Saints vs. Falcons Week 18 Prediction
The Saints still have an outside shot at a playoff berth, but they need to beat the Falcons on Sunday and have the 49ers lose to the Rams. Will New Orleans also cover as a 3.5-point road favorite or is Atlanta the better bet as a home dog?
Game Snapshot
467 New Orleans Saints (-3.5) at 468 Atlanta Falcons (+3.5); o/u 40
4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, January 9, 2022
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
TV: FOX
New Orleans Saints DFS Spin
Taysom Hill completed 17-of-28 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown in New Orleans’ 18-10 Week 17 win against the Panthers. Hill also led the team in rushing with 12 carries for 45 yards. His 12-yard dump-off to Alvin Kamara in the fourth quarter not only gifted the Saints a late 18-10 lead but was their first offensive touchdown since the fourth quarter of Week 14. Playing behind an offensive line missing four of its season-opening starters, Hill manufactured a handful of splash plays in man coverage including a 28-yard back-shoulder throw to Marquez Callaway, an 18-yard gain to Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and another deep 15-yard shot to Callaway to put New Orleans in scoring position. Hill will have one more chance to shine this year as the Saints head into their regular-season finale against Atlanta still in the hunt for an NFC Wild Card berth.
Atlanta Falcons DFS Spin
Matt Ryan completed 13-of-23 passes for 197 yards in Atlanta’s 29-15 Week 17 loss to Buffalo. Trailing 29-22 in the fourth quarter, Ryan plunged forward for a seven-yard touchdown that was called back after review since his knee was ruled down at the one-yard line. The issue is that the veteran was caught trash-talking Bills S Jordan Poyer after the play, which resulted in a taunting penalty that pushed Atlanta back to the 16-yard line where Ryan instead threw consecutive incompletions into the end zone on third and fourth down. The Falcons mustered scoring via Mike Davis’ one-yard run in the first half, a safety, and multiple field goals. Atlanta and Ryan will at least have a chance to play spoiler to New Orleans’ playoff hopes in Week 18.
Saints vs. Falcons Betting Prediction
The Saints have covered in six of the last eight meetings between these two teams and are 5-1 against the number in their last six games in Atlanta. New Orleans is also 37-14 against the spread in its last 51 road games, is 10-4 against the number in its last 14 divisional games and is 18-8 against the spread in its last 26 games as a road favorite. Meanwhile, the Falcons are winless ATS in their last four home games and are just 1-4 against the spread in their last five games as a home dog.
NFL WEEK 18 BETTING PREDICTION: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS -3.5
