NFL FOOTBALL BETTING PREDICTION - ATLANTA FALCONS @ ARIZONA CARDINALS

NFL Football

2009-01-03 - Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals

A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals make their first appearance in the playoffs since 1998 and they will be glad that the match will be taking place at their home stadium where they are currently 6-2 this season. The only 2 sides that have managed to leave the desert with a win this season are the reigning Champions the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings. Overall they finished 9-7 and come into the playoffs as the winners of the NFC West.

Arizona managed to wrap up the division with a few weeks to spare thanks to the weakness of the rest of the teams, and they finished their season with 4 losses in their last 6 games. The defence also struggled down the stretch, with teams scoring 30 plus points in 3 of the last 4 games. They have a very bad record against teams outside of their own division, going 3-7 in those games.

Arizona will not surprise anyone today, they will pass and pass the ball when they have it and they have three exceptional talents at the receiving positions, with Larry Fitzgerald, Anquin Boldan and Steve Breaston. Boldan was injured last week but has no doubts that he will be playing in this game.

Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta are one of the couple of surprises in the playoffs this season as they turned around their 4-12 record from last season into a 11-5 record this season in the tough NFC South. This is even more remarkable when considering they did this under the guidance of a new Head Coach and a Rookie QB.

Atlanta did not win their division but came through as one of the Wild Cards from the NFC. The Falcons went 4-4 on the road, but were 4-1 on the road against those teams outside of their own division. They had a 2-1 record on the road against other teams that made the playoffs. Atlanta have come into this game with a lot of momentum, winning 5 of their last 6 games and their defence held teams to less than 17 points in 3 of their last 5 games.

Head to Head and Against the Spread

Atlanta have a terrible record in Arizona, losing 5 of 6 games there and also lost there last season.

Both teams have been struggling recently against the spread. Atlanta have lost 3 of 4 and Arizona are 2-2 over the same period. Atlanta ended 4-4 ATS on the road, and Arizona ended 5-3 ATS at home.

Prediction

I think I was surprised that Atlanta were installed as favourites for this match this week. I think they have had an amazing season and have really produced some top results to ensure they made the playoffs but this is a really tough ask to play in Arizona against a side that can score lots of points quickly. Atlanta have also produced the least interceptions this season out of the teams in the playoffs.

Arizona have so many weapons in their line up and are playing at home. They do not have a lot of momentum coming into this match up but they do have Kurt Warner's experience and know how. The defence will need to step up their game for this game and I think they will really look to take the game out of Michael Turner's hands and force Matt Ryan to beat them.

I think, for me, Arizona have to be the pick in a shoot out.

The Pick :

BEST BETTING TIP :

Arizona Cardinals WIN