Falcons Have Covered in Five Straight Games
The Atlanta Falcons (4-2 SU) have established themselves as the undisputed favorites in the NFC South, and they’ll look to put another W on the board against the San Diego Chargers (2-4 SU) in Week 7 NFL action on Sunday.
Sports bettors looking for an edge will want to pay attention to this contest. The Falcons have dominated this series lately, triumphing in each of the last six meetings between the clubs. Atlanta has been the much better team this season and opened as 6.5-point favorites as a result. Sportsbooks opened the total at 50.5.
That’s a relatively high number considering the Chargers and Falcons have a penchant for going UNDER. In their previous seven matchups, the UNDER is a perfect 7-0.
Buyers beware, though. The Falcons are 5-1 ATS on the year – the second-best mark in the league – but they’ve covered as underdogs in each of those five wins. Atlanta hasn’t been a favorite since its Week 1 loss to Tampa Bay as 2.5-point chalk, and the Falcons are an ugly 0-9 ATS in their last nine when given the favorite label.
Oddsmakers are starting to (finally) believe in the Falcons, so expect those spreads to rise in the coming weeks.
A major reason to back the Bolts is their habit of covering as pups. Philip Rivers and company are 12-2 ATS in their past 14 games as underdogs of seven points or more. Needless to say, keep an eye on this number throughout the week.
Matt Ryan has established himself as the MVP front-runner, so expect him to have another big day against the underwhelming Chargers defense. Ryan has thrown for a staggering 2,075 yards to go along with 15 touchdowns and three interceptions through five weeks. The Boston College product owns a 117.9 quarterback rating.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
The point spread was settled in at -6 for the host Atlanta Falcons earlier in the week, according to Sportsbook. The over under betting line was hovering around 51.5, with odds movement expected during the week at Sportsbook.
Odds Shark score prediction models pick a 31-21 result in favor of the Falcons on Sunday. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NFL matchups here.
San Diego Chargers vs Atlanta Falcons Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Betting fans of the Atlanta Falcons have seen them go 4-2 and 5-1 ATS so far this season, while the San Diego Chargers are at 2-4 and 4-2 ATS. In over under totals betting, the San Diego Chargers are 4-2, while the Atlanta Falcons are 5-1. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Atlanta vs San Diego injuries news.
The Falcons - Chargers odds would favor the Chargers if the betting lines were set according to power ranks. Atlanta is rated No. 15 in our latest OddsShark poll, while the Chargers sit at No. 12.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Atlanta Falcons No. 1-ranked offense (33.17 PPG) against a San Diego Chargers defense that ranks No. 23 at 25.83 PPG. The Falcons passing attack has averaged 329.5 yards per game, more than the Chargers give up through the air (279.5 YPG on average).
In comparing defenses, the San Diego Chargers own the league's No. 7-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 88.33 yards per game when on the road. Atlanta, on the other hand, rates No. 32 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Chargers grabbed a Week 6 victory over the Broncos in their last game, winning 21-13 at Qualcomm Stadium.
In their last game, the Falcons got 3 passing scores out of Matt Ryan, but lost 26-24 to the Seahawks on Sunday at CenturyLink Field.
Next Betting Matchups
San Diego at Denver, Sunday, October 30th
Atlanta home to Green Bay, Sunday, October 30th