Week 10 NFL Picks: New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons Odds and Predictions – Free NFL Picks 11/13/11

Week 10 Free NFL Picks: New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons NFL Week 10 Vegas Odds, Free Picks, and Expert Predictions on FOX 11/13/11: The top spot in the NFC South will be up for grabs when the New Orleans Saints (6-3) go on the road to face the Atlanta Falcons (5-3) Sunday. The two franchises battled it out for the division crown last season as well, with Atlanta ultimately coming out on top. Sunday’s game is the first of two meetings between the teams, and after last year’s division race came down to the final two weeks, it should come as little surprise that the oddsmakers are expecting a close game. In fact, neither side is favored in this one.

Both teams have powerful offenses, although they get it done in different ways. New Orleans lives and dies with a pass-happy attack led by quarterback Drew Brees. Meanwhile, the Falcons are a run-first team led by Michael Turner, with QB Matt Ryan taking advantage of play-action opportunities opened up by the ground game. The styles are different, but the end result for both is plenty of points.

For the Falcons, the key to stopping Brees will be taking away tight end Jimmy Graham and running back Darren Sproles. Graham is closing in on 800 yards, and is averaging almost 15 yards a catch. Needless to say, Graham is one of the toughest matchups at the tight end spot in the NFL. Sproles is equally versatile, catching 56 passes thus far and averaging more than seven yards per carry on the ground.

Atlanta has an X-factor of their own in rookie receiver Julio Jones. He has been the deep threat the offense has been missing in years past, and even when he isn’t catching long touchdown passes, Jones has been opening up holes for other players. He is a big reason why tight end Tony Gonzalez has been so deadly in the red zone. While the Saints are known for their big plays on offense, Jones gives the Falcons’ offense a quick strike dimension of its own.

 While both defenses will be tested early and often, the edge on that side of the ball goes to Atlanta. The Falcons did a much better job slowing down Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers than the Saints’ defense. Not to mention the fact that New Orleans was lit up for 31 points by a St. Louis team that had scored the fewest points in the league at the time. Rams’ running back Steven Jackson gashed the Saints’ defense in the upset victory, and if Turner has similar success running the ball, New Orleans will be in trouble.

There are just no surprises when two powerful division rivals get together. Both teams know one another, and they both know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. In a game that figures to go down to the wire, backing the home team is always a smart move. When the Falcons are riding Turner like they have been in recent weeks, they are tough to beat. In the end, the porous Saints’ rush defense should allow Atlanta to control the tempo and ultimately win the game.

Prediction: Atlanta Falcons (PK) Win the Game

Free NFL Football Picks and Predictions: Atlanta Pk

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