The Mike Smith era in Atlanta has been a good one with the team averaging 10.75 wins per season in his four years on the job; however, the Falcons are 0-3 in the playoffs under Smith, prompting some to wonder if they will ever get over the proverbial hump. According to the latest Atlanta Falcons 2012 NFL Predictions and Super Bowl Odds at Sportsbook.ag the answer is no. The offshore book does expect another solid season from the club, which is drawing -155 odds to finish with Over 9 wins, but Atlanta is a second pick to win the NFC South at +125 and, at +1200 odds, not among the favorites to win the NFC Championship. The Falcons, while occupying a top third position on the odds leader board, are also a relative long shot to win the Super Bowl as a +2500 money line play.
The Atlanta Falcons ranked in the top 10 in points scored last season, averaging 25.4 per game, but they had their issues on defense, ranking 19th and 18th in yards and points per game allowed, respectively.
Certainly the Falcons still have the offensive personnel in place to put points on the board, even against the best of competition; however, they did little to shore up the defense in the off-season. Atlanta acquired two defensive players in Lofa Tatupu (out for the season) and Asante Samuel, but they did not draft a defender until the fifth round of the draft. The Falcons also lost two linebackers in Curtis Lofton and Mike Peterson, who started a combined 20 games.
Perhaps the franchise’s seemingly lackluster efforts to bolster the defense have sparked some of the doubts among the odds makers that Atlanta is ready to take the next step. Cantor Gaming, which released point spreads for weeks one through16 of the 2012 NFL regular season schedule, indeed, sees the Falcons taking a step back this season. The Vegas based book has Atlanta favored in nine of 15 games.
Atlanta Falcons 2012 NFL Regular Season Schedule and Point Spreads: Provided by Cantor Gaming
Week #1 Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs (Pick’em)
Week #2 Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons (-2.5)
Week #3 Atlanta Falcons (+3.5) at San Diego Chargers
Week #4 Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (-4.5)
Week #5 Atlanta Falcons (-1.5) at Washington Redskins
Week #6 Oakland Raiders at Atlanta Falcons (-6.5)
Week #7 BYE
Week #8 Atlanta Falcons (+6.5) at Philadelphia Eagles
Week #9 Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons (-2.5)
Week #10 Atlanta Falcons (+5.5) at New Orleans Saints
Week #11 Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons (-6)
Week #12 Atlanta Falcons (-2.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week #13 New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons (-2.5)
Week #14 Atlanta Falcons (+1) at Carolina Panthers
Week #15 New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons (-1.5)
Week #16 Atlanta Falcons (+4) at Detroit Lions
Week #17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons (No Line Posted)
Atlanta Falcons 2012 NFL Predictions and Super Bowl Odds:
Odds to Win 2013 Super Bowl XLVII +2500 ($100 to win $2500)
Odds to Win 2013 NFC Championship +1200 ($100 to win $1200)
Odds to Win NFC South +125 ($100 to win $125)
Regular Season Win Total: Over 9 wins (-155), Under 9 wins (+125)
Wiseguy Franks Preparation for Football Season: Host RJ Bell talks with Wiseguy Frank about his experiences last season, betting strategies, and this upcoming season.
TiSB: Cantor's Mike Colbert Talks World's First NFL Game Lines: Last week Cantor opened up the first 2012 NFL lines in the world - Cantor's VP Mike Colbert discusses the teams they value the best and worst, and also shares breaking news on how the Wiseguys have been betting so far - with host RJ Bell PLAY | DISCUSS | DOWNLOAD (to save: right mouse click, and select "save target as")
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