Falcons vs. Jets Prediction
Will the struggling Falcons snap their three-game losing streak and cover against the underdog Jets at 1:00PM ET?
Who Oddsmakers Like: Atlanta. According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Falcons are now 6.5-point road favorites to beat the Jets, who opened as a 7-point underdog. As for the total, the number hit the board at 47 but was bet down to 44.5 at the majority of sports books.
Who the Public Likes: Atlanta. Despite losing three straight, the public still likes the Falcons. As of this writing, Matt Ryan and Co. are receiving 64% of the backing from public bettors. The Falcons have lost three straight to fall to 3-3 on the year and they’re just 2-4 at the betting window. On the other side, the Jets are 3-4 straight up but 4-2 against the spread.
Who the Trends Like: Both teams. The Falcons are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games against teams with a losing record and are 9-3 against the number in their last 12 road games, although they’re just 1-2 ATS on the road this year. The Jets, meanwhile, are 4-0 against the spread in their last four home games and 4-0-1 at the betting window in their last five games overall.
Who We Like: New York. I’m going to fade the Falcons until they prove they’re no longer out of sync offensively and underachieving defensively. This team is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball but perhaps the Super Bowl hangover is real. Ryan isn’t throwing or connecting on any deep passes, he doesn’t appear to be on the same page at least on the field as new OC Steve Sarkisian, and “Sark” is struggling as a first-year NFL play-caller. If the Falcons were to rely on Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman more to set up the pass, perhaps they’ll get back to being the team that lit up the league last year. Until then, there’s no reason to lay a touchdown on the road with a team that has lost three straight and who hasn’t looked competitive in six straight quarters dating back to their 17-0 halftime lead versus the Dolphins in Week 7. Furthermore, the Jets have been competitive in every game for the past month and have more than enough to beat a struggling Falcons team outright. (I’ll still take the points.)
NFL WEEK 8 PREDICTIONS: NEW YORK JETS +7 (BUY THE HOOK UP)