Falcons vs. Saints Point Spread: NFL Week 10 Odds, Prediction
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Edgar Chaput
In a testament to the state of the NFC South, an Atlanta Falcons victory in Week 10 over the New Orleans Saints would seriously pave the way for a division crown. The Saints are only 2-7, lost in Week 9 to the Carolina Panthers (who are also 2-7) and fired head coach Dennis Allen. The Falcons took care of business against a shockingly mediocre Cowboys squad 27-21. Only the Buccaneers at 4-5 pose any possible threat.
The Falcons are looked on favourably by our NFL odds. They’re at -3.5 against the spread.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
This matchup also marks the conclusion of the 2024 season series between these long-time rivals. Atlanta took the first game 26-24 back in Week 4 when things were so much rosier for the Louisiana-based ensemble. It was a rare win for the Falcons over the Saints, as the latter had captured four of the five most recent tête-à-têtes. The last time the Falcons won as the visiting side was in 2021.
Atlanta has turned things around against the spread. After starting the campaign at 1-3, the team has covered four of its last five opportunities to improve to 5-4. The Falcons’ attack is humming too. They amass the eighth-most total yards per contest with 364.6. Much of that has to do with Kirk Cousins’ fine play. He’s fourth in the NFL with 2,328 total yards through the air.
Not only is Dennis Allen no longer on the sideline for the Saints, but defensive stud Marshon Lattimore was traded to Washington on Tuesday. New Orleans looks to be cleaning house in a lost campaign. Speaking of disappointments, betters surely don’t appreciate the Saints’ 2-7 tally ATS.
Atlanta Falcons
Say what one will about the 2024 Dallas Cowboys (who aren’t very good), the fact of the matter is Week 9’s match was precisely the sort of chance past Falcons teams would have fumbled.
That they didn’t and won with relative ease despite the 27-21 final score was reassuring. Moreover, they didn’t have to do too much. Atlanta was up 27-13 in the fourth quarter of a game where the opposition had more first downs (23 to 17). But it’s the details that count, such as the Falcons going 2-for-2 on fourth down attempts, including a 36-yard TD toss from Cousins to Darnell Mooney in the second quarter. WR Ray-Ray McCloud III was also in on the action, handling an 11-yard TD pass in the third period.
Defensively, Atlanta held Dallas to 1-for-5 on fourth downs, including on a fake punt. They also had multiple sacks, albeit only three, for the first time since Week 1.
Some bad news out of the game is WR Drake London’s health. He’s currently listed as questionable (hip).
New Orleans Saints
What is a team supposed to do after losing to the (at the time) 1-7 Carolina Panthers? They held a lead late in the fourth quarter but could not prevent their rivals from a game-winning drive. Losers of seven straight, the front office gave Dennis Allen his marching orders. Darren Rizzi, formerly the special teams coordinator, will serve as the interim coach.
It would be disingenuous to forget that New Orleans has suffered some bad luck. QB Derek Carr missed multiple games due to an injury, at which point the offence simply flatlined. They now rank 16th league-wide with 23.0 scored per game. Keep in mind that they started the campaign by tallying 47 and 44 points in their first two matches. But no one, from RB Alvin Kamara to WR Chris Olave and TE Juwan Johnson, got anything going while Carr nursed his wounds.
On the topic of wideout Olave, he suffered another concussion versus the Panthers and is listed as questionable as of Wednesday.
ATL
NO