Falcons vs. Saints Point Spread: NFL Week 12 Odds, Prediction
The Atlanta Falcons will be missing two of their biggest stars on Sunday afternoon, when they visit the division rival New Orleans in NFL Week 12 betting action at Caesars Superdome.
Both Michael Penix Jr. and Drake London suffered serious injuries in last week’s 30-27 overtime loss to Carolina that extended the squad’s current losing streak to five games.
The Saints enjoyed a bye last week after snapping a four-game slide with a 17-7 win in Carolina in Week 10, but will hit the gridiron on Sunday searching for just their second win in nine home contests.
The Saints are pegged as betting chalk for just the second time this season, perched as 2-point favourites on the NFL Week 12 odds. The injury-riddled Falcons trail as +110 underdogs on the NFL moneyline, and the total is listed at 39.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
These NFC South rivals split a pair of games last season, with home team emerging victorious in each, capped by the Saints’ 20-17 victory when the Falcons last visited the Big Easy last November. That victory extend the Saints’ lengthy run of success against Atlanta, with wins in 11 of 15 meetings since December 2017 including a steady 6-2 run on home turf.
New Orleans has also paid out on the NFL odds in three straight dates with the Falcons but is just 3-4 ATS in their past seven clashes at the Superdome. However, the Saints have been far from a reliable bet this season, covering just once during a 1-4 run during which they have scored an average of just 12.6 points per game and are 3-7 ATS overall this season. However, the lack of production from the New Orleans offence has fueled a steady 6-0 run for the UN DER in totals betting.
After starting the season on a respectable 3-2 run, luck ran out on the Falcons, who have surrendered 27.8 points per game while losing five straight. Atlanta’s swoon has been marked by heartbreak, with their past two defeats both coming in overtime following a narrow 24-23 loss to New England three weeks ago. Accordingly, the Falcons have fared better at the sportsbook, covering in five of their past nine and are unbeaten ATS in their past three as road dogs.
Atlanta Falcons
With Michael Penix Jr. likely gone for the season, the reins of the Falcons offence are now in the hands of pricey veteran Kirk Cousins, who will be making just his second start of the season on Sunday afternoon. Cousins failed to find the end zone while compiling just 173 passing yards in the Falcons’ crushing 34-10 loss to Miami in Week 8, and has connected on just one total scoring pass in his past eight game appearances.
With the squad’s top receiver Drake London also sidelined, Bijan Robinson is likely to draw a bigger assignment. Robinson racked up 104 rushing yards and tallied two TD scoring runs last weekend in Berlin, and leads all players on Sunday’s anytime TD scorer odds as a -145 bet.
New Orleans Saints
Rookie pivot Tyler Shough enjoyed a breakthrough performance in the Saints’ 17-7 win over the Panthers two weeks ago, setting season highs while connecting on 70.4 per cent of pass attempts for 282 yards and two touchdowns.
Indeed, Shough has displayed increasing confidence and has steadily developed chemistry with his favourite target Chris Olave, who made his fourth scoring catch of the season versus Carolina while piling up a season-high 104 receiving yards. Olave found his way on the injury report with an ankle ailment, but has not missed time at practice and is expected to be ready for Sunday’s contest.
However, the status of top rusher Alvin Kamara is not so certain. Kamara is listed as questionable after being limited at practice, and if the 30-year-old veteran is unable to go, it could mean more touches for rookie running back Devin Neal, who has seven carries for 33 yards over the past two games after recording just three total touches in his first four appearances.
NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Falcons vs. Saints?
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ATL
NO