MNF Betting Fave Falcons Go For NFL Sweep Over Saints on Dec. 27th

The Atlanta Falcons, with their terrific 12 and 2 record, will try to secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs as the MNF betting favorite when they take on the rival New Orleans Saints on Monday, Dec. 27th.

The Falcons have won 8 straight games. More impressive than that is the fact that Atlanta has gone 8 and 2 against the spread in their last 10 games and are 10 and 4 ATS overall this season. But they face a desperate team in the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.

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Do the Down South Dirty Birds have another victory and cover in them?

New Orleans Saints (10-4) at Atlanta Falcons (12-2)

Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

When: Dec. 27th, 2010 at 8:30 pm EST

TV: ESPN

Radio: Sirius-XM 125 (NO) 154 (ATL)

NFL Betting Line

New Orleans Saints +2 -110 O 48 ½ -110

Atlanta Falcons -2 -110 U 48 ½ -110

The trends favor the Falcons in this matchup.

• The Atlanta Falcons are 8 and 2 ATS in their last 10 games on fieldturf.
• The Atlanta Falcons are 7 and 2 ATS versus a team with a winning record.
• The New Orleans Saints are 4 and 1 ATS versus a team with a winning record.
• The New Orleans Saints are 1 and 4 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

There is a reason that MNF betting fans are so split on which team is likely to cover the spread in this game. 48% favor New Orleans while 52% favor the Atlanta Falcons. The main reason for the split is the fact that the Falcons have won quite a few games this season in the last couple of minutes.

Atlanta beat the Saints in Week 3 after New Orleans kicker Garrett Hartley missed a game winning less than 30-yard field goal and Atlanta made their kick. They beat Baltimore in the last minute with a game-winning touchdown. They beat Green Bay by 3 points on a Matt Bryant field goal with :09 seconds left. They used an interception within the last 2 minutes to secure a 28 to 24 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Falcons have had some luck when winning their games but they’re also a decent overall team. QB Matt Ryan isn’t posting MVP type numbers but he’s as efficient as any QB in the NFL. He runs the Falcons’ offense extremely well. But those MNF betting handicappers who are considering backing Atlanta in this game on Monday night had better take a quick look at the Falcons D.

Atlanta’s defense is ranked in the Top 10 in only 1 defensive category: points allowed, where they are 7th with an 18.9 per game average. The Falcons D is ranked 20th in the league in passing yards. Atlanta gives up 226.8 yards through the air per game. They give up 332.9 yards per game on average.

This is a contrast to the Saints D, which gives up only 195 yards per game through the air and 312 total yards per game overall. Why is taking a look at the passing defense for both teams so important in this? Because the team that scores versus the MNF betting spread on Monday night will be the team that has the more effective passing game. The Saints appear to have that. New Orleans had scored 30 or more points for 5 games in a row before putting up only 24 in a 24 to 30 loss to Baltimore last Sunday.

The Saints are 3rd in the NFL in passing yards per game with a 281.9 average. They average 25.3 points per game. The key for this contest is whether or not the Saints’ offense can get on track early. If it can, then New Orleans will be able to contain the Falcons’ rushing game.

I’m of the opinion that the Saints will get their offense going early and that the defending champs should bounce back from the Ravens loss versus their rivals on Dec. 27th. I’m going with New Orleans to cover the spread in this game.

NFL Betting Pick: New Orleans Saints +2 -110

Log onto the sportsbook and check out MNF betting odds when the New Orleans Saints take on the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 27th, click here!