NFL Bets – Falcons Still After Top Seed in NFC

Those making their NFL bets this weekend are aware that to guarantee going into the playoffs as the top seed in the NFC, the Atlanta Falcons have to win this Sunday against the Carolina panthers, and so they are going after it in this game that kicks off at 1 PM ET in the Georgia Dome.

For the Panthers, it’s just the end of a very frustrating season. Atlanta is the 14-point favorite in the odds for NFL bets, with an over-under of 41 points.

[Off topic: by the way, do you want to get a 55% bonus on your first deposit here at BetOnline? If so JOIN NOW.]

NFL Bets

Carolina Panthers (2-13 SU, 4-11 ATS) at Atlanta Falcons (12-3 SU, 10-5 ATS)

Live at Georgia Dome

Atlanta, GA

Sunday, January 2 — 1 PM ET

TV: FOX

NFL Betting Odds:

Atlanta -14

Carolina +14

Total 41

Here are some of the trends as they impact our NFL bets on this game:

· Carolina has lost eight of its last nine games SU
· Carolina has covered two of its last nine games
· Carolina has lost its last seven road games SU
· Carolina has covered one of its last five road games

· Atlanta has played seven of its last ten games OVER the total
· Atlanta has won eight of its last nine games SU
· Atlanta has won seven of its last eight home games SU

The general public has been well-advised not to make any NFL bets on the Panthers this season. Carolina has covered just four of the 15 games it has played in, and that is a real disappointment for football bettors, since they covered the last five games of their 2009 season.

People who follow this team, and even some who don’t, are expecting that this is the last game for coach John Fox, with someone like North Carolina resident Bill Cowher one of the top candidates to take over.

The fate of some players is in question as well. Steve Smith has not been happy, and the wide receiver may have some value to a team that could deal draft choices. Jimmy Clausen has thrown the ball 266 times, and he’s thrown just two touchdown passes. Carolina has the #1 pick in the draft, and the decision made by Andrew Luck over his eligibility could be pivotal.

Here are the head-to-head football betting trends that have a bearing on our NFL bets:

· Atlanta has won 17 of the last 25 meetings SU
· Atlanta has covered eight of the last 12 meetings as the home team
· Five of the last six meetings in Atlanta have gone OVER the total
· Atlanta has won nine of the last 12 meetings SU as the home team

The 17-14 loss suffered by Atlanta at the hands of New Orleans on Monday night has virtually assured those making NFL bets that the Falcons are going to have a focused effort. That means they will start Matt Ryan at quarterback and have the rest of the first team cast in place.

A win will give the Falcons the #1 seed in the conference, and it is important for them because the loss to the Saints notwithstanding, they are generally pretty dominant in the Georgia Dome. A loss could dip Atlanta as far as #5 in the NFC pecking order, so as you can see, this one makes a big difference.

Fundamentally, obviously it is very difficult to go in NFL bets with a team like Carolina, which has reached 20 points only twice all year and has covered just two of its last nine. They have scored 14 points a game on the road in seven games. last week’s game at Pittsburgh was kind of shameful, as they were outgained 408-119 by the Steelers.

They have scored 12.4 ppg for the season. Of course, teams sometimes rebound simply on the basis of pride, and Carolina could be dangerous form that standpoint, and they did have 212 rushing yards in the first meeting between these teams.

They also lost that game 31-10, so maybe we shouldn’t expect much in the way of surprises. if we’re going with side here, it’s going to be the Falcons, the 14-point favorite, as we make our NFL bets.

JAY’S PLAY: ATLANTA -14 *
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

Make your NFL bets at BetOnline Sportsbook!