Free Pick: CAR-ATL
One of the biggest games in the NFC will be played at the Georgia Dome this Sunday as the first place Carolina Panthers take on the surprising 6-4 Atlanta Falcons.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Falcons a –1 point spread favorite. The over/under for this game has been set at 42.5 total points.
Led by phenomenal rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, the Falcons are 4-2 against the spread in their last six games. Atlanta is also 5-1 against the spread in its last six games at home, while the total has gone over in seven of the Falcons’ last nine games in the Georgia Dome.
The Panthers are just 3-7-2 against the spread in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Atlanta. They did come away with a 24-9 win in Week 4 at home, but Ryan wasn’t playing as well at that point. Not only that, but Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme was playing much better then, than he has of late. The running game has saved the Panthers, but if Atlanta can force Carolina to throw to beat them, they should be in good shape.
The Falcons have the edge in rushing yards per game (153.5 to 133.7) and passing yards per game (207.9 to 186.3). They also average more points per game at 23.1 to 22.2, which is huge because Carolina is only allowing 15.5 points per game.
These two teams usually split their season series, which favors the Falcons in this case since the Panthers won earlier this season. As long as Ryan doesn’t turn the ball over and they can get the running game going, Atlanta should walk away with a much-needed victory. But it’s going to be a tight one.
Our Free NFL Pick for the Week 12 matchup between the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons game is
ATLANTA FALCONS -1
TheSpread.com Projected Final Score
Atlanta Falcons 23
Carolina Panthers 21
We also predict that this game will GO OVER THE TOTAL (42.5 Sportsbook.com) SET BY ODDSMAKERS
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Posted: 11/23/08 1:00PM ET
