Looking for a rock-solid trend heading into the divisional round this weekend? Well, how about this one. In their entire history, the Seattle Seahawks have never won a road playoff game as an underdog. The Atlanta Falcons have their postseason demons as well but none quite as significant as the ones Pete Carroll and the limited Legion of Boom will have to come to terms with this Saturday.
SHARK BITES
The Seahawks are 0-8 in their last 8 road playoff games as underdogs.
The Falcons are 1-5 SU and 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games in the playoffs.
The Falcons are 12-3 SU in their last 15 games when hosting a West Coast team.
Passing has taken over the NFL and the 2016-17 Atlanta Falcons are an amalgamation of that, the Matt Ryan-Julio Jones combo and a Kyle Shanahan offense that has been fooling every defense it’s gone up against. Atlanta was near the top of the list in almost every offensive category this year and scored an average of 38.5 points in its final four games. Most of the arguments I’ve heard for the Seahawks this week have included something about their pass defense but what I’m telling you is that without Earl Thomas, Seattle is a different team and is actually a below-average team at defending against the aerial attack.
The positive for the Seahawks is that they’re 14-5-1 in their last 20 games as an underdog of 4.5 points or less and are coming off a pretty significant drubbing of the Detroit Lions in the wild-card round. Russell Wilson has stopped looking for his running game and it’s paid dividends for his team’s offense. Since Seattle’s game against the Buccaneers in late November, Wilson has thrown 12 touchdowns and has an average passer rating of 103.13.
So, can the Seahawks keep pace with the high-octane offense of the Falcons and avoid losing their ninth consecutive road playoff game as an underdog? That’s the big question because, for the last four weeks, no one has been able to. The Seahawks’ real advantage Saturday is going to be on the ground. Atlanta has the second-worst rush defense in the league and the Seahawks rushed for 177 yards on the Lions last week. The problem with that is that when Matty Ice starts piling up the points, Seattle will most likely have to give up the run and start chucking the ball into a group of receivers.
If Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin are not great in this game, the Seahawks do not have a chance.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Those siding with the visitors in this matchup saw the Seattle Seahawks listed as 3.5-point underdogs at shops such as Sportsbook. Meanwhile, the over under line for the betting matchup was at 49.5 over at Sportsbook.
A 34-15 result in favor of the Falcons was the prediction by the Odds Shark handicapping pick engine earlier this week. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NFL matchups here.
The Atlanta Falcons currently sport a record of 11-5, and have posted a corresponding betting slate of 10-6 ATS. The Seattle Seahawks are 11-5-1 and 8-8-1 ATS. Betting totals have seen the Atlanta Falcons post a 14-2 over under record this season, while the Seattle Seahawks have gone 9-8 against the number. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Atlanta vs Seattle injuries news.
It's a betting matchup between the No. 2-rated Atlanta Falcons and the No. 8-ranked Seattle Seahawks, according to the NFL Power Rankings here at Odds Shark.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Atlanta's No. 1-ranked offense, averaging 33.75 PPG, against a Seahawks defense that ranks No. 2 this week at 17.53 PPG. The Falcons aerial game is averaging 295.31 yards per game, more than the Seahawks secondary allows through the air, 223.65 YPG per game.
Defensively, the Seattle Seahawks feature the league's No. 5-rated road run defense, allowing 91.38 yards per game. The Atlanta Falcons, meanwhile, ranks No. 7 in rushing offense at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Last time we saw the Lions, they had no answer for Thomas Rawls as the Seahawks rolled to a 26-6 victory at CenturyLink Field.
Atlanta comes off a game where it received a 4-TD performance from Matt Ryan in defeating the Saints 38-32.
Betting Trends
Seattle is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Seattle's last 6 games
Seattle is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Seattle is 2-3-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Atlanta is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Atlanta is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Atlanta's last 5 games
Atlanta is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Seattle home to , Wednesday, December 31st
Atlanta home to , Wednesday, December 31st
