The Atlanta Falcons take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in each teams’ first NFL Pre-season game this weekend. The Falcons might start playing Matt Ryan right away.
There’s really nothing else to say about that other then Ryan has looked impressive in training camp and there’s no doubt that he’s got the mental outlook needed to be a quarterback in the NFL. I doubt you will find Ryan in a hot tub full of underdressed women, smoking a cigar.
Yes, he might not start the first game, but I don’t see him on the bench for that long this season. Besides Ryan the Falcons made a serious change at running back by signing Michael Turner away from the San Diego Chargers.
All indications are that Turner should have a big year. Those are good signs for a team that was anathema to online NFL betting fans last year.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the favorites to make it to the Super Bowl from the AFC. They have a solid quarterback in David Garrard, who won’t play much in this game, and two terrific running backs in Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jags’ defense was sloppy at times last season. They will look to start correcting those issues this Saturday when they face the Falcons.
Here are the BetUS online sportsbook football betting odds and NFL spreads for this game
Atlanta Falcons + 3 ½ – 115 + 155 O 34
Jacksonville Jaguars – 3 ½ – 105 – 175 U 34
When in doubt in the NFL Pre-season, I always like to put money on the underdog. Why? Because that’s the way to make enough money offset loses. The Falcons have two decent running backs in Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood. The Jags have a solid team in almost every aspect.
Jacksonville is not the type of team that likes to march down the field and score touchdowns in two or three minutes. I expect them to work on timing, handing the ball off from Garrard to whatever running back is there, pulling their guards for sweep plays, and simply playing a Cover 2 defense in order to find out exactly how they are going to stop the Patriots, Steelers and now Jets in the AFC.
Atlanta, on the other hand, sort of has to show up for this game. They can’t afford to waste time with quarterbacks D.J. Shockley or Chris Redman if neither guy is going to be up to the challenge. They might as well throw Matt Ryan to the wolves if neither Shockley nor Redman can do it.
I think that since neither team is likely to establish themselves, or play their starters too long, I have to go with the Falcons at the online NFL betting odds of + 155.
I’ll take a gamble on the Falcons to beat the Jaguars at those nice online football wagering odds.
