NFL Week 8 odds presented a tantalizing opportunity for bettors, especially with National Tight Ends Day recently celebrated. Many fans are now reflecting on the outcomes, and at FOX Sports, they are stepping in to analyze the betting landscape from a Tuesday perspective.
It’s no secret that sports enthusiasts love to place bets on parlays. The allure of wagering a small amount for the chance to win a substantial payout is akin to playing a lottery, or perhaps more fittingly, a mini-lottery.
However, it’s essential to recognize that parlays are often favored by bookmakers.
Imagine this scenario: a $10 bet on a series of bold predictions—such as the second tight end in NFL history to achieve 1,000 yards in his rookie season scoring first, the Bears’ leading rusher hitting the end zone first, the NFC’s Super Bowl contender from two seasons ago winning outright, an AFC Divisional round team covering a three-point spread, and a high-scoring matchup between last season’s passing leader and a former Heisman Trophy winner surpassing 46 points—could have yielded over $9,000 in profit.
In Week 8, this was indeed the case. With that in mind, let’s explore this week’s edition of …
Woulda Coulda Shoulda
Wouldn’t it have been thrilling to turn a mere $10 into approximately $9,000? The following five-team parlay, based on DraftKings Sportsbook’s NFL Week 8 odds, would have made that possible:
- Kyle Pitts +1100 to score the first touchdown in the Falcons-Buccaneers game
- D’Andre Swift +800 to score the first touchdown in the Bears-Commanders game
- Eagles moneyline +130 vs. Bengals
- Bills -3 (-110) vs. Seahawks
- Cardinals-Dolphins Over 46.5 total points (-110)
Given that Sunday was National Tight Ends Day, it was fitting to include a tight end in the first touchdown scorer predictions. Pitts delivered, finding the end zone just two minutes into the game during Atlanta’s 31-26 win against Tampa Bay.
The Bears-Commanders matchup turned into a kicking contest for nearly three quarters, with Washington leading 12-0, making it the most nerve-wracking part of this hypothetical five-leg parlay.
Then, Chicago’s running back Swift broke free for a 55-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. The outcome of that game is now well-known, but Swift secured the first touchdown.
In a closely watched game, the Philadelphia Eagles were seen as underdogs against Cincinnati. They not only met expectations but exceeded them, winning decisively with a score of 37-17.
Buffalo, also a popular pick as a 3-point favorite, demonstrated their strength with a commanding 31-10 victory over Seattle.
Miami, bolstered by the return of Tua Tagovailoa, aimed to revive its offense after five consecutive games scoring 15 points or fewer. Although the Dolphins lost 28-27 on a last-second field goal, the Over hit well before that moment.
When all bets were tallied, the odds stood at an impressive +90433, translating to approximately 904/1. So, a $10 investment on this five-leg parlay would have resulted in a profit of $9,043.30—don’t forget that extra 30 cents!
