Falcons safe bet as home fave
Atlanta almost always wins at home (17-3 SU past 20) and they almost always cover the spread as a favorite (9-2 ATS past 11).
So armed with those trends and the fact the OddsShark.com score predictor engine has projected a 30-28 victory, bettors can start handicapping the Week 16 Monday Nighter.
Home is where the Atlanta Falcons’ heart is. [ Bet the Monday Nighter and get the best Saints odds at +3 at Bodog ]
The NFC South leaders (12-2, 10-4 ATS) are back in the Georgia Dome after playing on the road the past three games, picking up away wins over the Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to extend the Falcons’ winning streak to eight games (7-1 ATS).
And who better to welcome to the ATL than the New Orleans Saints (10-4, 6-8 ATS), who are trying to grab an NFC Wild Card spot.
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New Orleans trails Atlanta by two games in the NFC South Division but, as of Sunday, is in the fifth postseason position in the conference.
The Falcons are 6-0 straight up at home this season, covering the spread in four of those contests. Oddsmakers are banking on another strong showing in front of their fans this Monday, setting Atlanta as a 2-point favorite in Week 16.
Atlanta is averaging more than 28 points per game at home this season, getting stellar play from quarterback Matt Ryan. He’s 19-1 SU inside the Georgia Dome in his three years as the Falcons’ No. 1 and is passing for 257.5 yards per home game this season, connecting for 13 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
In the team’s last home game, which was more than a month ago, Ryan was his ice-cold self, going 24 for 28 for 197 yards and one touchdown, leading Atlanta to a 20-17 win over the Green Bay Packers as 2.5-point home chalk.
Ryan was also impressive in his last outing versus New Orleans, totaling 228 yards through the air and two touchdowns for a 27-24 road victory as 3-point underdogs in the Superdome.
That mistake-free football is a big reason why sharp bettors are eyeing the Falcons’ Super Bowl futures odds in the final weeks of the season.
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Ryan’s been picked off only nine times this season, and in his 20 career home games he has gone without an interception 12 times.
The Saints did manage to take a game in the Georgia Dome last season, knocking off Atlanta 26-23 as 10-point favorites in Week 14. However, Ryan was not under center for the Falcons, missing time with an injury.
Things will be much different with “Matty Ice” on the field this Monday night. [ Matchup Report ]
Pick: Falcons -2 at 5dimes.com