Russell Wilson is having an MVP-caliber season and he now gets to feast on a Falcons defense that is giving up more than 31 points per game. Atlanta is likely starting Matt Schaub at quarterback, making the Seahawks a strong ATS play in Week 8.
- Seattle Seahawks vs Atlanta Falcons (Matchup Report)
- Date/Time: October 27, 1 p.m. ET
- TV Coverage: FOX
- Sportsbook Odds: Seattle -3.5 | O/U 54 (Line History)
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Seattle opened as a 3.5-point road favorite, seeing as they’re 5-2 and Atlanta is 1-6 with a backup quarterback likely playing. Because the Falcons defense is so porous and the Seahawks have been giving up lots of points themselves, the total opened at an extremely high 54 points.
Seattle News & Notes
It was inevitable, but the fact that it took until Week 7 for Russell Wilson to throw an interception is impressive.
The MVP candidate had his worst game of the season, completing fewer than 50 percent of his passes and failing to get Seattle above 20 points for the first time all year, as the Seahawks lost 30-16 at home to Baltimore.
While a disappointing loss, it doesn’t diminish the incredible season he’s having: Wilson is in the top 10 among all QBs in completion percentage and passing yards, while he’s second in QB rating and tied for the league lead with 15 touchdown passes … and just the one interception.
Wilson should be able to get back on track against a Falcons defense that allows 31.9 points per game and has yielded 124 points over the last three games. The total has gone OVER in 12 of Seattle’s last 16 games, and all signs point to them being in another high-scoring game this week too.
Atlanta News & Notes
The Falcons started the season with playoff — even Super Bowl — aspirations. The first seven games could not have gone any worse: Atlanta has started a dreadful 1-6 and hit rock bottom in Week 7 in a 37-10 blasting from the Los Angeles Rams.
Besides the score, Atlanta backup running back Ito Smith was carted off following a helmet-to-helmet hit. Starting running back Devonta Freeman was ejected, and to top it off, quarterback Matt Ryan left the game in the third quarter with a right ankle sprain.
Ryan didn’t practice Monday, and while he hasn’t been ruled out of Sunday’s game, things don’t look great, meaning veteran Matt Schaub would be under center.
The Falcons have been a strong play as home underdogs recently, going 8-2 ATS in their last 10 such games, but with Schaub likely under center, plus a defense that has averaged 41.3 points against the last three games, they have their work cut out for them to cover this Sunday.
Betting Pick: Seahawks -3.5
The Seahawks offense will exploit a terrible Falcons defense, and Matt Schaub will, well, not exploit anything. Give me Seattle to cover.
- The Falcons are 1-11 ATS in their last 12 October games.
- The Seahawks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games.
- The Seahawks are 5-0 SU and ATS in their last 5 early afternoon games.
