Sports Betting Overview
The Atlanta Falcons have not cared whether it was home or on the road all season long. The Falcons are 2-1 at home and 3-2 on the road and it is currently riding a three-game winning streak. A few weeks ago, all NFC football fans were wondering what was wrong with the Falcons and would we ever see the Atlanta team that had such potential the past couple of years. The Atlanta defense has toughened up a little and now the Falcons trail the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South standings by one game. After this game, the Saints get its bye week. The Saints could either go into its bye with a commanding lead in the NFC South, or it could be watching the Falcons very closely to see if it will be a dogfight to week 17.
The Saints have had another one of those up and down seasons, and most of downs have come on the road. The bookie software shows the Saints with a 2-3 record on the road compared to a 4-0 record at home. The Saints know it has to start winning on the road if it wants to go deep into the playoffs. But the Saints are having all kinds of problems playing defense on the road. Opposing teams have been able to run and pass against a New Orleans defense that is normally pretty stalwart at home. The Saints need to figure out its inconsistencies to stand toe-to-toe with a much-improved Atlanta team.
Atlanta Falcons
The price per head services know that the Falcons are riding an impressive winning streak into this game, but not many betting experts are buying the notion that the Atlanta defense can stop the New Orleans offense. A bodog review of the Saints’ running game shows a dramatic improvement since the addition of rookie running back Mark Ingram. But even the chance that Ingram will not play in this game due to a leg injury has not changed people’s minds. The Falcons have had problems with effective passing games all season long, and the New Orleans Saints have one of the most effective passing games in all of football.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints seem to have problems putting pressure on the opposing quarterback when it plays on the road. The linebackers fall back in coverage more often on the road and leave the defensive line to put on pressure and stop the run almost by itself. When the Saints try to bring up the linebackers to help on the pass rush, it gets beat over the middle. The NFL scores from past Saints’ road games put a huge highlight on an issue that Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan and the Atlanta offense are hoping to exploit in week 10.
The Bottom Line
Both of these defenses are susceptible to the big play either on the ground or through the air. That brings this game down to a shoot out on offense, which the Saints would win. Matt Ryan and the Falcons can hang with the Saint’s offense for maybe a half, but by the second half Drew Brees and the Saints should be pulling away in this game.
Sports Betting News Pick: New Orleans Saints
