'MNF' best bets: Look for these props to pop

The Week 8 NFL slate concludes with a "Monday Night Football" battle between the Detroit Lions and the Las Vegas Raiders. Is it the best prime-time matchup of the year? Not even close, but can we make it entertaining with some creative prop bets while we watch the action unfold? You know it.

Let's have some fun by targeting some plus-money props for "MNF" between the Lions and Raiders. 

A plus-money prop party for 'Monday Night Football'

Jakobi Meyers first touchdown scorer (+1500 DraftKings)

There's inherent value in the underdog when it comes to first touchdown scorer bets, so we're targeting the Raiders with our first TD pick. Meyers has been a touchdown machine in 2023 with five scores in six games played, and he leads Las Vegas in targets (nine), catches (six) and touchdowns (four) inside the 10-yard line. 

Lions defense anytime touchdown scorer (+550 FanDuel)

Jimmy Garoppolo is addicted to turning the ball over this year. The veteran quarterback has eight interceptions and a fumble in five games. He's turned the ball over at least once in every start this season, and he's going to have trouble protecting the ball with Aidan Hutchinson breathing down his neck all game. 

Lions to win by 1-6 points (+310 DK)

We think this is the most likely outcome of Monday night's matchup. In Garoppolo's five starts this season, four of them finished with a margin of six points or fewer. The Lions will be without running back David Montgomery and guard Jonah Jackson, and center Frank Ragnow is doubtful to suit up. Detroit will have a tough time blowing out the Raiders without its running game firing on all cylinders, so we'll take a chance on the Lions pulling out a close one. 

In the news ...

Bengals roar, Chiefs flop in Week 8 as AFC playoff race heats up — The race to the No. 1 seed in the AFC gets crazier and crazier every week. In Week 8, the Cincinnati Bengals knocked off the San Francisco 49ers, and the Kansas City Chiefs failed to score a touchdown in an inexplicable loss to the Denver Broncos. The Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars are all tied at the top of the AFC standings at 6-2. The Buffalo Bills are right behind at 5-3, and the Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets all sit at 4-3. Only seven teams can make the playoffs, but the Chiefs are still +220 favorites to win the conference. 

Kirk Cousins tears Achilles in win vs. Packers — Minnesota Vikings fans were enjoying their Week 8 NFL Sunday afternoon until Cousins went down awkwardly against the Green Bay Packers and hobbled to the sideline. After the game, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported in a tweet that Cousins tore his Achilles and will have an MRI Monday to confirm. The veteran quarterback has never missed a game in the NFL due to injury, but that streak is surely going to come to an end. Rookie Jaren Hall is the only other QB on the active roster right now, so the 4-4 Vikings are +1300 to win the NFC North.

2024 No. 1 recruit Cooper Flagg commits to Duke — The recruiting battle for Flagg, the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2024 and the early favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is over. Flagg was deciding between Duke and UConn in the end, and on Sunday, he officially picked the Blue Devils. The 6-foot-8 forward out of Montverde Academy will join Jon Scheyer's squad next season. Duke is +1100 to win the NCAA championship this year, and it will likely be the betting favorite in 2024.

Today's Bark Bets is written by Jack Dougherty