NFL Week 7 Picks: Atlanta Falcons vs. Baltimore Ravens

Atlanta Falcons vs. Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, 10/19/14, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Baltimore -7
Current Betting Line: Baltimore -7
Opening Total: 49.5
Current Total: 49
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco will look to build off one of his best career performances

Atlanta has dropped three games in a row, including a 27-13 defeat to the Chicago Bears as three-point home favorites last week, while going UNDER the betting total for a second consecutive contest. The Falcons offense was held to a season-low 287 yards in that affair, which can’t be ignored when making your Week 7 NFL betting picks, as signal-caller Matt Ryan struggled in a major way. The former Boston College star completed just 51.4 percent of his passes, with his receivers mishandling seven throws. Atlanta is 1-8 SU and 4-5 ATS as underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 7-2 in that situation.

The Falcons also have found it hard to stop opponents recently, which is important to consider when looking over the NFL betting odds, as they surrendered 478 yards last week. Atlanta enters this NFC matchup giving up an average of 28.3 points and 419.0 yards per game. It’s also important to point out that Ryan & Co. have struggled to close games in the final 15 minutes—getting outscored by a 49-0 margin.

Baltimore returns home after splitting a pair of road games, as it comes off a 48-17 blowout victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as 3.5-point favorites, while going OVER the betting total for the third time in four contests. The Ravens and Falcons have split their four all-time meetings, with Sunday’s host picking up a 24-10 victory in its only such opportunity in 2010. Baltimore is 2-0 SUATS against NFC South opponents this season, with both games going above the total.

The Ravens have been a bit inconsistent offensively due to learning first-year offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak’s system, but quarterback Joe Flacco is coming off one of his best career performances—completing 72.4 percent of his passes and tossing five scores against the Buccaneers. Baltimore is trying to maintain balance on this side of the football with normal running back Ray Rice out of the league, with Justin Forsett rushing for 111 yards on 14 carries in Week 6.