Sit back and enjoy the Saints and Falcons

LAST season’s Superbowl winners meet one of this season’s Superbowl favourites in a tremendous Monday night football clash at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta tonight. However, from a betting point of view, this is a game best watched rather than taken on.

The Falcons, at 12-2, stand just one win away from wrapping up the number one seed in the NFC, a fact that could be a crucial for a team who are so good at home. Atlanta has not lost at home all season, already having beaten playoff contenders Green Bay, Tampa Bay and Baltimore. The Falcons last home loss was in fact against the Saints more than a year ago, a late field goal giving the visitors a 26-23 victory. A victory for the Falcons either this week or next will guarantee that the road to the Superbowl will have to pass through Atlanta.

As for New Orleans, they find themselves in a similar position to Atlanta, needing to win one of their next two games to secure a playoff berth. The Saints stand at 10-4, after a 6-point loss in Baltimore last week. However, New Orleans had regained its swagger with a six-game win-streak prior to that loss and has looked like it may be getting back to its best. The Saints offence, led by Drew Brees, remains one of the most potent in the league, but their run defence will be severely tested in this game. The Falcons overtime win in New Orleans earlier this year was powered by 202 yards on the ground, and the Ravens gained 208 yards against the Saints last Sunday via the same method.

This is one of those games, between two very talented football teams, that the bookies have priced up correctly and there is no real angle to be found. The Falcons are justifiably favourites given their ability to run the ball and their superb record at home, but backing them at a short-price to beat New Orleans is not an enticing proposition. Equally, backing New Orleans to end the Falcons tremendous home record at a best price of 4/3 is of no great interest. This is a game that is definitely best avoided, but could be a real treat to watch.

SUGGESTION:

No Bet