National Football League

Packers at Falcons: Game preview, odds, prediction

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Atlanta Falcons will host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday in Week 8. Here is a game preview, the betting odds, and a final score prediction.

In one of the better games on the Week 8 NFL slate, the Atlanta Falcons will host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff from the Georgia Dome will be at 4:25 PM ET. This will be FOX’s NFC Game of the Week with Thom Brennaman and Troy Aikman in the booth.

Atlanta is 4-3 on the season and leading the NFC South. The Falcons have lost their last two games to the Seattle Seahawks and the San Diego Chargers. Atlanta needs to win on Sunday over Green Bay to feel safe about still being in first place entering November. A Falcons loss coupled with a Tampa Bay Buccaneers win over the Oakland Raiders would give Tampa Bay sole possession of first place at 4-3.

Green Bay won on Thursday Night Football in Week 7 over their awful division rival Chicago Bears, 26-10. The Packers are 4-2 and only a game back of the first-place Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North. However, the Packers struggle to score points in the second half of games against decent teams. Are the 2016 Packers good, great, or just decent?

Odds

Point Spread: Atlanta -3

Money lines: Atlanta -150, Green Bay +130

Over/Under: 53

According to OddsShark.com, the Falcons are laying three points at home to the Packers. The associated money lines are Atlanta -150 and Green Bay +130. This game’s over/under comes in at a combined 53 points.

Here are few trends to know with the Packers: 1.) Green Bay is 2-3-1 against the spread in its last six games. 2.) The Packers are 4-2 straight up in their last six games. 3.) They have gone under in four of their last five games.

Here are the trends to know about the Falcons: 1.) Atlanta is 5-1 against the spread and 4-2 straight up this season. 2.) The Falcons have gone over in six of their last seven games. 3.) They are 2-7 against the spread in their last nine home games. 4.) Atlanta is 2-6 straight up in its last eight at home.

With Atlanta having both a vaunted aerial attack and a defense that lets teams back in games, going with the over in this one seems like a wise move. The Falcons have done a better job of covering the spread in 2016, so let’s swallow the points despite Atlanta not having an elite home-field advantage in this one.

The Falcons have played arguably three of the best nine teams in football in 2016 (Denver Broncos, Seattle, and yes, San Diego). Atlanta has been within one score in six of its seven games this season. That means this team is consistent week to week, regardless of opponent.

Green Bay beats teams it should but struggles against upper echelon clubs. Atlanta may not be in the same category as the Dallas Cowboys or the Minnesota Vikings, but the Falcons are elite on offense.

Both teams will score a fair amount in this game. The difference will be that Atlanta’s offense has more firepower than Green Bay’s in the second half. Atlanta covers, but only barely.

Pick: Falcons 31, Packers 27