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Free Picks: Atlanta vs. New Orleans Gambling Lines & Handicapping Preview

Week 16: Falcons vs Saints Picks

Week 16 NFL football betting action sees the Atlanta Falcons taking on the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Louisiana. Cappers Picks provides free NFL football handicapping tips all season long.

When looking at both teams records, you’d think they’re playing for draft positions now.

NFL Football Odds

Atlanta Falcons (5-9) vs. New Orleans Saints (6-8)
Sunday, Dec. 21
1:00 PM ET
Mercedes-Benz Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana)
FOX
NFL Football Betting Lines: New Orleans -6.5
NFL Football O/U: 56
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Click here to view today’s… ATS Matchup Insight | CP Insider Gambling Preview

However, that is not the case as both the Falcons and Saints control their own destiny in the NFC Playoff race.

Atlanta

In an absolute must win situation, the Falcons head to New Orleans to take on their in division rival.

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Atlanta got the best of the Saints back in week 1 with a 37-34 thriller in Atlanta. QB Matt Ryan played his best game to this point by going for 448 yards and 3 touchdowns. Since that performance, Ryan has failed to really get the Falcons into any sort of consistence rhythm.

The Falcons can clinch the division with wins over division opponents New Orleans and Carolina next week. The trends favor the Falcons in this situation as they are 4-0 vs in division teams this season.

The struggles for Atlanta this season have come from the defensive side of the ball. Atlanta ranks 32nd in pass yards against (292.5) and 20th in rush yards against (117.4). The Falcons are allowing 26.4 points overall.

The offense has found most of it’s success with Matt Ryan and his arm. Ryan has led the Falcons to the 5th best passing offense in the NFL with 286.1 yards a game. In total, Ryan has thrown for 4,112 yards with 27 touchdowns.

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His main target, WR Julio Jones, has 93 receptions for 1,428 yards and 6 touchdowns.

The Falcons are just 2-5 on the road this season.

New Orleans

While it looked like no team in the NFC South wanted to take control of the division, the Saints have at least stepped up when they needed to and won games. Coming off a 31-15 victory over the Bears, the Saints hold a 1 game lead over the Carolina Panthers for 1st place. The Saints can actually clinch the division Sunday with a win and a Carolina loss vs. Cleveland.

The obvious success for the Saints comes from QB Drew Brees. While Brees has shown signs of inconsistency and forcing the ball, he has managed to keep New Orleans in most games. Brees threw for 375 yards in last weeks win and passed the 4,000 pass yard mark for the 9th straight season. To go along with all those yards, Brees has thrown for 31 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions.

While Brees has done a majority of the damage for New Orleans, RB Mark Ingram has led the way for the 9th best rushing attack (120.8 yards a game). Ingram has rushed for 869 yards and 7 touchdowns this season.

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After winning their first 3 games at home where they are typically dominant, the Saints have dropped 4 straight decisions inside the Superdome.

NFL Football Trends:

  • Falcons are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NFC South.
  • Falcons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC.
  • Saints are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games.
  • Saints are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games following a S.U. win.

Free 4* NFL Pick: Over 56

While the total is high here, there is still value on it. Both teams specialize in the passing attack while their defenses struggle against it.

New Orleans 40, Atlanta 30

Expect a similar game to the one in week 1.

Check out our Updated NFL Football Week 16 Odds.

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By Tony M

Tony is new to Cappers Picks and has been betting on sports since the first day he turned 18. He is a 22 year old Cleveland native who lives and breathes Indians baseball. His dream is to be part of a championship celebration at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.