Week 1 Free Pick: Will Saints cover as road favorite vs. Falcons?
By Anthony Rome
ATLANTA, GA (The Spread) - NFC South rivals clash in Atlanta today when the Falcons host the Saints at 1:00PM ET. Will Atlanta cover as a home underdog?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Saints are 3-point road favorites over the host Falcons, while the over/under total is currently sitting at 52 points. Atlanta opened as a 1-point home favorite before the line moved, while the total opened at 52 and that's where it currently sits.
The Saints made a splash in free agency by signing former Bills safety Jairus Byrd, who will team up with 2013 first-round pick Kenny Vaccaro to form a great duo in the backend of Rob Ryan's defense. The team also added another playmaker to their explosive offense when they selected dynamic Oregon State wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
The Falcons look to bounce back from a horrible 2013 where they suffered key injuries early in the season and never recovered. They spent the offseason rebuilding their lines, which included free agent additions of Paul Soliai, Tyson Jackson and Jon Asamoah, as well as first-round draft pick Jake Matthews. If Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White can stay healthy, the offense will once again produce points. But the defense lacks elite pass rushers, which could hamper a secondary with plenty of upside thanks to Desmond Trufant, William Moore and Robert Alford.
NFL FREE PICK: Take New Orleans. According to latest NFL trends, the Saints are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven games versus the Falcons, 4-1 ATS in their last five games in September and 24-11 ATS in their last 35 games on fieldturf. Along with being just 1-4 against the spread in their last five September games, Mike Smith’s Falcons have a complex against the Saints that they just can’t overcome. Chances are the game will be close but Atlanta has often found a way to squander late opportunities versus New Orleans under Smith.
2014 NFL WEEK 1 FREE PICK: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS -3