Atlanta Falcons vs Pittsburgh Steelers 2010 NFL Predictions, 2010 NFL Odds & 2010 NFL Picks: The Atlanta Falcons are in the Keystone State this afternoon to kickoff their 2010 regular season against the Steelers. Today's game is scheduled to get underway at 1:00pm ET at Heinz Field; the game will be broadcast live on FOX. 2010 NFL Predictions, Odds & Picks at online bookmaker SBGglobal.com have Pittsburgh listed as a +1.5 against the spread home dog and the game total set at 37.5.
Atlanta enters the 2010 season with some big expectations as it looks to recapture the NFC South title and post-season
berth that alluded the team last year. The Falcons are coming off a rather poor preseason that saw them go 2-2 and rank 30th in points per game with a 13.8 average. The defense did show well, though, giving up an average of just 14.2 points per contest. The Patriots, which beat Atlanta 28-10 in week two of the exhibition season, were the only team to score more than 13 on Mike Smith's squad in exhibition action.
Matt Ryan, who is looking to rebound from a pedestrian sophomore season, did not look sharp in the Falcons exhibition slate, averaging just 4.7 yards per pass in route to a 64.4 quarterback rating.
Pittsburgh closed out its preseason with a 3-1 record thanks in part to the efforts of quarterback Dennis Dixon, Dixon, who will fill in under center while Ben Roethlisberger serves a four game suspension to start the season, completed 71.9 percent of his passes for 327 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions (99.4 passer rating).
The Steelers defense, which ranked uncharacteristic 12th in the league a season ago in points per game allowed (20.2), allowed just 15.2 per game to its preseason opposition. With the return of a healthy Troy Polamalu, the unit figures to stay around that number during the regular season. Today's game should provide an indication in that regard as the Falcons certainly have the potential to put points on the board with a roster that features Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez, and Roddy White in addition to Ryan.
The line is this game is obviously a reflection of Roethlisberger's absence from the lineup. The Steelers, though, are a veteran team and they will be ready to defense their home turf, espcially in the home opener. Take Pittsburgh straight up over the Falcons.
2010 NFL Predictions Betting Trend: The Steelers are 8-2 against the spread and 7-3 straight up in their last 10 games as a home dog with a spread between 0 and 3.5.
SBGglobal.com Atlanta Falcons vs Pittsburgh Steelers 2010 NFL Predictions, Odds & Picks:
Atlanta Falcons -1.5 (-115), Over 37.5 (-110), -135 (Moneyline)
Pittsburgh Steelers +1.5 (-105), Under 37.5 (-110), +115 (Moneyline)
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