NFL Week 8 gets under way in the early hours of Friday morning (01:15) when the Buffalo Bills host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We’ve taken a look at this one and given you our betting picks. 

The Buffalo Bills have been one of the most frustrating teams in this years NFL so far, with a 4-3 record and have followed dominant looking wins over the Dolphins with bad losses to the Jags and Patriots. Josh Allen has struggled to get his usual explosive passing and rushing style going and their usual excellent defense has been hit by severely hampering injuries.

Meanwhile a Bucs side that was expected to struggle this year are a .500 team under new QB Baker Mayfield but have shown real signs of fragility themselves over the last few weeks. Tampa Bay are averaging just 277 yards over their last four games, scoring a measly combined 56 points.

We’re into the mid-season now and both of these sides need to think about winning this one at Bills Stadium, if they are hoping to secure a playoff spot in January.

Team news

Tampa Bay are sweating on the fitness of QB Baker Mayfield who was rested on Monday following a knee injury. However, heading into Thursday Night Football he said it was nothing too bad and would just be pain tolerance and move on.

The Bucs have five more players listed as questionable including WR Chris Godwin and DL Vita Vea.

As for the Bills, they also had five players who either didn’t participate in practice or were limited, with the chief concern over Von Miller.

Match odds

The Buffalo Bills come into this one as big favourites and are 1/4 on the moneyline as we speak. The Buccaneers are as big as 16/5 and are a +9.5 favourite against the spread at 10/11. Total points is set at a 41.5 line, with both U/O at 10/11.

Buccaneers +8.5 Hcp – 20/23

I just can’t get behind Buffalo with any degree of confidence this season and while I expect them to win at home, I don’t think this will be a comprehensive victory.

The Bills have really struggled in the first half of games and I expect Mayfield & Co. to come out firing here, with him targeting WR’s Chris Godwin and Mike Evans with regularity.

I predict Tampa to take the lead and the Bills to win a close run thing late on.

Stefon Diggs +99.5 Yards and to score a TD – 11/4

With Allen struggling to get going offensively, star receiver Stefon Diggs has been more important than ever this season.

The 29-year-old is averaging almost 97 yards per game and has passed the 100+ receiving yards mark on five occasions so far.

This line would have cleared in three of Diggs games thus far, making the 11/4 look excellent value.