Seahawks vs. Falcons, 10/27/19 NFL Week 8 Betting Predictions

Seahawks vs. Falcons Week 8 Prediction

Matt Ryan hasn’t missed a game in over a decade but he won’t suit up for the Falcons when they host the Seahawks at 1:00 p.m. ET. Will Seattle cover as a heavy road favorite or will a hapless Atlanta team show up for the first time in over a month?

Game Snapshot

257 Seattle Seahawks (-8.5) at 258 Atlanta Falcons (+8.5); O/U 50.5

1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, October 27, 2019

Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Public Betting Trends

According to our NFL Football Public Betting Chart page, the Seahawks are receiving 71% of the betting tickets from online sportsbooks.

Seattle Seahawks Fantasy Spin

Seahawks DE Ezekiel Ansah (ankle) is a game-time decision for Sunday's matchup against the Falcons. Ansah's absence would be great news for the Falcons' injury-riddled offensive line. The Falcons are expected to roll with Devonta Freeman and Brian Hill as their top-two backs this week with Ito Smith (concussion) already ruled out. Hill was already rotating with Freeman prior to the ejection, indicating that this backfield will likely continue to work as a 1.A/1.B committee. Perhaps Freeman will flirt a snap rate closer to 70% with Smith sidelined, but it'd be surprising to see him suddenly inherit a workhorse role.

Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Spin

Matt Ryan has been ruled out for Week 8 against the Seahawks. This will be Ryan's first missed start in over a decade. His ankle injury wasn't worth playing through with the Falcons out of the playoff picture, especially with a Week 9 bye awaiting. Atlanta will, unfortunately, be starting 38-year-old Matt Schaub, who has 14 passing touchdowns to 20 interceptions since 2013. Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Austin Hooper, and Devonta Freeman's outlooks obviously have to be downgraded for this week.

NFL Betting Trends

Seattle

The Seahawks are a perfect 4-0 against the spread in their last four road games and are 7-3 against the number in their last 10 games played in the month of October.

Atlanta

The Falcons are just 2-5 against the spread in their last seven home games and are 8-20 against the number in their last 28 games overall.

Prediction

All of the value has been sucked out of this line with Ryan out. With Ryan in, the Seahawks likely would have been favored by less than a touchdown. With Matt Schaub starting, the line has jumped all the way up to 8.5 and believe it or not, there’s some value in the Falcons here. Pete Carroll won’t try to embarrass his former DC Dan Quinn in what could be his final game with the Falcons struggling and facing the bye after Sunday. The Seahawks should win, but I don’t think it’ll be by more than a touchdown.

NFL Week 8 Prediction: Atlanta Falcons +8.5