Saints vs. Falcons prediction, odds, line, spread: 2022 NFL picks, Week 1 best bets from proven computer model
Sat, Sep 10, 2022
NFL News (AP)
The New Orleans Saints open the 2022 season hitting the road to take on the Atlanta Falcons in a key early season NFC South rivalry game at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game is one of six divisional matchups on the 2022 Week 1 NFL schedule. The Falcons, under second-year head coach Arthur Smith, will feature a new starting quarterback in veteran Marcus Mariota after franchise legend Matt Ryan was traded to the Colts this offseason. The Saints will be guided by first-year head coach Dennis Allen, who served as the team's defensive coordinator from 2015-2021. Jameis Winston returns for his second season as New Orleans' starting quarterback.
New Orleans is favored by 5.5 points in the latest Falcons vs. Saints odds from Caesars Sportsbook, and the over/under is set at 42.5. Before making any Saints vs. Falcons picks, you need to see the NFL predictions and betting advice from the proven simulation model at SportsLine.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up over $7,500 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters the 2022 NFL season on an incredible 138-97 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. Amazingly, it hasn't missed a top-rated pick since Week 15 last season. The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94 percent of AP Sports Football Pick'em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, the model has set its sights on Falcons vs. Saints'and just locked in its picks and NFL Week 1 predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several NFL odds and betting lines for Falcons vs. Saints:
- Falcons vs. Saints spread: Saints -5.5
- Falcons vs. Saints over-under: 42.5 points
- Falcons vs. Saints picks: See picks here
Why the Falcons can cover
The Falcons are ushering in a new era with Ryan now in Indianapolis. The transition to Mariota should be smooth, though, as the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner worked closely with Smith, who was then a tight ends coach, during his five seasons with the Tennessee Titans.'
Mariota has one of the most explosive young weapons at his disposal in second-year tight end Kyle Pitts. As a rookie, Pitts caught 68 passes for 1,028 yards and 1 touchdown. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 should have an expanded role in 2022, and is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.'
Why the Saints can cover
The Saints may have a new head coach, but continuity shouldn't be an issue with Allen guiding the team's defense for the last seven seasons. New Orleans once again projects to be elite on defense with Pro Bowl caliber defensive players sprinkled all over its roster. The offseason addition of free agent Tyrann Mathieu adds veteran leadership and only makes this unit stronger.
Offensively, All-Pro running back Alvin Kamara is back healthy after missing multiple games in 2021. The former 3rd-round pick will take a lot of pressure off Winston. The Saints will also have 2019 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Michael Thomas back in the lineup, though he is questionable (hamstring) for this one, along with offseason additions Jarvis Landry and Chris Olave.
How to make Falcons vs. Saints picks
The model has simulated Falcons vs. Saints 10,000 times and the results are in. It is leaning Under on the point total, and it's also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in almost 60% of simulations. You can only see the model's Saints vs. Falcons pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Saints vs. Falcons on Sunday? And which side of the spread is hitting almost 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Falcons vs. Saints spread you should be all over Sunday, all from the model on a 138-97 roll on its top-rated NFL picks, and find out.
