Prisco Abandons Spread After 43-61 Slump, Calls Lions Upset of Unbeaten Vikings
Dan Prisco returns to straight-up predictions after a rough spread stretch, favoring Detroit over Minnesota and Green Bay over Carolina.
By Marco Kapoor ·
CBS Sports NFL analyst Dan Prisco has shifted his betting strategy for Week 8 of the 2026 season. After a disappointing week against the spread, Prisco is abandoning his focus on point spreads and returning to straight-up game predictions. His Week 8 slate includes 14 games, with specific score projections for each matchup.
Prisco's recent performance has been mixed. He finished the previous week 8-6 straight up but struggled against the spread with a 6-7-1 record. His season-long against-the-spread record stands at 43-61-3, while his straight-up record is 62-44-1. Prisco noted that his previous attempt at picking underdogs resulted in five straight losses against the spread, including both prime-time games the prior Sunday and Monday.
In his Week 8 analysis, Prisco selects the Green Bay Packers to defeat the Carolina Panthers 31-24 on Thursday, October 29, at 8:15 p.m. ET. He argues that the Panthers' rushing defense, which allowed 258 yards to Tampa Bay, will struggle against Jordan Love and Josh Jacobs. The Packers are favored by 3.5 points in this matchup, which is airing on Amazon Prime.
The most high-profile selection on the slate is the Detroit Lions taking down the undefeated Minnesota Vikings. Prisco predicts a 23-13 Lions victory in Detroit on Sunday, October 25, at 1 p.m. ET. He cites Jared Goff's current form and Detroit's improved defense as key factors against a Minnesota offense he views as limited. The Lions are favored by 3 points.
Other key picks include the Buffalo Bills beating the Baltimore Ravens 35-30, with Prisco expecting a shootout due to defensive vulnerabilities on both sides. He also selects the Cincinnati Bengals to crush the Tennessee Titans 36-10, citing Joe Burrow's recent play. The Cleveland Steelers are picked to beat the Cleveland Browns 24-20 in the AFC North divisional clash.
Prisco also favors the Jacksonville Jaguars over the Indianapolis Colts 30-16, noting the Colts have not won in Jacksonville since 2014. In Los Angeles, he picks the Rams to beat the Chargers 23-20, while in the NFC South, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are selected to beat the Atlanta Falcons 23-17. The New England Patriots are favored to beat the Miami Dolphins 28-14, and the Philadelphia Eagles are predicted to lose to the Washington Commanders 28-16.
The slate concludes with Monday Night Football, where Prisco picks the Seattle Seahawks to beat the Chicago Bears 24-17 on Monday, October 26, at 8:15 p.m. ET. He points to Seattle's defensive performance against the Kansas City Chiefs and their improved running game as reasons for the home victory. All odds for these games are sourced from DraftKings.
