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Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles NFL Predictions & Odds

Written by Jimmy Boyd

The Atlanta Falcons were supposed to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season in a rebuilding year, but they are out of the gates with a 4-2 record and right in the thick of things in the NFC South. They take on the 3-3 Philadelphia Eagles on the road this week and odds makers are high on Philly. The Eagles are listed as 9.5-point favorites with the total set at 45.

Falcons QB Matt Ryan starred in Philadelphia in high school and now he will try his best to star again in this week’s matchup. It’s not going to be easy as he faces an Eagles team desperate for a win and a blitzing defense among the league leaders in sacks.

Neither team has the excuse of being unprepared as each team is coming off a bye week.

Much of the Falcons early season success can be attributed to the fast learning curve of Ryan. Despite being the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, he is already surpassing expectations as to what Atlanta thought he’d be capable of in his rookie capaign.

Ryan has thrown four touchdowns strikes against just one interceptions over his last four games while leading the Falcons to three wins during that stretch.

Having one of the NFL’s top running backs to provide some offensive balance has certainly helped make things easier on the former Boston College standout. Michael Turner is third on the NFL with 597 rushing yards in his first season as a starter. The Falcons have the second ranked rushing attack in the NFL at 163 yards per game.

The Michael Vick conviction and the Bobby Petrino sudden departure left the Falcons in quite the predicament but the team has put those things behind them and is in a position to make the postseason if its stays the course. If you think Atlanta is not getting the respect it deserves with this line, bet the Falcons at +9.5 at BetUS and get up to a 50% signup bonus.

With the Eagles not exactly coming out of the gate like gang busters thanks to some injuries early on, Philly fans may be more interested in Game 4 of the World Series on Sunday. The Eagles are going to have to give their fans something to talk about this week.

Philly does not want to miss out on the postseason for the third time in four seasons after dominating the NFC in the early part of the decade.

The offense is among the best in the NFL, averaging 28 points per game, but it often cools off in the second half, which has cost the Eagles losses to Chicago and Washington.

The Eagles are hoping to build off of a nice 40-26 win at San Francisco in their last game. They finally kicked things in high gear in the second half, outscoring the 49ers 23-0 in the fourth quarter.

The bye week represents a lot of hope for the Eagles as they are expected to get running back Brian Westbrook and wide receiver Kevin Curtis back this week. The Eagles are also an unbeaten 9-0 following a bye week under head coach Andy Reid.

You can bet the Eagles are going to try to put the heat on the Falcons rookie QB with their ferocious pass rush. The Eagles are tied for second in the league with 21 sacks and have a jaw-dropping 14 in three home games.

While Ryan has been solid at home with a 121.9 passer rating, he has not been so solid on the road with a mark of just 59.2.

The Falcons will also not have history on their side as they have not won in Philly since 1988. If you like Philadelphia to run up the score on the Falcons this week, bet the Eagles at BetUS.

You can check out the NFL lines at other sportsbooks each and every week right here at Locksmith Sports.

Editor’s Note: Bet on the NFL with Jimmy Boyd’s Week 8 picks. You don’t want to miss out on his 5* NFL Underdog of the Year or 5* AFC South Game of the Year winners.

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