SEATTLE AT ATLANTA- NFL DIVISION PLAYOFF PREVIEW AND PICK
BetAnySports Game Line: Atlanta -3.5
BetAnySports Total Line: 49.5
The NFL Divisional Round of playoffs gets underway this Saturday afternoon at the Georgia Dome with the 11-5-1 Seattle Seahawks going on the road to face the 11-5 Atlanta Falcons. Kickoff for this NFC tilt is slated for 4:35 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on FOX.
Seattle at Atlanta Game Preview
The Seahawks advanced to the next round of the playoffs in solid form with a 26-6 victory at home against Detroit in the Wild Card Round. They covered the closing nine-point spread at BetAnySports and the total stayed well UNDER the 45.5-point betting line. Seattle is still just 3-4 against the spread in its last seven games overall and 3-5 ATS in eight previous games on the road. The total went OVER in four of its previous five games before this past Saturday’s win.
Look for a heavy dose of Seattle running back Thomas Rawls this Saturday afternoon after rumbling for 161 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries in last week’s win against Detroit. The combination of Russell Wilson throwing the ball to Doug Baldwin was also productive with the team’s top wide receiver hauling in 11 receptions for 104 yards and a score. The Seahawks’ defense did its part by holding the Lions to 231 total yards.
Atlanta won the NFC South and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs with that SU 11-5 record in the regular season while going 10-6 ATS. The Falcons come into this game with a SU four-game winning streak (3-1 ATS) in which they averaged 38.5 points a game. The total went OVER BetAnySports’ closing line in all four games and it has gone OVER in 14 of 16 games this year. They are just 3-5 ATS at home this season and an even 5-5 ATS as favorites.
One of the most potent quarterback to wide receiver combinations in the league this season was Matt Ryan throwing the ball to Julio Jones. These two hooked up 83 times for 1,409 yards and six scores. Atlanta also has a very productive ground game behind Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman with an average of 120.5 rushing yards a game. The Falcons’ defense was a whole other story at times and this unit finished the regular season ranked 25th in yards allowed
Seattle at Atlanta Free Game Pick
The big question in this matchup is can Seattle’s vaunted defense go on the road and shutdown the highest-scoring offense in the league? While I am not sure which team wins this game SU, I will take the Seahawks and the 4.5 points at BetAnySports as my top play.
