Two teams headed in opposite directions collide in Atlanta on Thursday as the New Orleans Saints take on the Falcons at the Georgia Dome.
The Saints are favored by more than a touchdown over an Atlanta team that was a goal-line stand away from winning at New Orleans in Week 1. That growing point spread just shows how much things have changed for these two NFC South rivals.
New Orleans is 8-2 SU and 6-3-1 ATS. Drew Brees leads one of top offenses in the league, and new coordinator Rob Ryan has vastly improved the defense. The Saints have covered the spread in five of the last six meetings versus Atlanta.
The Falcons are 2-8 SU and 2-8 ATS. They have lost four straight games overall and are 0-7 against the number in their last seven games as an underdog.
The Falcons are 2-8 so far on the season, and 2-8 ATS vs. the number. The Saints, meanwhile, are 8-2 and 6-3-1 ATS. Over under bettors have seen Atlanta go 6-4 and the Saints go 5-5 on the totals.
View New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons Odds and Stats.
Bettors looking to back the visiting Saints in this one found them as 6-point favorites earlier in the week, but it was bet quickly to 9.5 by Tuesday at Sportsbook. Meanwhile the total was settling in the neighborhood of 52.5 at shops such as Sportsbook.
The OddsShark Power Rankings have the Falcons at No. 28 and the Saints at No. 2 heading into this contest. Handicapping models project a 32-15 result in favor of the Saints.
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New Orleans won its last outing, a 23-20 result against the 49ers on November 17. The Saints earned a push in that game as a 3-point favorite, while the 43 combined points took the game UNDER the total. Atlanta lost its last outing 41-28 against Tampa Bay on Sunday, getting a 134-yard receiving performance from Harry Douglas in a losing cause at Raymond James Stadium.
How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Atlanta's No. 23-ranked offense (21.4 PPG) against a Saints defense that ranks No. 5 at 18.3 PPG. The Falcons passing attack has averaged 274.4 yards per game, more than the Saints give up through the air (191.4 YPG on average).
In comparing defenses, the Saints own the league's No. 29-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 148.25 yards per game when on the road. Atlanta, on the other hand, rates No. 32 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
A few Saints at Falcons trends to consider:
New Orleans is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans's last 5 games
New Orleans is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans's last 6 games on the road
Atlanta is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games
Atlanta is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Atlanta's last 9 games
Atlanta is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games at home
Next up:
New Orleans at Seattle, Monday, December 2nd
Atlanta at Buffalo, Sunday, December 1st
