Atlanta Falcons vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 10/7/18 Week 5 Predictions

Falcons vs. Steelers Spread Prediction

The reeling Atlanta Falcons will face another desperate team on Sunday when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1:00 p.m. ET. Will the Steelers cover the point spread as a small home favorite?

Game Snapshot

461 Atlanta Falcons at 462 Pittsburgh Steelers

1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, October 7

Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Public Betting Trends

According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Steelers are 3-point favorites to beat the Falcons. The total, meanwhile, sits at 58 points. As of this writing, 52% of the public betting tickets are on the Steelers to cover the point spread.

Atlanta Falcons

Devonta Freeman (knee) wasn't listed on the Falcons' final injury report for Week 5 against the Steelers. He's returning from a three-game absence. Tevin Coleman (shin) was also taken off the injury report Friday, meaning the Falcons will have their full complement of backfield weapons available for Week 5. With a shootout on top Sunday at Pittsburgh, Freeman should be started as an upside RB2 in all formats.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers OC Randy Fichtner admitted he "probably just needs to do a better job heating up" James Conner with more carries early in games. "It’s just like quarterbacks, too," Fichtner continued. "You get into a rhythm. And all good running backs, they need that rhythm." Conner has been a relative disappointment Weeks 2-4 following his huge opener. Over the last three games, Conner has rushed 24 total times for 97 yards and one touchdown, adding 13 catches. The catch numbers are nice, but that's not a Le'Veon Bell-type workload on the ground after Conner went 31-135-2 as a runner in Week 1. This week presents a huge get-right spot for Conner and the Steelers offense against a depleted Falcons team with the highest game total of 2018 at 58 points.

NFL Betting Trends

Atlanta

The Falcons are 1-4 against the spread in their last five road games and are 1-4 against the number in their last five games overall.

Pittsburgh

The Steelers are 1-5 against the number in their last six games overall and are winless ATS in their last seven home games.

Prediction

The Falcons have lost middle linebacker Deion Jones, safeties Ricardo Allen and Keanu Allen, and will be without stud defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (ankle) on Sunday. Dan Quinn can talk about “next man up” all he wants but you can’t win with four stud defenders on the sidelines. The Steelers were shut out in the second half of each of their last two games and they too are struggling. But the Falcons couldn’t outscore their own defense in back-to-back home games. I doubt they’ll do it on the road against a desperate Steelers team.

NFL Week 5 Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers -3