Falcons at Saints: Preview, prediction, odds and pick
By John Buhler
The New Orleans Saints will host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon in Week 16. Here is a game preview, the betting odds and a final score prediction.
Week 16 will have some outstanding football games that will decide the playoff picture in the NFL. One of the best illustrations of that will be the fierce NFC South rivalry between the Atlanta Falcons (9-5) and the New Orleans Saints (10-4). Kickoff from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans will be at 1:00 p.m. ET on Dec. 24. Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis will be in the booth to call the game for FOX.
Atlanta enters play at 9-5 on the year. The Falcons are third in the NFC South race behind the Saints and the Carolina Panthers (10-4), but would be the No. 6 in the NFC playoff picture if the season ended today. Atlanta can clinch a playoff berth with a win on Sunday over New Orleans. Should the Falcons win out, they will repeat as NFC South champions.
New Orleans enters play at 10-4 on the year. The Saints are in first place in the NFC South and would be the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoff picture if the season ended today. New Orleans has the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Panthers and is one game up on the Falcons in the divisional race. Should the Saints beat the Falcons, they will win the NFC South for the first time since 2011.
Betting Odds
Point Spread: New Orleans -5.5
Moneylines: New Orleans -245, Atlanta +225
Over/Under: 52.5
According to OddsShark, the Saints will be laying 5.5 points at home to the visiting Falcons. The associated moneylines for this game are New Orleans -245 and Atlanta +255. This game’s over/under comes in at a combined 52.5 points.
First off, that spread is way too big. In this heated rivalry series, seemingly every game is decided by a field goal. It was decided that was on Thursday Night Football just two weeks ago in Atlanta. Look for there to be more of the same in New Orleans this time around.
New Orleans will lead late in the fourth quarter 27-20 over the Falcons. With two minutes left, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan will find Mohamed Sanu for a game-tying touchdown. New Orleans won’t be able to capitalize and this one will go into overtime at 27 points apiece.
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Atlanta will win the coin toss and elect to receive. A Devonta Freeman fumble near midfield will be exactly the break that the Saints will need to win this one. Drew Brees will complete a few passes before setting up a game-winning 40-yard field goal off the foot of Wil Lutz. New Orleans wins the NFC South, but Atlanta covers the 5.5-point spread as this one goes over 52.5 combined points.
Pick: Saints 30, Falcons 27