Falcons vs. Raiders Predictions, Picks & Odds: Monday Night Football, 12/16
The true finale of the NFL Week 15 schedule is out in Las Vegas with the Raiders hosting the Atlanta Falcons. We say that as we have yet another Monday Night Football doubleheader with this matchup following the Bears vs. Vikings rivalry. To get you ready for this inter-conference clash, we’ve shared our Falcons vs. Raiders predictions.
Even if you end up with Falcons vs. Raiders picks that you prefer over our best bet, be sure to also check out the $150+ FanDuel Sportsbook welcome offer that we also have for you!
Falcons vs. Raiders Predictions for Monday Night Football, NFL Week 15
If you could pick only two teams in desperate need of a win in the NFL, the Falcons and Raiders would be among the top of the list, as Atlanta has now lost four straight games, and Las Vegas has dropped a whopping nine straight contests. Given those values, it’s no surprise that the Raiders are the ones eliminated from playoff contention.
While they’re the ones with far more flaws, both teams have been particularly struggling on defense. So, the determining factor for any Falcons vs. Raiders predictions will likely be dependent upon which offense can capitalize.
Well, Las Vegas may be down to their last QB option due to injuries, which doesn’t bode well for a team that may have plenty of players already looking ahead to the offseason. That’s why we see Atlanta, even on the road, as the clear favorites in the Falcons vs. Raiders odds.
We’d agree with that but will be isolating a portion of the game for the best bet from our Falcons vs. Raiders predictions.
Atlanta Falcons: Counting On Kirk
With the Falcons having lost each of their last four games, surely there’s no way they can still win the NFC South, right? As it turns out, the division is once again as weak as it has been for three years now, so they find themselves just a game back from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The issue is one that has led to discussions of a benching. First-year Falcon QB Kirk Cousins had been on somewhat of a tear for a solid stretch, but has since taken a downward spiral. Over the past four games, he’s thrown zero touchdowns and eight interceptions. If he can’t turn it around against a 2-11 Raiders team, those discussions will become far louder.
Las Vegas Raiders: Woes Outside The Rest
Despite the Raiders being 2-11, they have found ways to be pests against even top-tier teams. Look no further than their Black Friday game, which was nearly a last-second win over the now 12-1 Kansas City Chiefs. That was even immediately following a hard-fought game against the Denver Broncos.
However, they seem to get up for only one type of opponent - their AFC West rivals. Outside of that, their motivation seems to be lacking. Just last week, they looked anything but competitive in a 28-13 loss, and against a different NFC South opponent like the Falcons, they were smashed by the lowly 3-10 Carolina Panthers 36-22, which was even at home.
Falcons vs. Raiders Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
We aren’t surprised to see Atlanta as clear road favorites, and before we get into how we’re going to use that for our best bet, here are the latest Falcons vs. Raiders odds at FanDuel Sportsbook:
- Point Spread: Atlanta Falcons -4 (-110) vs. Las Vegas Raiders +4 (-110)
- Money Line: Atlanta Falcons (-205) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (+170)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 44 (-110) vs. Under 44 (-110)
Falcons vs. Raiders Best Bet: Atlanta First Half -2 (-118 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Before fully diving into the focus of our Falcons vs. Raiders predictions, we know that some fans prefer the standard lines, and in that respect, we’d simply stay consistent and take Atlanta. After all, road favorites have been the best trend for bettors this season, hitting at over a 56% rate.
If you’re comfortable isolating portions of the game like us, you could even add to your Falcons vs. Raiders picks with a high-scoring first half. Actually, that transitions nicely into our best bet. Both the Falcons and Raiders have been among the worst teams in the NFL in terms of allowing early points.
Atlanta’s 14.5 points allowed per game in the first half are the second-most in the league, while Las Vegas isn’t far behind with 12.5 first half points allowed per game. The discrepancy lies on the offensive side of the ball, as the Falcons are just outside the top 10 in terms of first half scoring.
While it hasn’t been on full display as of late, this Raiders defense is the perfect get-right spot. Even without that being the case, we simply don’t expect Las Vegas’ offense to be able to exploit Atlanta’s weakness.
After losing starting QB Gardner Minshew for the season a couple weeks ago, we recently saw backup QB Aiden O’Connell go down. He’s missed practice this week, and if third-string QB Desmond Ridder is forced into action, well, we’ve seen his lack of development already. While it’s more unlikely he could lead them to a backdoor cover, we’d still rather isolate just the first half.
Therefore, we’re locking in the best bet from our Falcons vs. Raiders predictions of Atlanta -2 in the first half (-118 at FanDuel Sportsbook).
Falcons vs. Raiders Injury Report & Latest News
In terms of injury news for this NFC vs. AFC clash, we’ve already noted the most significant, which is Raiders QB Aiden O’Connell. It’s such a notable one in making Falcons vs. Raiders predictions that it’s one of the featured updates in the Fantasy Alarm NFL injury report, which you can always keep track of for the latest news!
How To Bet On Falcons vs. Raiders At FanDuel Sportsbook & Claim Your $150+ Bonus
Now, to wrap up all things regarding Falcons vs. Raiders predictions, here’s how to use any betting market, even outside the Falcons vs. Raiders odds, to claim a $150+ FanDuel sign up bonus:
- Sign up here for a new FanDuel account
- Make a first-time deposit of $10 or more
- Place a wager of $5+ on any sporting event
- Receive $150 in bonus bets if it wins
That’s the $150 portion, and the added bonus is guaranteed - three free months of NBA League Pass! You’ll just need to opt in to enjoy another complete sport alongside our Falcons vs. Raiders predictions, so why not become a new FD member today?