NFL Playoffs Betting |
The Atlanta Falcons will invade MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey this Sunday afternoon for a Wildcard Round showdown against the NFC East champion New York Giants. This clash between the fifth and fourth seeds in the NFC is slated to kick-off at 1 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on FOX.
Atlanta won five of seven games down the stretch including a 45-24 romp over Tampa Bay in last Sunday’s regular season finale as a 10-point home favorite, but it was not nearly enough to catch New Orleans in the NFC South. The Falcons finished 10-6 straight-up and 7-8-1 against the spread. They were 4-4 SU and 3-5 ATS on the road this season and the total went 7-9 overall.
While the Saints’ offense drew all the attention in the division, Atlanta put up some impressive numbers in its own right. Matt Ryan threw for 4,177 yards and 29 touchdowns and Michael Turner racked-up 1,340 yards on the ground. Overall, the Falcons were ranked 10th in the NFL in total yards and seventh in scoring with 25.1 points a game.
It has been a tale of three seasons for New York. A 6-2 start, followed by a 1-5 free-fall that was capped-off with impressive victories over the Jets and Cowboys in its final two games by a combined score of 60-28 to claim the division title. This all added-up to a 9-7 SU record and an 8-7-1 record ATS overall. The Giants were 4-4 SU (3-4-1 ATS) at home and the total went 8-7-1 in their 16 games this year.
It has also been an up and down ride for Eli Manning this season with a couple of amazing fourth quarter comebacks to go along with some games he would rather forget. Manning ended the season with 4.933 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, but completed less than 58 percent of his passes in six of his last nine games.
The Falcons are 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games following a SU win and 1-4 ATS in their last five postseason games. The total has stayed ‘under’ in seven of their last nine games following a SU win, but it has gone ‘over’ in three of their last four games in the playoffs.
The Giants are 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall and 5-1 ATS in their last six playoff games. The total has stayed ‘under’ in four of their last five playoff games at home.
Head-to-head in this series, the road team is a perfect 8-0 ATS in the last eight meetings with Atlanta going 5-0 ATS in their last five trips to New Jersey. The total has stayed ‘under’ in five of the last seven meetings.
This is shaping-up as the best contest on this weekend’s slate of games as both these teams are more than capable of beating the other. The difference will be Atlanta’s ability to control the clock down the stretch with its running game.
The Pick: Atlanta 31 New York 28
