NFL Week 8: Chiefs favored over Packers as look-ahead lines emerge

If all of your NFL Week 7 picks are already in, or if you just like to do your homework and plan ahead, you're in luck. In the increasingly competitive industry, many books release futures lines so fans can get a jump on the upcoming slate. So here's an early look at some Week 8 NFL matchups and where the look-ahead spreads sit. Visit SportsLine to keep up with the current NFL odds. 

The game of the week should be the Packers visiting the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, which could be a preview of Super Bowl LIV. Things could change after the Packers face the Raiders and the Chiefs visit AFC West rival Denver on Thursday night with NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes hobbling around on a sore ankle, but the early spread is Kansas City -3 at home. The Chiefs are 4-2 after consecutive losses at home, and Aaron Rodgers has two MVPs of his own and has the Packers in first place at 5-1. 

The 49ers host the Panthers on Sunday afternoon, with San Francisco favored at -5. That could change if Carolina gets quarterback Cam Newton back from a foot injury after the bye week. But Kyle Allen is 4-0 as a starter and coach Ron Rivera isn't interested in rushing Newton back. The 49ers will get to tune up against the Redskins this week. 

Kirk Cousins gets a chance to face his former team when his Vikings host the Redskins on Thursday night Football. Minnesota will be coming off a trip to Detroit, and Cousins will want to prove he is worth the money, so the -12.5 spread favoring the Vikings doesn't seem out of line. 

The Bengals and Rams head to Wembley Stadium, with Los Angeles favored at -10.5, and the favorites are 16-10 in the 26 games played in London since the inception of the NFL International Series in 2007. 

The Bills are favored at -1.5 against the Eagles at home, but that could hinge on how Philadelphia fares against Dallas, while the Bills are expected to handle the Dolphins this week. 

In other games, the Seahawks are giving 3 points against the Falcons, the Bears are -4 against the Chargers and the Texans are favored by 6.5 against the Raiders. The Patriots, with the NFL's top defense and an ageless Tom Brady, are double-digit favorites at -10 against the Browns. 

If you want to get your plans in order or just get a feel for how the market is moving, check back here when we compare how the look-ahead lines are changing and we make our NFL picks.