The Atlanta Falcons will play the San Francisco 49ers in Week 15 in this important NFC matchup. It's time to continue our NFL odds series with a Falcons-49ers prediction and pick.

The Falcons and 49ers will play Sunday will a lot at stake. The winner of this game will have significantly improved their odds as an NFC Wild Card spot, while the loser may be on the outside looking in for good. Atlanta sits at 6-7, and with a win would pull ahead of the 49ers in the NFC standings due to the head-to-head tiebreaker. A win for San Francisco would put them at 8-6 and likely in the driver's seat at one of the NFC's three Wild Card spots. Despite being close in win-loss record, the 49ers are sizable favorites over the Falcons on Sunday.

For more insight on the Falcons-49ers matchup in Week 15, listen below:

Here is how FanDuel set the Falcons-49ers odds for this Week 15 NFL matchup.

NFL Odds: Falcons-49ers Odds

Atlanta Falcons +9.5 (-110)

San Francisco 49ers -9.5 (-110)

Over 46 (-110)

Under 46 (-110)

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Why The Falcons Could Cover The Spread

The Falcons have all of the sudden became a running team in recent weeks, as Cordarrelle Patterson continues to have an unexpectedly good season that might lead him to a Pro Bowl selection. Patterson is the straw that stirs the drink for the Atlanta offense, as he has over 500 rushing and receiving yards heading into Week 15. He is a huge part of what the Falcons do in both the running and the passing game, and is probably the team MVP for this season. The spread being more than one possession makes a cover very in play for the Falcons if they can continue to have success running the football. Matt Ryan has not exactly lit the world on fire with the passing game in recent weeks, but if he can take care of the ball in this one Atlanta might be able to keep it close.

A hurdle in covering or winning for the Falcons will be their defense. Atlanta is okay vs. the pass, but struggles vs. the run. San Francisco is obviously a good running team so this is not a good matchup for the Falcons' defense. Atlanta is surprisingly 5-2 on the road this season, but 6-7 vs. the spread overall.

Why The 49ers Could Cover The Spread

San Francisco will again look to lean on their running game in this one. Teams have been able to do that at times this season, but that plan did not totally work out for the Carolina Panthers when they lost to the Falcons on Sunday. The 49ers obviously have a better offensive line and Kyle Shanahan calling plays, so they may be just fine vs. the Falcons' defense. Jimmy Garropolo has not been anything spectacular this season, but was solid on Sunday in the 49ers' overtime win vs. the Cincinnati Bengals. Shanahan and Matt Ryan will face off again as the former QB-OC duo that helped Ryan win the 2016 MVP and led the Falcons to the Super Bowl. Shanahan has since blown another double-digit lead in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl while Ryan has only been back to the postseason one time (2017).

Final Falcons-49ers Prediction & Pick

Take the 49ers to cover and win over Atlanta on Sunday. The Falcons have beat a lot bad teams this season, and struggled vs. better competition. San Francisco is a pretty solid team, and should be able to handle a shaky Falcons defense and offensive line.

Final Falcons-49ers prediction & pick: 49ers -9.5 (-110)