Atlanta vs Detroit Betting?
Falcons Look to Lock Up Home Field With Visit to Detroit in Week 16
There were plenty of questions about the Atlanta Falcons heading into Week 15 but the team answered all with a 34-0 beat down of the defending World Champs. In Week 16 Atlanta heads out on the road with Home Field advantage within their grasps and with confidence after soundly defeating one of the NFC elite.
Atlanta Falcons (12-2) vs. Detroit Lions (4-10)
Date/Time: Saturday, December 22, 8:30 PM ET
Venue: Ford Field
Broadcast: ESPN
Falcons vs. Lions Betting Lines from Sportsbook.ag
Spread: Falcons -4 (-110)
Moneyline: Falcons -205: Lions +175
Over/Under: 50 1/2 points
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The Detroit Lions have been relegated to a disappointing spoiler role in the NFC as one of the best 4-10 teams in recent memory despite an ugly 38-10 loss against the woeful Cardinals last week.
There was not a whole lotta love was being given the Atlanta Falcons ahead of their Week 15 game against the New York Giants but a 34-0 win afforded them some of the respect that they had been lacking. Matt Ryan was 23 for 28 and 270 yards and three touchdowns in Sundays blow out win that brought the Falcons to within one game of securing home field advantage for the playoffs.
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The Falcons finally looked as good as their record – not a great sign for the NFC and the rest of the NFL for that matter.
Atlanta enters a rare Saturday game with the league’s fifth ranked passing offense with weapons to spare. Julio Jones, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez continue to be the most impressive trio of pass catchers in the league – scary for any team opposing them. The running game has not been terrific however – 28th ranked and averaging just 89.93 yards per game. The rushers have been getting a tad better and will get a chance to further develop against an 18th ranked run defense in Detroit.
Atlanta’s defense has been a bit of a sore spot all season long to nobody’s surprise. They are 17th against the pass, which is a problem when facing Detroit’s #1 ranked passing game and Atlanta is 24th against the run. Strangely, the Falcons are giving up just 18.50 points per game despite – good for 4th in the NFL. This unit shut out the Giants last week and allowed just 256 yards of total offense!
The Detroit Lions have underachieved all season long culminating with a horrendous loss last week against an awful Arizona team. That’s six losses in a row! Matthew Stafford threw three picks last week which was ultimately the difference in that game. This week is a tough test – the Falcons come to town, hungry to sew up home field and a first round bye! [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Lions, as mentioned own the league’s top ranked passing game and will get a crack at an average secondary this week. Nobody has stopped Calvin Johnson lately – he had another 10 catches and 121 yards in Arizona and now has 1667 yards receiving on the year – amazing. But the passing game can’t do it all. Detroit’s running game has been very inconsistent so far this year – 23rd ranked, averaging 104.43 yards per game. Unfortunately for this offense they running game can’t be counted on and the Lions are largely a one dimensional offense.
Detroit’s defense has not been great this season and can be singled out as the main reason this team is 4-10. They are 11th against the pass- not bad and 18th versus the run – not terrific. BUT the Lions are a staggering 28th in the NFL in points against – 27.14 per game – not good at all!
Betting Prediction:
A few trends to consider:
• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Detroit
• Atlanta is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta’s last 5 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta’s last 5 games when playing Detroit
• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit’s last 5 games when playing at home against Atlanta
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Detroit’s last 5 games when playing Atlanta
• The total has gone OVER in 6 of Detroit’s last 8 games
• Detroit is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Atlanta
It is hard to imagine an Atlanta letdown this week after such an impressive performance last week. Home field advantage is firmly within their grasps and so is the much needed respect that this team has been lacking thus far. Detroit’s defense isn’t stopping anyone at the moment meaning that points will be scored in this game.
In a track meet, I like the multiple weapons of Atlanta to prevail over the one-trick-pony offense of the Lions.
Pick: Atlanta Falcons -4
