Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks, Qwest Field, Seattle, WA
Sunday, December 19, 2010, 4:05 pm EST, TV: FOX
Opening Line: Falcons -6.5
Current Line: Falcons -6
Opening Total: 45.5
Current Total: 45
Money Line: Falcons -255 / Seahawks +215
The Atlanta Falcons (11-2) will attempt to complete a sweep of three straight road games before returning home for a crucial divisional game against New Orleans when they visit the Seattle Seahawks (6-7) on Sunday. The Falcons (-6) have beaten Tampa Bay and Carolina on the road each of the last two weeks to push their winning streak to seven games, but they know they will have an opportunity to pick up another game on the Saints if they lose at Baltimore.
Atlanta has been perfect at home this season with a 6-0 record at the Georgia Dome and currently owns the best record in the NFC, which will secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs if the same scenario hold true after the final three weeks. The Falcons already beat New Orleans on the road earlier this season and does not want to overlook Seattle in this spot.
The Seahawks have been humbled following a 4-2 start, dropping five of their last seven games. Regardless, they still have an excellent opportunity to make the playoffs as current co-leaders of the NFC West. They are coming off a 40-21 loss at San Francisco last week, but the 49ers followed that up by losing 34-7 at San Diego on Thursday night.
Seattle’s main problem has been defense, as opponents are averaging 32.5 points in the last four games. The OVER has cashed in the team’s last six games, and division leaders Kansas City and the New York Giants have combined for 83 points in recent trips to Quest Field.
Wide receiver Mike Williams hopes to return for the Seahawks after missing the last three games with foot and ankle injuries. Williams leads the team with 52 catches for 654 yards and gives quarterback Matt Hasselbeck a huge weapon to target downfield.
Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan knows what having a valuable receiver can do, as Roddy White leads the NFL with 99 catches and 1,219 yards. White could come up big against a Seattle secondary that is ranked 30th in the league, giving up 266 yards per game through the air.
Ryan has also had a lot of help from running back Michael Turner, who has rushed for 708 yards and 10 touchdowns in the last seven games. Ryan has averaged 247.4 passing yards with 13 touchdowns and just four interceptions over that same period.
The Falcons are 6-1 against the spread during their winning streak and have seen the OVER go 5-1-1 during that stretch. However, they have lost four of the last five meetings with Seattle dating back to 2000.
Now that you have read this football betting preview featuring the Seahawks & Falcons, check out the NFL lines on this and all the games to compare the best odds at multiple sportsbooks.
