A pair of teams that didn't meet expectations last year hope to turn things around in 2015 starting with their season opener as the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Atlanta Falcons in the first game of the Monday Night Football doubleheader after going 1-3 against the spread in their last four to close out 2014.
And the Eagles have certainly been a better Monday Night Football bet than the Falcons. Philly is 8-3 ATS in 11 recent games while the Falcons are 1-4 ATS in their past five. However, the Falcons are riding a perfect 6-0 ATS run in Week 1 home games.
The Eagles finished second to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East last year despite a 10-6 record and missed out on the postseason by dropping three of four down the stretch.
They then signed former Dallas running back DeMarco Murray in the offseason and traded LeSean McCoy to the Buffalo Bills.
However, the Falcons were an even bigger disappointment last season, finishing with a 6-10 mark in a division where the champion ended up with a losing record.
Surprisingly, Atlanta had a better spread record at 7-9 and should challenge for the NFC South title this year if the defense can improve and quarterback Matt Ryan gets more from the team's running game.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
On the Sportsbook betting line for this matchup, the Atlanta Falcons sat as 1-point underdogs at shops such as Sportsbook but it was up to 3 points at Sportsbook earlier Monday The total, had been pegged by the odds makers at Sportsbook at 55.
Odds Shark computer prediction formulas pick a 29-27 win for the Eagles on Monday. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NFL matchups here.
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Atlanta Falcons sport a record of 6-10 and 7-9 ATS heading into this betting matchup, while the Philadelphia Eagles sit at 10-6 and 10-6 ATS on the season. The over under totals records are 6-10 for the Falcons and 10-5-1 for the Eagles. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Atlanta vs Philadelphia injuries news.
This game matches up the No. 20 (Atlanta Falcons) and the No. 11 (Philadelphia Eagles) teams in the league, according to our current NFL Power Rankings at Odds Shark.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Atlanta's No. 12-ranked offense, averaging 23.81 PPG, against a Eagles defense that ranks No. 23 this week at 25 PPG. The Falcons aerial game is averaging 284.56 yards per game, more than the Eagles secondary allows through the air, 264.88 YPG per game.
In comparing defenses, the Philadelphia Eagles own the league's No. 20-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 119.38 yards per game when on the road. Atlanta, on the other hand, rates No. 26 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
In their last gridiron battle, Jordan Matthews did much of the damage, producing 105 receiving yards as Philadelphia beat the Giants 34-26 at MetLife Stadium.
Atlanta lost its last outing 34-3 against Carolina on Sunday, getting a 104-yard receiving performance from Roddy White in a losing cause at Georgia Dome.
- Philadelphia is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Philadelphia's last 9 games
- Philadelphia is 10-3-1 ATS in its last 14 games when playing Atlanta
- Philadelphia is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing Atlanta
- Atlanta is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Atlanta's last 12 games
- Atlanta is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home
- Atlanta is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Philadelphia home to Dallas, Sunday, September 20th
Atlanta at New York, Sunday, September 20th