Backup Quarterbacks the Key to NFL Week 8 Betting

Article ByKyle Garlett

October 26, 2023

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Posted in: US Sports Betting News, US Gambling News

In Week 7, we saw the San Francisco 49ers lose their second straight game, going from the best team in the NFL to one of the teams with the biggest questions. We also had one of the AFC favorites, the Buffalo Bills, lose to one of the worst teams in football, the New England Patriots.

The NFL has been called the best reality show on television, because just when you think you’ve got it figured out, everything changes.

One thing that never changes are the injuries that happen each season, and the need for a good backup quarterback. If you are an NFL bettor, you have suffered a bad beat at least once because of an injury-forced change at quarterback.

Sam Darnold to Start for San Francisco 49ers

Along with those two straight losses for the 49ers, they are losing players right and left. Deebo Samuel is going to miss another game this week, and the expectation is that quarterback Brock Purdy will also be out. He’s in concussion protocol, and because the Niners are on a six-day week, it’s highly unlikely that he will clear the protocol in time for Sunday’s game.

The point spread for the Cincinnati Bengals at 49ers opened at 5.5 points. But upon news of the Purdy injury, the spread at BetUS.com dropped to 3.5 points.

Both of these teams are in need of a win, with both of them having Super Bowl aspirations. The Bengals seemed to have survived the early-season injury to quarterback Joe Burrow, and they have won two straight. The 49ers are in the precarious position of having their own quarterback injury sending them to a possible third straight loss.

Will Levis to Make NFL Debut

The Tennessee Titans will be without starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill this week when they host the Atlanta Falcons, and second-round draft pick Will Levis will make his first NFL appearance. What we don’t know is if he will start, because head coach Mike Vrabel says he is going to split the snaps between Levis and second-year backup Malik Willis.

The last three wins for the Falcons have been by one point, two points, and three points, and for this road game, they are giving three points at Bovada.lv. The spread moved a full point when Vrabel announced the split-snaps plan, and it might move even more before kickoff on Sunday.

Gardner Minshew Has Been Good for Indianapolis Colts Bettors

If you have not discovered the joy of betting on Indianapolis Colts backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, go find a good NFL sportsbook right now.

As a starter this year, he has covered the spread in two of three weeks, and he has hit the Over twice. If you add in all games in which he has played significant time because of an injury suffered by starter Anthony Richardson, Minshew is 4-1 against the spread.

This week, he and the Colts are at home against the New Orleans Saints, and Bovada.lv is giving the home team a point. The Over/Under is 43.5, which the Colts have gone over in five of seven games.

P.J. Walker Makes Another Start for Cleveland

The Cleveland Browns are at the Seattle Seahawks, and getting 3.5 points from BetUS.com.

The man who has been cut 11 times in the four years of his NFL career has also made eight career starts, including five last year with the Carolina Panthers. He won his lone start this year, beating the 49ers. He also won last week in relief for the injured Deshaun Watson.

It’s been more than a year since Walker threw a touchdown pass, and with running back Jerome Ford out this week, that will need to change if the Browns have any chance in Seattle.

Other Games Featuring Backups

The New York Jets are starting Zach Wilson, the New York Giants have Tyrod Taylor, and in this battle of backup quarterbacks (and for New Jersey supremacy) Bovada.lv has the Jets as three-point favorites.

Undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent led the Chicago Bears to a big 30-12 win last week against the Las Vegas Raiders. He is starting again this week, as the Bears visit the Los Angeles Chargers, and Chicago is getting nine points.

Raiders rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell started in Week 4 at the Chargers, and played just OK in a 24-17 loss. This week, he is going to start again. But this time, he faces a good Detroit Lions team that is also wounded after last week’s loss. BetUS.com has Las Vegas as nine-point underdogs.