New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
Monday, December 27, 2010, 8:30 pm EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Falcons -2
Current Line: Falcons -2.5
Opening Total: 47.5
Current Total: 49
Money Line: Falcons -140 / Saints +120
The Atlanta Falcons (12-2) return home for the first time in a month needing just one more victory there against the New Orleans Saints (10-4) to clinch the NFC South division title and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Falcons (-2.5) are the only unbeaten team at home in the NFC this season with a 6-0 record and bring an eight-game winning streak into this matchup with the defending Super Bowl champions on Monday Night Football.
Atlanta was supposed to be tested away from home in its last three games but won and covered all three to put the team in prime position to play at home throughout the postseason. New Orleans had that edge last year and parlayed it into a trip to the Super Bowl by beating Minnesota 31-28 in the NFC Championship. Now the Saints are trying to play spoiler while putting themselves into position to nab the #4 seed in the playoffs, which would allow them to visit the NFC West division winner in the first round.
The Falcons though are the real story here. They have proven the skeptics wrong and are 7-1 against the spread during their current winning streak. At home, they are averaging 28.2 points per game, and quarterback Matt Ryan is 19-1 all-time there following 15 straight wins.
Ryan has led arguably the most balanced offense in the NFL this season, whether it involves finding top receiver Roddy White (1,284 receiving yards and eight touchdowns) when needed or handing off to running back Michael Turner (1,256 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns). New Orleans knows that formula well since it helped win a Super Bowl title just last year.
Defensively, the Saints will need to figure out a way to contain Turner after surrendering a season-high 208 rushing yards to Baltimore in a 30-24 loss last week. Turner is averaging nearly 105 yards per game with five touchdowns in the last five games and totaled 114 in the first meeting back in Week 3, which resulted in a 27-24 overtime win for Atlanta. New Orleans had won six in a row before losing to the Ravens and has failed to cover three straight on the road.
The Falcons have covered the last three meetings with the Saints despite losing twice straight-up, and the OVER has cashed in five of the last six games between the teams. Atlanta is 4-2 ATS at home this year with the OVER going 3-1 in the past four at the Georgia Dome.
Now that you have read this Monday Night Football betting preview featuring the Falcons & Saints, check out the NFL odds on this game to make sure you get the best football lines by shopping at multiple sportsbooks.
