NFL Football
2010-12-19 - Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
Football : United States : NFL : Week 15
Sunday 19 December 2010 - Kickoff 4:05pm ET
9:05pm (British Standard Time)
Seattle Seahawks (6-7)
The Seattle Seahawks have a losing record, have really struggled in recent weeks, and look like an accident waiting to happen whenever their Offense has the ball. The Defense is struggling to make effective tackles while the Special Teams is their strongest unit. However, all that said, they still top the miserable NFC West this season with their fate in their own hands for now. Seattle share the lead of the Division with St Louis who would have played earlier in the day.
Last week, the Seahawks were abysmal as they completely folded at the hands of Alex Smith and the San Francisco 49ers. The Defense failed to make effective tackles and Matt Hasselbeck was poor at QB. However, he will have Mike Williams and Ben Obomanu back in the receiving corps this week which make him more effective.
Hasselbeck now has 8 Interceptions in the last 3 games as the Seahawks have turned the ball over 16 times in the last 6 games. It is no surprise they have won just 2 of their last 7 games.
The additional factor to worry about for Seattle is that they have not played well against decent QBs recently. Their only wins have come against Max Hall/Derek Anderson and Jimmy Clauson recently, while the other games have seen them lose by 15 points or more.
Atlanta Falcons (11-2)
Atlanta share the best record in the NFL with the New England Patriots and currently hold a 1 game lead over New Orleans in the NFC South. If they can maintain that lead, they will gain home field advantage throughout the Play Offs and will be likely the favourite to win the Conference.
The most impressive thing in recent games is that they have effectively been on a road trip, this being their 4th road game in the last 5 games, yet they keep winning. Matt Ryan is averaging 247 yards per game through the air in the last 7 wins they have recorded and has 13 TD passes to 4 Interceptions. Michael Turner has had 3 100 yard games in his last 4 starts and has 10 TDs on the ground in the winning run, including 3 last week as the Falcons destroyed Carolina.
Atlanta averages 25 points per game this season, tied for 5th in the NFL. Matt Ryan could have another huge game here against the 30th ranked Pass Defense of the Seahawks.
The Falcons do not possess the stoutest of Defenses, but they are very opportunistic. The unit are tied for 6th in the NFL with 17 Interceptions this season and they have helped the Offense by securing 24 turnovers this season. Those 24 turnovers have then been converted into 84 points. I expect John Abraham to have a big game again here as the Defensive Line should be able to overpower the Seattle Offensive Line.
Head to Head
The teams last met in 2007 when Atlanta won in a shootout by 3 points at home. The Falcons have not won in Seattle since 1997.
Atlanta are 7-2 against the spread in their last 9 games playing on the surface we will see on Sunday. The Falcons have won their last 5 against the spread.
Seattle are 2-5 against the spread in their last 7 games overall. They are 2-2 in recent home games.
Other Interesting Notes
Atlanta have been picked heavily in Vegas with 81% of the money landing on them for this game.
Prediction
This game concerns me for Seattle for a couple of reasons. Their recent home losses have been heavy ones to New York Giants and Kansas City, both of those teams forcing turnovers and also running the ball all over Seattle.
That concerns me as those areas are 2 of the strengths for the Falcons, who continue to impress against teams on the road. There is a chance Atlanta look ahead to the New Orleans game next week, but they are aware if they win out, they will control the NFC.
Atlanta seem to have too many weapons for this Seattle team, and I expect them pull away in the 2nd half and record a double digit victory.
I will take Atlanta to win and cover the point spread.
The Statistics :
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Pick :
Seattle Seahawks 17-27 Atlanta Falcons
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll take the Atlanta Falcons - 5.5 Points to cover the spread again.
