One of the NFL matchups this week that involves two heated rivals will take place in New Orleans, where the New Orleans Saints will host the Atlanta Falcons. Continue reading below to get our best Falcons vs Saints spread and much more.
Going into this game, the Falcons vs Saints spread has New Orleans as a favorite.
However, the Falcons will be trying something new at quarterback and that change could be just the shake-up that Atlanta needs to turn their season around.
Atlanta Falcons Season Forecast
While the Atlanta Falcons standings positioning is not exactly impressive this season, they are still in the mix for the NFC South championship.
At 5-8 on the year, which is around where they were expected to be, the Falcons are just a game back of the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
That makes games like this one all the more important, as the Falcons still have a chance to get to the postseason.
Moneyline
Opening Line
Atlanta opened as +145 underdogs coming into this contest. But the decision to play Desmond Ridder at quarterback over Marcus Mariota has had an influence in the marketplace since then.
How the Line Has Moved and Why
Atlanta now sits at +175 on the moneyline, with the move to go to a rookie quarterback in his first start playing a major role.
Ridder has yet to take a snap at the NFL level, and his first action as a pro could be difficult against a respectable Saints defense.
What Could Make The Bet Lose
Above all else, the inexperience of Ridder could cause this bet to lose. The Saints will be likely to put pressure on the inexperienced quarterback of the Falcons, which could really prevent him from getting going offensively.
Spread Line
Opening Line
The original Falcons vs Saints spread had the Falcons as three-point underdogs heading into this game. That line has since increased, as the Falcons are now 4.5-point underdogs with some time still to go until this game plays out.
How the Line Has Moved and Why
This is once again a product of the market reacting to the choice to start Ridder over Mariota.
While Mariota has been far from an elite passer this season, his ability to cover NFL point spreads has been well-documented in the first half of this season.
Without any frame of reference, bettors are backing the Saints, and the market is reacting accordingly.
What Could Make The Bet Lose
It could be difficult for the Falcons to cover the spread in this game, as they may not be able to mount any sort of late comeback.
Usually, teams can at least get a late score to put a game within one possession. But a rookie quarterback could struggle to do even that.
Total
Opening Line
The total for this NFC South affair opened at 42 points and has moved both up and down in the week or so since.
How the Line Has Moved and Why
First, the line moved down slightly to 41.5 points, before going the other way and reaching 43.5 points.
This could be a sign of confidence in the Saints’ offense, as they should have a lot of possession should Ridder struggle.
What Could Make The Bet Lose
This bet could lose if the Falcons’ defense steps up in a big way against the Saints.
Atlanta’s offense may not be capable of doing much in this game, meaning an over could be hard to get to if the Falcons defend well.
Atlanta Falcons Betting Trend to Know
Atlanta is 4-1 against the spread over their last five games.
New Orleans Saints Season Forecast
This season, the New Orleans Saints were expected to compete for a spot in the playoffs, with a ton of skill position players to help a returning Jameis Winston.
But the health of the New Orleans offense has been lacking, and their spot in this year’s NFL team standings has been as well.
But at 4-9, the Saints are still just two games back in the NFC South, and will hope for a huge win here.
Moneyline
Opening Line
The opening moneyline for this contest had the Saints at -170, which has only become wider since then.
How the Line Has Moved and Why
New Orleans is now a -205 moneyline favorite, with the Falcons’ quarterback depth chart being a huge reason for that move.
What Could Make The Bet Lose
Looking at this year’s New Orleans Saints stats, they are a losing team at home on the year. They have gone 3-4 in home games, and it is entirely possible that they lose at home again in this contest.
Spread Line
Opening Line
This contest opened with the Saints as three-point favorites against the Atlanta Falcons. New Orleans has since become an even bigger favorite.
How the Line Has Moved and Why
The current Falcons vs Saints spread has the Saints as 4.5-point favorites at home as they look to move to .500 at home on the year. The line move had a lot to do with the quarterback change for Atlanta, as well as their recent struggles running the ball.
What Could Make The Bet Lose
Though the Saints are a justifiable favorite in this contest, the Saints are one of the worst teams in the NFL against the spread.
They are 5-8 against the spread this season and that could stop them from covering this number.
Total
Opening Line
The opening total in this NFC South showdown was 42, and that number has since increased.
How the Line Has Moved and Why
The current total for this Falcons vs. Saints contest is 43.5, and this is one of the more interesting line moves of the week in the NFL.
This is likely a sign of confidence in the Saints’ offense against a Falcons team that could be in disarray at quarterback.
What Could Make The Bet Lose
A look at this year’s NFL team stats would tell you that both of these teams have gone under the total in seven of their 13 games on the season.
That slight majority winning out would mean a bad day for over-bettors.
Saints Betting Trend to Know
Over/under bettors beware, the Saints have split their last six games 3-3 in the totals market.
Most Profitable Players of this Matchup to Bet On
When it comes to players to bet on during Week 15 of the NFL schedule, there are some solid candidates from this particular game.
The first is Desmond Ridder to get into the end zone at any time for the Falcons.
While he does not have any NFL player stats to rely on, the Falcons have shown a willingness to move their quarterback by design, and Ridder could help bettors benefit from that.
The over on Chris Olave receiving yards could also be an interesting angle to take.
With Michael Thomas again on the NFL injury report and likely out for the season, Olave should see more targets down the stretch of this season. That will help him put up big numbers once again.
Finally, bettors should consider the under on Cordarrelle Patterson’s rushing yards. He has not gone over the 60-yard mark since late September.
Some of that has had to do with injuries, but he is also topping out at 11 carries or so lately, which has hurt his production.
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