NFL Week 8 Vegas contest picks: Top spread selections from Las Vegas contest expert

It took seven weeks before the top-five consensus plays produced a positive result in both Circa Sports Million and the Westgate SuperContest. Circa Sports Million consensus plays posted a 4-1 in Week 7 and the SuperContest went 3-2. Combined on the season, the five most popular plays for both contests are now 27-42-1 (39%). While the tide may be beginning to turn, going against the majority selections is still quite the profitable strategy in one's own personal betting. Interestingly enough, the consensus plays combined to go 87-90-3 last season (49%). It feels like the natural manifestation over time is that we will trend ever closer to 50% this season too. All we can say for now is, "we'll see."

While Survivor players cruised to victory in the early window, they had their hearts in their throats in the afternoon as the Packers narrowly escaped with a win in Arizona and the Denver Broncos, miraculously, put up 33 points in the fourth quarter alone to beat the NY Giants. Favorites were 7-0 SUATS in the early games last Sunday. They dominated in prime time, too, as the 49ers, Lions and Seahawks went 3-0 SUATS on Sunday and Monday Night. In the end, only 204 entries were eliminated in Circa Survivor in Week 7, and nobody was sent home early in SuperContest Survivor or Circa Grandissimo. Heading into Week 8, 4,214 Circa Survivor entries remain.

It is food for thought however, when looking at the upcoming holidays. It is not the case in the $5K SuperContest Survivor, but it is very much a part of the equation in Circa Survivor and Circa Grandissimo, where Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day are stand alone weeks. There are a total of seven games being played on those two "weeks" and the Broncos, Chiefs, Lions and Packers make up six of the 14 teams involved. Detroit and Kansas City play on both holidays. Those four teams make up nearly 50% of the holiday field but many players in Circa Survivor that are still alive heading into Week 8, have already used these teams.

Out of 4,214 remaining entries, less than 1,400 still have the Broncos available. Just over 2,700 have the Chiefs available – and they figure to be a very popular pick this week as 12.5 favorites at home against the Commanders on Monday Night. Just 2,130 entries are yet to use the Lions and only 1,636 still have the Packers in pocket. A fascinating balancing act indeed.

I highly recommend checking out the Las Vegas Football Contest Show. It is really getting a great deal of traction lately. Keep in mind, we break down every game on the card from a number of different angles and perspectives, so this is not just limited to contest strategy but one can also garner useful information for betting or even Fantasy purposes.

So which teams have strong value on the spread for Week 8?... Join SportsLine right now to see who you should back in Week 8, all from Las Vegas contest expert Brady Kannon!