The Atlanta Falcons (+13) are heading southwest to battle the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. This NFC South matchup is scheduled to kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET and NBC will televise the action.
Atlanta Falcons +13 (-120) +500 ov 59
New Orleans Saints -13 (+100) -700 un 59
Odds Provided by BetDSI.eu
Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints Betting Preview
The Falcons head into this Thursday NFC game as a big dog here and are currently receiving 13 points. If they are wanting to play the moneyline, bettors would currently need to wager $800 in order to win $100 back on the Saints (-800). The Falcons are getting +500 moneyline odds. Should one side can find paydirt in the early stages it’ll create a nice in-game betting opportunity. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 60 points.
The opening line was originally -12 while the game’s total was initially pegged at 59, so it appears that sharp bettors are siding with both the Saints and the over.
The hapless Falcons are down 4.7 units so far and 3-7 against the spread (ATS). The team has recorded an Over-Under mark of 6-4. The surprising Saints are up 4.8 units this season. They’re 8-2 ATS and have an even O/U record of 5-5.
The Falcons have gone just 4-6 straight up (SU), including 2-1 SU against NFC South opponents. The Saints are 9-1 SU overall and 1-1 SU versus divisional foes.
New Orleans comes into this matchup on a two-game losing streak while Atlanta has won its last nine in a row. The Falcons fell to Dallas 22-19 in a Week 11 nailbiter where Matt Ryan completed 24-of-34 passes for 291 yards, as well as one TD and an interception. Tevin Coleman (58 rushing yards on eight attempts) led the ground attack while Julio Jones (six receptions, 118 yards, one TD) and Mohamed Sanu (four catches, 56 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
New Orleans enters this one having just earned a 48-7 win over Philadelphia last week. Drew Brees completed 22-of-30 passes for 363 yards and four touchdowns. Mark Ingram (103 yards on 16 rush attempts, two TDs) and Alvin Kamara (71 yards on 13 carries) mounted the running game while Tre’Quan Smith (10 receptions, 157 yards, one TD) and Michael Thomas (four catches, 92 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Atlanta has run the ball on 35.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while New Orleans has an overall rush percentage of 47.9 percent. The Falcons have run for 89 yards per game (including 96 per game versus South opponents) and have eight scores on the ground this year. The Saints are averaging 131 rushing yards per game (93 in conference) and have 19 total rush TDs.
If the results so far this season are any indication, then it appears the Saints should have an advantage when it comes to RB efficiency, as their backfield has produced 4.2 yards per carry while the defense has allowed 3.7 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Falcons have registered 4.1 yards per carry while allowing 5.1 YPC to opponents.
The Falcons offense has logged 333 yards per game in the air overall (334 per game against conference opposition) and has 22 passing scores so far. The Saints have recorded 303 pass yards per contest (417.5 against NFC foes) and have 25 total pass TDs.
Atlanta has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 121 yards and throw for 297 yards per game. The New Orleans D has allowed 295.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 77.9 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Falcons have given up an ANY/A of 7.33 to opposing QBs, while the Saints are yielding an ANY/A of 7.43.
Offensively, Ryan has already amassed 2,976 passing yards this season, and has connected on 237-of-335 attempts with 20 scores through the air and only four interceptions. He’s got an 8.43 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 6.59 over the last two outings.
Drew Brees has completed 235-of-309 passes for 2,699 yards, 22 TDs and one INT for New Orleans. His ANY/A sits at 9.51 for the year and 13.96 over his past two outings.
RELATED: Week 12 NFL Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Betting Pick: Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints
SU Winner – Saints, ATS Winner – Falcons, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
New Orleans has lost seven fumbles this season while Atlanta has lost four.
The New Orleans defense has sacked opposing QBs 24 times this season. Atlanta has recorded 19 sacks.
Atlanta has averaged 5.0 yards per carry across its last three games and 4.1 over its last two.
New Orleans has averaged 4.7 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.0 over its past two.
Over its last three games, New Orleans is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Atlanta’s previous game was 50. The under cashed in the team’s 22-19 defeat to Dallas.
In its last three matchups, Atlanta is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for New Orleans’ last game was 56.5. The under cashed in the 48-7 win over Philadelphia.
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