The New Orleans Saints rebounded nicely from their loss on November 10 to Atlanta, beating Tampa Bay on the road by 17 and then edging Carolina by three points at home. We have your sports betting preview right here. They have a record of 9-2, with a four-game lead over Carolina in the NFC South. Now they head to Atlanta on Thanksgiving night with a chance to avenge that loss from three weeks ago.
The Falcons had followed up that win over the Saints with a big road win over Carolina two weeks ago, only to come home and get steamrolled by Tampa Bay last week. The Saints would clinch a postseason slot with a win over the Falcons, while Atlanta has to win out and get some help if they want a wild card into the playoffs. Check out our sports betting preview for this NFC South matchup.
Saints vs Falcons 2019 NFL Week 13 Odds & Expert Prediction
3 #Saints ruled OUT for Thursday night’s game vs the Falcons Story: https://t.co/hd6BVnW4wo#ATLvsNO pic.twitter.com/maS9elHAcm
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 27, 2019
- When: Thursday, November 28, 2019, 8:20 pm ET
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- TV: NBC
- Radio: Westwood One
- Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
- NFL Week 13 Odds: New Orleans -6.5
Why should you bet on the Saints?
Pretty much the only subpar game New Orleans has turned in was that first matchup against the Falcons. The Falcons are a bit of an enigma, because their talent level is such that they should be a lot better than 3-8. They showed spurts of that in their wins over Carolina and Atlanta, but then they went back to their old ways against the Buccaneers, giving up way too much on defense, as Jameis Winston had plenty of room to throw the ball down the field.
New Orleans’ offense remains one of the most reliable units in the NFL. Quarterback Drew Brees threw for three touchdowns against one pick, going 30 for 39 for 311 yards. Michael Thomas caught ten balls for 101 yards and a score, and tailback Latavius Murray also found the end zone, running seven times for 64 yards. Alvin Kamara remains a solid option out of the backfield, not just running the ball but also catching passes on wheel routes and the like. If you like the Saints, you see them taking advantage of Atlanta’s inconsistencies on both sides of the ball — and getting redemption for that earlier loss.
Why should you put your money on the Falcons?
If you are looking for explanations for Atlanta’s inconsistencies, one place to begin is with quarterback Matt Ryan. He only completed 23 of his 46 attempts for 271 yards and an interception. The running game is also a problem, as the team was led by Qadree Ollison, who only picked up 20 yards on the day. Davonta Freeman is having another down season, with 107 carries — and just 371 yards to show for them. Freeman and Julio Jones are both listed as questionable for this week, and if they can’t go, the Falcons will struggle to move the ball.
Another issue for Matt Ryan has been the interception bug, as he has 10 picks on the season. He has relied heavily on Julio Jones, who has caught 64 balls for 950 yards and four scores. Given the limitations in the running game, when the Falcons have played well, they have done so because Ryan has had time to throw in the pocket. If you like Atlanta in this game, you could see the Saints overlooking Atlanta a bit, but given that the Saints already lost to the Falcons at home, I don’t see a Sean Peyton-coached team doing that twice in the same season.
Final Score Prediction
I wish the Falcons played as well as they look on paper, but they just haven’t — not since coughing up that 28-3 lead to the New England Patriots a few Super Bowls ago. I see Atlanta showing flashes of offense but, given their injuries on that side of the ball, failing to keep up with the Saints. I predict a final score of New Orleans 34, Atlanta 23.
