Redskins vs. Falcons Prediction
Are the Falcons worth a play tonight for bettors as a small favorite against the Redskins at 7:00PM ET?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, Atlanta is now a 2.5-point home favorite over Washington tonight after the line opened at Falcons -3. As for the over/under, the total remains at 37 after it opened at that same number.
Bet Tonight’s Redskins vs. Falcons Game
The Redskins largely return the same team that went to the playoffs last year after winning the NFC East. Kirk Cousins returns at quarterback, while Matt Jones takes over as the lead running back and Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson will be the main outside threats. The big offseason acquisition came on defense, as Josh Norman inked a huge deal to play opposite Bashaud Breeland in an improved secondary.
The Falcons’ core hasn’t changed much either heading into Dan Quinn’s second season in Atlanta. Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman all return, although the offensive line received a huge boast this offseason with the addition of former Brown center Alex Mack. Quinn also wanted to get faster and more aggressive on defense, so the team invested second and fourth-round picks on Deion Jones and De’Vondre Campbell, respectively, as well as a first-round selection in Florida safety Keanu Neal.
Our Pick
Most preseason games come down to the play of the backups in the second half. After Cousins plays a series or two, Colt McCoy will see significant playing time in the second and third quarter before rookie Nate Sudfeld takes over in the fourth. The Falcons have a distinct advantage in that after Ryan leaves the game, veteran Matt Schaub will enter before 2013 seventh-rounder Sean Renfree plays deep into the second half. I like Renfree playing better in the fourth than Sudfeld in his NFL debut.
2016 NFL WEEK 1 PRESEASON PREDICTION: ATLANTA FALCONS -2.5