The analyst emphasized that his new strategy is a direct response to his poor record against the spread this season.