The Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts will face off in Week 2 of the NFL preseason this afternoon. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The game will broadcast live on NFL+.
The Colts are 3.5-point favorites over the Falcons on the spread (Colts -3.5), with the over/under set at 36.5 total points. Indianapolis is listed as a -180 moneyline favorite to win outright, while Atlanta is a +150 underdog to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Falcons vs. Colts predictions and NFL picks for Saturday, August 22.
My Falcons vs Colts Prediction
- Falcons vs Colts pick: Falcons Moneyline (+150)
My Falcons vs. Colts best bet is on Atlanta moneyline at +150, with the best price currently available at FanDuel. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NFL odds page.
Falcons vs Colts Odds
| Falcons Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -106 | 36.5 -118o / -104u | +150 |
| Colts Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -114 | 36.5 -118o / -104u | -180 |
Falcons vs Colts NFL Preseason Preview
Atlanta Falcons Betting Preview: Proven Reps, Hidden Value
Atlanta head coach Kevin Stefanski signaled his intentions for this game back on July 31, saying that the Falcons would hold out their starters for their second exhibition contest following heavy work during joint practices with the Colts.
While Tua Tagovailoa appeared atop the team’s unofficial depth chart ahead of this game, any action for him will be minimal at best. Tagovailoa suited up for two brief series in the preseason opener against Denver, finishing 3-of-5 for 22 yards without generating any points.
With Michael Penix Jr. remaining sidelined as he recovers from a knee injury — participating only in limited 7-on-7 drills — the bulk of the snaps on Saturday will almost entirely belong to Cooper Rush and Jack Strand.
That leaves Atlanta with a interesting quarterback duo to run the offense for all four quarters.
Rush brings nine years of NFL experience to the field, including 16 career regular-season starts and a solid 9-7 record during a long stint as the primary backup in Dallas.
While Rush struggled in his Atlanta debut (completing 7-of-19 passes for 62 yards and two interceptions), experienced career backups usually treat these exhibition games as their personal time to shine and take them very seriously. Rush offers classic bounce-back appeal as he aims to settle into a rhythm against the Colts' secondary defenders.
Behind Rush, the rookie Strand will get another chance to provide a spark for the Falcons in the second half. Standing out as a massive physical presence who utilizes rare arm angles and off-platform throw-making ability, Strand will continue his effort to take the huge step up in competition level from Division II to the professional ranks.
In his debut last week, Strand completed 6-of-12 passes for 50 yards and scored a rushing touchdown. His physical tools, raw creativity, and willingness to make play-off-script throws give Atlanta a unique late-game weapon against third-string defenders fighting for roster spots. Our Sean Koerner is notably a big Strand fan — he spoke glowingly of the QB in his piece last Friday.
Indianapolis Colts Betting Preview: Flashy Names, Volatile Execution
The Colts have structured a two-quarter split for their signal-callers, announcing that Riley Leonard will play the entire first half before Anthony Richardson takes over for the final two quarters.
While having a former fourth overall pick and a high-profile college star under center sounds dominant on paper, Indianapolis’ backup situation is far more volatile than the brand-name appeal suggests.
The word "or" is currently listed between Richardson and Leonard's names on the unofficial depth chart, which underscores an ongoing battle where neither quarterback has firmly seized control of the secondary unit.
Leonard gets the start coming off a rough preseason debut against the Patriots where he completed just 10-of-21 passes for 89 yards and an interception. That performance mirrored his regular-season struggles from a year ago, when he completed 58.2% of his passes with two touchdowns and three interceptions across five appearances.
Richardson undeniably possesses elite athletic traits — boasting a 6-foot-4, 245-pound frame with a 4.43 40-yard dash and a rocket arm — and he flashed those dynamic capabilities again last week with 145 passing yards and a rushing touchdown.
However, decision-making and ball security remain major hurdles for Richardson — he also threw an interception and lost a fumble in last week's contest.
While the market views Indianapolis through the lens of individual talent and draft pedigree, both Leonard and Richardson continue to struggle with turnover-prone play at the NFL level.
When a quarterback rotation is plagued by volatility and ball-security issues like the Colts in this game, buying into a considerable favorite becomes a risky proposition in an exhibition setting.
Falcons vs Colts Prediction, Betting Analysis
This matchup checks all the boxes for our Bet Labs system titled "Small ‘Dog, NFL Preseason Week 2." This system specifically focuses on second-week exhibition games with tight point spreads between 0 and 5.5, targeting small underdogs that might be primed to pull off outright victories.
During Week 2 of the preseason, coaching priorities shift heavily toward roster evaluation rather than protecting late leads, leading to unpredictable game flows where public perception routinely misprices underdog rosters.
The betting market has installed Indianapolis as a -180 favorite (-3.5 on the spread), driven largely by the relatively high-profile name recognition of Richardson and Leonard.
However, Atlanta’s quarterback tandem of a motivated, experienced Cooper Rush and an athletic, high-upside rookie in Jack Strand is equally capable of executing in an exhibition setting.
Given the volatility of the Colts' quarterbacks and the unpredictable nature of Week 2 rotations, the market appears to be underestimating the Falcons in this spot.
Pick: Falcons Moneyline (+150)
