Lines, Odds, Picks and Preview |
The Atlanta Falcons travel to EverBank Field in Jacksonville this upcoming Friday night to take on the Jaguars in their second game of the NFL preseason. Game time is set for 8 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast nationally on FOX.
Atlanta had the best record in the NFC last season at 13-3, but a disappointing 48-21 loss to Green Bay as a one-point home favorite in the Divisional Round of the playoffs quickly left it hungry for more entering the 2011 season.
Atlanta quickly moved out to a 17-0 first quarter lead, but was unable to hold off the Miami Dolphins in a 28-23 home loss to open the preseason. The Falcons starters played the first quarter and quarterback Matt Ryan finished 6 of 10 for 90 yards. The total went ‘over’ the 33-point line.
All eyes were on wide receiver Julio Jones, the team’s first-round draft pick out of Alabama, as he came away with just a single catch for 12 yards. RB’s Michael Turner and Jason Snelling picked up where they left off last season with a combined 48 yards on 10 carries. Turner scored the first touchdown of the game on a two-yard run.
“I think Julio got indoctrinated into what the NFL is about and in terms of the plays he made,” said head coach Mike Smith. “He showed some skills that we saw when he played at the collegiate level.”
Jacksonville showed little in a 47-12 blowout loss in New England and has moved on in hopes of having starting quarterback David Garrard on the field for this contest.
The total went ‘over’ the 34-point line. The Jaguars went with rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert as their starter in this one, while David Garrard continued to rest a sore back. He has been suffering from a back injury that has limited him in the early going in camp.
Gabbert’s debut was forgettable with a 56.3 completion percentage and just 5.3 yards per attempt, but it was Jacksonville’s defense that gives this team the most cause for concern. It was victimized for 47 points by a couple of quarterbacks not named Tom Brady. Garrard is expected to get the start against Atlanta, but running back Maurice Jones-Drew remains out of the lineup while recovering from offseason knee surgery.
Much of the preseason focus has been spent watching star running back Maurice Jones-Drew on the sidelines, as he returned to on-field duties for the first time on Saturday. He spent most of last year playing through a knee injury, finishing with 1,324 yards and five touchdowns on 299 carries. The former UCLA star has been ruled out of this contest, but would like to see some action in one of the final two preseason games.
Atlanta appears to have the upper hand in this matchup due to being 4-1 ATS under Smith on the road during exhibition action.
The starters for both teams could play well into the second quarter in this game, which does not bode well for Jacksonville. Stick with Atlanta and the three points in this one as it builds enough of a first half lead to hold on for the outright win.
