Blog Archives

Atlanta Falcons – Everyone knows the Falcons are looking to win right now with their blockbuster trade to move up and take wide receiver Julio Jones. They also traded up later on to get running back Jacquizz Rodgers. While both of these players should help the team, there is still a question mark at defensive end. John Abraham is 33 and the only real threat they have. They may go after someone in free agency or hope that seventh round pick Cliff Matthews will pan out.

27) Atlanta Falcons – Adrian Clayborn, Defensive End, Iowa

A first team All-Big Ten selection, Clayborn is a powerful defensive end that can add a boost to the Falcons pass rush. He didn’t produce in his senior year like he did when he was a junior and had 11 sacks, but he is good value at this point in the draft.

28) New England Patriots – Gabe Carimi, Offensive Tackle, Wisconsin

The rich get richer as the Patriots grab another player with a ton of talent that can start right away. Matt Light may not return and the Pats would need a replacement for him. A mountain of a man at 6’7, he was the Outland award winner for best offensive lineman.

Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons are on the league’s most solid teams, with few holes at any position. With tight end Tony Gonzalez getting up there in age, the team should consider bringing in some young talent at the position. Defensive end is also an area to add some youth as John Abraham is approaching his mid-30’s and likely won’t be able to maintain his high level of play.

The Green Bay Packers appeared to dominate play in their Wild Card Playoff win over the Eagles, so it was somewhat surprising that Philadelphia had the ball with a chance to win in the final minute. Michael Vick’s interception ended that hope though, so it sets up the Packers for this rematch with the Atlanta Falcons, the top seed in the NFC after a 13-3 regular season.

The NFL playoff odds list Atlanta at -2 at home, with the betting total set at 43½.

We did the splits in the NFL Wild Card Round going 2-2, correctly calling the upsets by the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers, but failing badly with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Saints vs. Seahawks ‘under’. We now look to improve on that record with our Divisional Round plays.

Saturday, January 15th

Baltimore Ravens (13-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) 4:30 ET CBS

Now that the NFL Playoffs are here, it is time to dissect the Super Bowl Future odds to see where the value lies.

The key to playing futures is to find a team that is undervalued at double-digit odds, as that always leaves open the possibility of hedging your wager down the line if you so desire, provided you are correct and your team exceeds expectations.

Well, we did not have to look far to find such a team, so here is our one and only Super Bowl future selection for 2010.

The Atlanta Falcons (12-2) can clinch both the NFC South and the top seed in the NFL with a win this week, while the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints (10-4) would need to win this game to clinch a playoff spot if the favored Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Seahawks on Sunday.

The NFL latest line for this contest is Atlanta -2.5 at home, with the betting total set at 48.5.

Even if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lose on Sunday, thereby already assuring New Orleans of a playoff berth, the Saints still have the incentive of trying the win the South, which they would do by winning their last two games combined with a Falcons’ loss to Carolina at home next week.

We are getting in to the home-stretch of the NFL season where the teams that can truly win under pressure separate themselves from the talented teams that can’t function under pressure (ahem, Dallas). With that said, if you are going to bet on Super Bowl futures, you can get some pretty good deals if you think you know which teams have the right make up to win in high-pressure situations.

The Baltimore Ravens (6-2) and Atlanta Falcons (6-2) are both playing on very short weeks in the first Thursday night game of the season since Week 1, as neither had a bye last week.

The Ravens were very impressive in beating the Miami Dolphins much easier than expected 26-10 at home, while the Falcons also played at home right here in this building and beat Tampa Bay 27-21 in a key divisional battle to take control of the NFC South.

The NFL latest line for this contest is Atlanta -1 at home, with the nfl over/under set at 43.5.

This contest means a lot more to the San Francisco 49ers, who are trying to avoid an 0-4 start after being picked by many to win the NFC West this season, than it does to the 2-1 Atlanta Falcons, who are in a letdown spot after upsetting the Super Bowl Champion Saints on the road.

The bookmakers set the NFL spread on this contest at Atlanta -6½ at home, with the betting total set at 34.

The Atlanta Falcons had a great game plan against the Saints, that being to run the ball often in an attempt to run the clock, shorten the game and keep the New Orleans offense on the sideline. Well, mission accomplished!