NFL Football
2012-09-09 - Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs
A Sports Betting Pick by Addicted
American Football : North America : NFL
Sunday, September 9th, 2012, 1:00PM (6:00PM GMT)
PREVIEW
Atlanta will want to wash the taste of that early humiliating postseason exit out of their mouths and here is their chance, albeit a difficult one. The Falcons are in town to play the Kansas City Chiefs and the oddsmaker are making them only the slightest of favourites.
Matt Ryan and his side went down 24-2 to the New York Giants, who went on to upset the Packers and then the Patriots. That will be no consolation at all because Ryan, who has been excelellent for his side in winning them 43 regular season games in 62 appearances, has yet to find success in a playoff fixture.
They should do well though against a Kansas City side that went 7-9 last term. They are improved but so are the Falcons, who will not have to put as much pressure on RB Michael Turner as Ryan and his receivers have been working with a new offensive co-ordinator.
I can't stress enough just how bad Atlanta will want this. Imagine scoring 25 points or more on average per game, getting to the playoffs, and then not scoring a single offensive point!! It's going to come down to Ryan though. When he performs, the Falcons win. Every time. When Ryan has a passer rating of over 100 his side have gone 23-0!
I think he will have success here, because what I have seen of the Kansas City defence in preseason is not good. In 4 preseason games, they have been torched for 116 points! At home, they gave up 44 to the Seattle Seahawks and another 31 to St. Louis, both of whom aren't as good as Ryan and his Falcons. There are injury and absences to this defence which will hurt as they are without Flowers and Hali. If it's not Ryan hitting them through the air, Turner will hammer them on the ground, and it leaves me wondering why this spread has climbed down in many books from almost a FG.
BETTING VERDICT
I rate Matt Ryan too highly and I'm going to go with him to get the Falcons their opening win.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Atlanta Falcons
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Take Atlanta -1 point @ 1.82 (Pinnacle)
