Subscribe
Follow Us
The Atlanta Falcons will take on the New Orleans Saints in a classic NFC South battle on Sunday. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Falcons-Saints prediction and pick.
The NFC South has quickly developed into one of the most interesting divisions in football. The Falcons are currently in dead last, but they're still an entertaining team to watch. The development of rookie tight end Kyle Pitts has been a blast to watch, and the resurgence of Cordarrelle Patterson is another fun storyline to follow. Unlike Atlanta, the Saints actually have playoff aspirations. New Orleans is coming off of a season-defining win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where they managed to pull off a victory without their starting quarterback. Another win against a divisional opponent would set the Saints up well to make a run for the NFC South crown.
For more insight on the Falcons and Saints ahead of their Week 9 matchup, listen below:
Here's how the bookmakers have set the odds for Falcons-Saints.
NFL Odds: Falcons-Saints Odds
Atlanta Falcons: +6 (-110)
New Orleans Saints: -6 (-110)
Over: 41.5 (-110)
Under: 41.5 (-110)
Article Continues Below
*Watch NFL games LIVE with fuboTV (Click for free trial)*
Why The Falcons Can Cover The Spread
Atlanta's offense is a streaky unit, but when everything is clicking they look like a pretty solid offense. There's reason to believe that the Falcons can get everything to click here. New Orleans is actually one of the poorest pass defenses in the NFL, as they give up 264 passing yards per game, a number that places them in the bottom ten teams in the league. The Falcons are one of the most pass-heavy offenses in football, so this is shaping up to be a nice matchup for them.
The Falcons have had problems on defense for years now, and this season is no different. Luckily for them, they'll likely be facing Trevor Siemien at quarterback for the Saints. Siemien performed admirably against the Buccaneers in Week 8, but it's unlikely he's able to consistently replicate that performance. He's a career backup with almost no track record of sustained success, so even this Falcons defense shouldn't fare poorly against him.
Why The Saints Can Cover The Spread
While it's true that the Falcons may be able to stop the Saints' air attack here, the same can't be said for Atlanta's ability to stop the running game. The Falcons are a bottom-ten team in the NFL against the run, as they allow a whopping 125 rushing yards per game. They also allow 4.4 yards per carry to their opponents. New Orleans is one of the best rushing teams in the NFL, proven by the fact that they've earned the ninth-most yardage on the ground in the league. Expect the Saints to bully Atlanta around on the ground for the entirety of this contest.
Home field advantage always provides a big leg up, and this game is no different. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has been slightly worse when playing on the road, as he's thrown more interceptions and less touchdowns away from home despite playing one more game at home. The always-packed Superdome will provide a big boost to the defense, and that could be what allows New Orleans to cover.
Final Falcons-Saints Prediction & Pick
This game is a tough one to predict. We haven't seen a full game of the Trevor Siemien-led Saints, and the Falcons are always incredibly inconsistent. Instead of taking either side, the over is the right call. New Orleans should score with ease here, and the Falcons are a solid enough on offense to put up some points.
FINAL FALCONS-SAINTS PREDICTION & PICK: Over: 41.5 (-110)
