2010 Atlanta Falcons Future Wager

Free NFL Pick: Take Atlanta over 9

Head coach Mike Smith and his Falcons fell one game short of the NFL Playoffs last year, much of it due to Matt Ryan’s injury. Mike Smith wants to get the Falcons back to the playoffs, like they did in the 2008 season. One bright spot from last year is the Falcons finished strong by winning three straight games. This will give them the momentum they need to the start the 2010 season.

Sports bettors loved the Falcons last season as Atlanta posted an 11-5 record against the betting line. They posted a very good 5-1 betting line record as home favorites, and were 4-2 against the betting line as road underdogs. A couple of sports betting angles to be aware of this season is that have a revenge matchup against the Eagles but beware as the Falcons are a very poor 2-8 against the betting line when playing Philadelphia. However, one of the best trends in football betting is the fact that Atlanta is 21-4 against the betting line when playing at New Orleans.

They will have Ryan back at full strength this season, but almost as important is to have Michael Turner healthy for the entire season. The bruising running back gained 871 yards despite missing five games due to injury. In the draft, the Saints used their first pick, the 19th in the first round, on Missouri linebacker Sean Witherspoon. The tough linebacker is strong and fast and should provide immediate help to the Falcon defense. Atlanta is excited with their third round pick, offensive lineman Mike Johnson from Alabama. He was a important cog in that great Bama offensive line that opened the holes for Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. This strong guy should provide much needed depth to the Falcons offensive line.

Atlanta opens the 2010 NFL football season on the road against the Pittsburg Steelers. This should be an edge for the Falcons as Pittsburgh will be without suspended QB Ben Roethlisberger. The Falcons have a bit of a strange season as their conference games are back loaded on the schedule, where four of their final five games are against conference opponents. Their lone early conference game is in week three at the Super Bowl Champion Saints.

We think the Falcons are going to once again get off to a fast start this season. Last year they won six of their first eight games, and we wouldn’t be surprised if they win five or six of their first seven games. After those first seven games they then get their bye week, before two home games versus Tampa Bay and a Monday Night matchup in Atlanta versus Baltimore. If things fall into place we won’t be surprised to see Atlanta win seven of their first nine games.

BetUS.com, one of the leading online sportsbooks, has the Falcons future number at nine wins. If my projections hold true, that would mean Atlanta would have to win three of their last seven games to get to 10 wins. In those last seven games they play at St. Louis, at Tampa Bay, at Seattle, and home versus Carolina in the season finale, in our opinion all winnable games. The other three at are Green Bay, at Carolina, and home on Monday night versus New Orleans, all tough games.

If you add it all up, we’re betting on Atlanta to get 10 regular season wins as they did in Smith and Ryan’s first year. It wouldn’t be a shock to see them finish at 11 wins. The Saints may have a bit of a Super Bowl Champion letdown and might have the Falcons chasing them right down to the wire for the NFC South Division Title. If you’re going to make a football betting future wager then the Falcons look like a good play on Over 9 wins!

Free NFL Pick: Take Atlanta Over 9

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