http://www.covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=319753 So this site has early lines on all NFL games through week 16. They say they won't post week 17 lines because of the possibility of teams resting starters prior to the playoffs. The Saints are one point dogs at the Bears, 4 point dogs at the Patriots, a pick 'em v. the 49ers, a 2.5 dog at the Falcons (but a 1.5 point favorite at home against the Dirty Birds in Week 1) and a 3.5 dog at Seattle. They're also a pick 'em at Carolina in Week 16. They're 7.5 point favorites when PP and TM7 visit the Dome with the Cards in Week 3, 6.5 point favorites when the Bills come to town, 4.5 point favorites when the Shaved (Bush-less; get it?) Dolphins visit, and 4 point favorites over the Cowgirls. Based on last year's performance, no real surprises but, frankly, I would have thought the 49ers would have been favored even in the Dome.
they basically have us going 11-5 (if you split the two pick 'em and assume since they have us favored to beat the Bucs at Tampa, they'd have us favored to beat the Bucs at home, especially since they don't have us as dogs in any of our games in the Dome) W Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (-1.5) W New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1.5) W Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints (-7.5) W Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints (-4.5) L New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears (-1) L New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots (-4) W Buffalo Bills at New Orleans Saints (-6.5) W New Orleans Saints at New York Jets (+1.5) W Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints (-4) ? San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints (Pick) L New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons (-2.5) L New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks (-3.5) W Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints (-3.5) W New Orleans Saints at St. Louis Rams (+1.5) ? New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers (Pick) W Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints as for the Falcons, they have them going 12-4 (splitting the two pick 'ems) L Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (-1.5) W St. Louis Rams at Atlanta Falcons (-7) W Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins (+1) ? New England Patriots at Atlanta Falcons (Pick) W New York Jets at Atlanta Falcons (-7) W Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons (-6) W Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals (+4) W Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers (+1) ? Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons (Pick) W Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1) W New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons (-2.5) W Atlanta Falcons vs. Buffalo Bills (+3) @ Toronto, Canada L Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers (-3) W Washington Redskins at Atlanta Falcons (-3) L Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers (-3.5) W Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (they have Falcons favored @Carolina, so they must be favored at home too) what's interesting is i heard one of the Saints radio guys predicting it will go down to the wire between us and Atlanta, with it being decided at the end of the season by the Panthers (who play us week 16 in a pick 'em, then Atlanta week 17)
That's actually pretty reasonable. I don't think either Carolina or Tampa will be appreciably better this year and, while I'm not sure I totally buy into this logic, there is the argument that CSP is worth 3 wins a year simply by being on the sidelines. My first schedule glance predicted a season between 13-3 and 10-6, with the three "swing" games being at New England, at Atlanta and at Seattle. I've got losses to San Francisco, at either Carolina or Tampa (I just don't see a complete sweep of the NFC South, but 5-1 or 4-2, yeah that could happen) and one WTF game like Miami or Buffalo or the Jets. I was a little surprised, too, at Chicago being a one point favorite. Yeah, the Bears are at home but it's early in the season and weather shouldn't be a factor (though rain, as always, is a possibility).
Saw this on NFL.com: Expectations are high for a Falcons team that has won 36 games over the past three years, tied with the Packers for most in the NFC. So when does Atlanta take the next step? According to Falcons fans, those who doubt are all "haters." Most of the players, however, get it; they know that for the 2013 Falcons, it's Super Bowl or bust, which is why tight end Tony Gonzalez is coming back.
