Falcons vs. Dolphins Point Spread: NFL Pre-Season Week 1 Odds, Prediction
The Falcons have averaged just 14.3 points per game during their 0-6 pre-season run against Miami, and have fallen to defeat in 17 of 21 overall pre-season contests since 2016. The Dolphins look to rebound after closing out the 2022 regular season with five straight losses, but have enjoyed far more success in pre-season action, winning eight of their past 11 contests while covering the spread nine times over that stretch.
The Dolphins’ past August success has failed to give them a lift on the NFL pre-season odds, where they sit as 2.5-point underdogs. The Falcons are perched as -146 chalk to claim the outright win while the total is listed at just 36.0.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Friday night’s matchup at Hard Rock Stadium marks the 11th August clash between these squads since 2010. With victories in each of their past six pre-season dates with Atlanta, the Dolphins improved their head-to-head SU record to 7-3 and have also covered in their past five. With the Dolphins averaging 32 points per game, the OVER has easily paid out in each of the past four pre-season meetings between these squads.
Atlanta Falcons
Falcons head coach Arthur Smith has confirmed that the team’s starters will see action during the pre-season, including Friday night’s contest, but which players to expect and how much playing time they will see remains to be seen. One player to keep a particular eye on is Desmond Ridder. The 23-year-old pivot started the final four games of his rookie season last year, powering the squad to victories in their final two contests, capped by a two-TD effort in a 30-17 Week 17 win over Tampa Bay. Friday’s clash should also mark the NFL debut of running back Bijan Robinson. Selected eighth overall by the Falcons in the 2023 NFL Draft, Robinson racked up 1,894 total yards and 20 total touchdowns for the Texas Longhorns last season. However, he is remains listed as third string on the squad’s first depth chart of the season.
Miami Dolphins
Dolphins fans should expect Friday night’s date with Atlanta to feature the first round in the battle to back up Tua Tagovailoa between veteran Mike White and second-year pivot Skylar Thompson. White arrives in South Florida after spending the past two seasons with the New York Jets. The 28-year-old appeared in eight total games over that stretch, tossing for eight scores against 12 picks and amassing 2145 total yards. However, White can expect a stiff challenge from Thompson, who stepped up in relief of the injured Tagovailoa to lead the Dolphins to lead the squad to a wild card berth with an 11-6 win over the Jets in Week 18, and a narrow 34-31 loss to Buffalo on Wild Card Weekend. With injuries in the secondary still a concern, opportunity knocks for rookie cornerback Cam Smith. Selected in the second round, Smith has earned praise from the Dolphins coaching staff, but will need a lengthy audition to determine if he will be ready if injured veterans Jalen Ramsey, Nik Needham, or Trill Williams are not ready to start the regular season.
ATL
MIA