Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles Point Spread – Pick ATS 1/13/2018

Point Spread: ATL -3/PHI +3
Over/Under Total: 41

Now that the college season is officially over, the NFL now has our full, 100% attention…in case it didn’t already. There are four games this weekend and the winners will find themselves just one game away from Super Bowl LII. In my opinion, most of these games can go either direction and I will not be surprised with any outcome, especially in the NFC. One of the two NFC showdowns include this game, which I think will be the game of the day when the Atlanta Falcons head into Lincoln Financial to take on the NFC’s top seed, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Yes, the Eagles are the NFC’s top seed, but lets not forget one thing, they are without starting quarterback, Carson Wentz, who was making a strong case for league MVP before his season ending injury. Now the Eagles turn to back up and former starter, Nick Foles. Can Foles put up enough points to stop the Falcons from making their second straight NFC Title Game? Time will tell.

Coming into this game, the Falcons have already made history. It is the first time that a conference’s sixth seed will head into the match up with the top seed as a road favorite. The Falcons come into this game as three point favorites over the Eagles mainly due to the Eagle’s QB situation that I already mentioned. As for the total points, the number is set at 41 combined. As of Tuesday afternoon, the public loved the Falcons in this one. 58% of the action was on Atlanta to cover while just 42% took the road team and top seed. To me, this news does not bode well for the Atlanta Falcons…it almost seems too easy. When a bet seems too easy, it usually is.

The Atlanta Falcons have looked much better over the last few weeks. They are 7-2 in their last nine games and they are coming off a huge road upset of the NFC’s third seed this past weekend in the Los Angeles Rams. Although the Falcons roster is nearly identical to what it was last season when they nearly won the Super Bowl, this team has played with a much different style in 2017-2018. This Atlanta team is winning due to defense. Last year’s team would score, score, score and no one could keep up, this season, the offense is pretty average and the defense is getting the job done.

This is a very intriguing game this weekend. While the Falcons have the 8th ranked defense in the NFL, the Eagles on paper look to be the better team all round. Philadelphia has the 4th best scoring defense allowing just 18 points per game, the 3rd best rushing offense putting up 132 yards per game on the ground, and the 3rd best offense scoring 28.6 a contest. The number that will probably change is the scoring offense and again this goes back to the injury to Carson Wentz. So how can Philadelphia win this game? Easy. Run the ball with success, which is no easy task against Atlanta but this is what it will take to get this offense rolling. If the Falcons shut down the Eagles run game, this game is over and it will not even be close.

From an Atlanta standpoint, they need to get as many possessions as possible in this game. Again, their offense is not as high powered as it once was and this game is coming down to defense and turnovers. The Falcons will want to shut down the run like I already mentioned and put the load on the shoulders of Nick Foles. Matt Ryan and the offense is playing better than they were in the middle of the season. Although they are settling for a lot of field goals, it is working. I will use a baseball term to describe this team…small ball. This team plays tough defense, gets first downs, moves the ball, and scores just enough to get the win. In the NFC right now, that could get the job done, especially this weekend against the Eagles.

So what happens Saturday night? I think this is a low scoring, old school smash mouth game that comes down to the little things. Special teams and defense will make the difference. I have a feeling we see a late turnover by the Eagles that gives Atlanta an easy score to pull away and win this game 23-17 over the Eagles on their way to their second straight NFC title game.

Bob’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: TAKE THE ATLANTA FALCONS -3 OVER THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES. – If you went to the store and two of the same exact product were sitting side by side; One for $105.00 and one for $110.00, which would you buy? THE CHEAPER ONE OF COURSE! So why are you still betting at -110 odds when you could be betting at -105? Dump your overpriced bookie TODAY and start enjoying the benefits of discounted odds at the web’s BEST sportsbook: 5Dimes!