NFL

New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons

New Orleans
Saints
9 - 3
Atlanta
Falcons
7 - 5
December 07, 2017, 8:25 PM EST
 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Game Preview

New Orleans
Saints
9 - 3
Atlanta
Falcons
7 - 5
December 07, 2017, 8:25 PM EST
 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium
  • One of the biggest games to date this season takes place on Thursday when the 7-6 Falcons try to keep their playoff hopes alive against the sizzling Saints. New Orleans opened as a slight underdog but with money flowing in on the black and gold, books have moved the line and it’s likely the Saints will close as road chalk.

    SHARK BITES
    • The Saints are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games against the NFC.
    • The Saints are 3-1 ATS in their last 4 games against the Falcons.
    • The Saints are 11-2-1 ATS in their last 14 games vs divisional opponents.

    After a stumble against the Rams, New Orleans got its freight train back on the tracks and proceeded to steamroll the Panthers to improve to 3-0 SU and ATS against NFC South competition.

    Atlanta, on the other hand, is coming off a stinker against the Vikings in which the Dirty Birds laid an egg, managing just nine points on home turf. The Falcons’ sputtering offense has been the crux of their issues this season and it could cost them a playoff spot if it doesn’t get revved up for this battle with a Saints attacking unit that looks an awful lot like the one that led Matt Ryan to last year’s Super Bowl.

    Not only do the Saints have one of the most consistent quarterbacks in NFL history and a talented corps of receivers, they have the most dynamic ground game in professional football. The duo of Mark Ingram and star rookie Alvin Kamara have been lighting teams up and that should continue when they go up against a Falcons run defense that’s well below average.

    Something to watch out for here, though, is where the public money is going. Publicly backed teams are just 4-8-1 in TNF games this season and as of Tuesday morning, the Saints were receiving nearly 60 percent of bets. Does Vegas know something we don’t? Probably.

    For more info, picks and a breakdown of this week’s top sports betting news, check out our new podcast with Jon Campbell and Andrew Avery. Subscribe on iTunes, or check us out at OddsShark.libsyn.com.

    Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick

    Betting fans looking to back the visiting New Orleans Saints in this one found them as 4-point favorites earlier in the week, while the total was settling in the neighborhood of 55 at shops such as Sportsbook.

    OddsShark computer prediction handicapping models run on this game picked a 24-23 victory for the Falcons. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NFL matchups here.

    New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons Matchup

    Team Betting Records & Power Rankings

    Atlanta will face the 9-3 New Orleans Saints, who own a 7-5 ATS mark on the season. In totals betting, the Falcons are 5-7 so far this season while the Saints are 7-5. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Atlanta vs New Orleans injuries news.

    The Power Rankings at OddsShark have the No. 1-rated Saints taking on the No. 10-rated Falcons in this betting contest.

    Statistical Matchup

    Offensively, the game matches up the Atlanta Falcons' No. 11-ranked offense (24.09 PPG) against a New Orleans Saints defense that ranks No. 12 at 20.18 PPG. The Falcons passing attack has averaged 256.55 yards per game, more than the Saints give up through the air (221.82 YPG on average).

    In comparing defenses, the Saints own the league's No. 11-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 109.5 yards per game when on the road. Atlanta, on the other hand, rates No. 10 this week in generating rushing yards at home.

    Recent Outings Betting Recap

    Alvin Kamara scored twice in New Orleans' most recent game, earning a 31-21 win over Carolina at Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

    The Falcons suffered a Week 13 loss against Minnesota in their last game, falling 14-9 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

    Betting Trends
    • New Orleans is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games
    • New Orleans is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games
    • The total has gone OVER in 10 of New Orleans' last 15 games
    • New Orleans is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
    • Atlanta is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
    • Atlanta is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games
    • The total has gone OVER in 17 of Atlanta's last 25 games
    • The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Atlanta's last 9 games

    Next Betting Matchups

    New Orleans home to New York, Sunday, December 17
    Atlanta at Tampa Bay, Monday, December 18

Odds

Thursday, December 7 Thu Dec 7


Opening
Current

Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Opening
-4
-107
-196
o55
-109
+4
-107
+174
u55
-109
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Current
+2.5
-110
+115
o51.5
-115
-2.5
-110
-135
u51.5
-105

Edge Finder

19.41
Total Score
21.47
217.00
Passing Yards
158.76
116.76
Rushing Yards
159.88
29:31
Time on Field
30:02
59.71
Number of Plays
59.47
5.59
Yards Per Play
5.36
19.41
Total Score
21.47
3.82
First Quarter
3.94
5.29
Second Quarter
6.29
4.59
Third Quarter
5.18
5.71
Fourth Quarter
5.88
217.00
Passing Yards
158.76
30.12
Pass Attempts
24.41
19.88
Pass Completions
15.12
2.24
Sacks
2.18
16.41
Sack Yards
13.41
10.91
Yards Per Pass
10.50
116.76
Rushing Yards
159.88
27.35
Rush Attempts
32.88
4.27
Yards Per Rush
4.86
0.82
Interceptions
0.53
1.35
Fumbles
1.24
0.65
Fumbles Lost
0.71
1.47
Total Turnovers
1.24
5.82
Penalties
4.00
49.47
Penalty Yards
34.94
29:31
Time on Field
30:02
59.71
Number of Plays
59.47
5.59
Yards Per Play
5.36
4.53
Punts
3.65
46.39
Punt Average
45.88
55.76
Return Yards
61.76

Head To Head

NO
Stat Type ATL
5-5
Record
5-5
5-5
ATS
5-5
4-5-1
O/U
4-5-1
24.70
Score
26.80
102.10
Rush Yds
115.40
42.50
Pass Attempts
39.10
66.82
Completion %
68.80
317.00
Passing Yds
301.50
419.1
Total Yds
416.9
1.70
Turnovers
1.10
NO
Stat Type ATL
1-2
Record
2-1
2-1
ATS
1-2
2-1
O/U
2-1
28.00
Score
33.33
104.67
Rush Yds
150.33
49.00
Pass Attempts
34.00
65.99
Completion %
69.61
341.00
Passing Yds
291.67
445.67
Total Yds
442
1.33
Turnovers
0.67
Jan 1/17 (1 of 10)
NO
Stat Type ATL
Away
Home
32
Score
38
+7.5
ATS
-7.5
58.5 o
O/U
58.5 u
132
Rush Yds
142
50
Pass Attempts
36
58.00
Completion %
75.00
341
Passing Yds
323
473
Total Yds
465
1
Turnovers
0
Sep 26/16 (2 of 10)
NO
Stat Type ATL
Home
Away
32
Score
45
-2.5
ATS
+2.5
54.5 o
O/U
54.5 u
115
Rush Yds
217
54
Pass Attempts
30
66.67
Completion %
66.67
359
Passing Yds
225
474
Total Yds
442
2
Turnovers
0
Jan 3/16 (3 of 10)
NO
Stat Type ATL
Away
Home
20
Score
17
+5.5
ATS
-5.5
53.5 o
O/U
53.5 u
67
Rush Yds
92
43
Pass Attempts
36
74.42
Completion %
66.67
323
Passing Yds
327
390
Total Yds
419
1
Turnovers
2
Oct 15/15 (4 of 10)
NO
Stat Type ATL
Home
Away
31
Score
21
+3
ATS
-3
52 o
O/U
52 u
81
Rush Yds
150
39
Pass Attempts
44
76.92
Completion %
68.18
304
Passing Yds
263
385
Total Yds
413
0
Turnovers
3
Dec 21/14 (5 of 10)
NO
Stat Type ATL
Home
Away
14
Score
30
-6.5
ATS
+6.5
56.5 o
O/U
56.5 u
57
Rush Yds
81
47
Pass Attempts
40
63.83
Completion %
75.00
271
Passing Yds
322
328
Total Yds
403
4
Turnovers
0
Sep 7/14 (6 of 10)
NO
Stat Type ATL
Away
Home
34
Score
37
-3
ATS
+3
51 o
O/U
51 u
139
Rush Yds
123
42
Pass Attempts
43
69.05
Completion %
72.09
333
Passing Yds
445
472
Total Yds
568
2
Turnovers
1
Nov 21/13 (7 of 10)
NO
Stat Type ATL
Away
Home
17
Score
13
-7.5
ATS
+7.5
53 o
O/U
53 u
103
Rush Yds
91
33
Pass Attempts
39
69.70
Completion %
76.92
271
Passing Yds
264
374
Total Yds
355
0
Turnovers
1
Sep 8/13 (8 of 10)
NO
Stat Type ATL
Home
Away
23
Score
17
-3.5
ATS
+3.5
54 o
O/U
54 u
78
Rush Yds
88
35
Pass Attempts
38
74.29
Completion %
65.79
341
Passing Yds
279
419
Total Yds
367
1
Turnovers
2
Nov 29/12 (9 of 10)
NO
Stat Type ATL
Away
Home
13
Score
23
+3.5
ATS
-3.5
54 o
O/U
54 u
101
Rush Yds
124
50
Pass Attempts
33
56.00
Completion %
54.55
335
Passing Yds
159
436
Total Yds
283
5
Turnovers
1
Nov 11/12 (10 of 10)
NO
Stat Type ATL
Home
Away
31
Score
27
+1.5
ATS
-1.5
53.5 o
O/U
53.5 u
148
Rush Yds
46
32
Pass Attempts
52
65.63
Completion %
65.38
292
Passing Yds
408
440
Total Yds
454
1
Turnovers
1

Team Records

NO
Record ATL
9-3
All
7-5
5-1
Home
3-3
4-2
Away
4-2
7-5
ATS
5-7
3-3
ATS Home
3-3
4-2
ATS Away
2-4
7-5
O/U
5-7
4-2
O/U Home
2-4
3-3
O/U Away
3-3
NO
Record ATL
7-2
All
6-2
5-0
Home
3-1
2-2
Away
3-1
5-4
ATS
5-3
3-2
ATS Home
3-1
2-2
ATS Away
2-2
5-4
O/U
4-4
3-2
O/U Home
2-2
2-2
O/U Away
2-2
NO
Record ATL
3-0
All
1-1
2-0
Home
1-0
1-0
Away
0-1
3-0
ATS
1-1
2-0
ATS Home
1-0
1-0
ATS Away
0-1
0-0
O/U
0-0
0-0
O/U Home
0-0
0-0
O/U Away
0-0
NO
Record ATL
9-1
All
5-5
5-0
Home
2-3
4-1
Away
3-2
7-3
ATS
4-6
3-2
ATS Home
2-3
4-1
ATS Away
2-3
5-5
O/U
4-6
3-2
O/U Home
1-4
2-3
O/U Away
3-2

Gametime Weather

8:25pm N/A
N/A
N/A Humidity
N/A Precipitation
N/A Cloud Cover
Wind Impact Stadium Type Retractable
N/A

Injuries

Name Position Inj Desc
Name Position Inj Desc

Last 10 Games

Date Opp Score SU Line/Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Dec 3, 2017CAR31-21W-5.5/47.5W/O1482524001121672790
Nov 26, 2017LAR20-26L+2.5/54L/U12322334688327415-1
Nov 19, 2017WAS34-31W-9.5/52.5L/O1603755351563004561
Nov 12, 2017BUF47-10W-2/48W/O298184482691291980
Nov 5, 2017TB30-10W-7/54W/U151256407871132001
Oct 29, 2017CHI20-12W-8.5/45.5L/U1012863871571503071
Oct 22, 2017GB26-17W-3.5/45.5W/U161324485181792601
Oct 15, 2017DET52-38W-6/50.5W/O19318637966281347-2
Oct 1, 2017MIA20-0W-3.5/51W/U8626134758128186-1
Sep 24, 2017CAR34-13W+5.5/46W/O149213362132156288-3
View Game Logs
Date Opp Score SU Line/Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Dec 3, 2017MIN9-14L-2/48.5L/U1021732751052073120
Nov 26, 2017TB34-20W-10/47W/O148368516942793731
Nov 20, 2017SEA34-31WEvW/O89190279136224360-1
Nov 12, 2017DAL27-7W-3.5/49W/U132204336107126233-1
Nov 5, 2017CAR17-20L-3/42L/U53302355201129330-1
Oct 29, 2017NYJ25-20W-6.5/43L/O140246386432362791
Oct 22, 2017NE7-23L+2.5/55.5L/U1202233431622414030
Oct 15, 2017MIA17-20L-14/45.5L/U1002393391381512890
Oct 1, 2017BUF17-23L-8/47.5L/U1492423911171642813
Sep 24, 2017DET30-26W-3/50.5W/O151277428712533243
View Game Logs