Falcons vs Saints Odds and Pick | Week 15 NFL Betting Predictions
Julio Aguilar/Getty Images. Pictured: Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder.
- Falcons vs Saints odds position New Orleans as a 4.5-point home favorite against Atlanta.
- Desmond Ridder will make his first NFL start for the Falcons on the road.
- Find our expert's Falcons vs Saints pick based on the odds in the betting preview below.
Falcons vs. Saints Odds
In Week 15, we look for a Falcons vs Saints pick as the two division rivals face off in New Orleans. Both teams are still alive in the race for the NFC South, with the Falcons one win back from the Bucs, and the Saints another win behind that.
The big news around this game is the Falcons staring rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder, which our best bet will focus on.
Falcons vs. Saints Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how the Falcons and Saints match up statistically:
Falcons vs. Saints DVOA Breakdown
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Overall DVOA | 12 | 15 | |
| Pass DVOA | 16 | 12 | |
| Rush DVOA | 6 | 21 | |
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Overall DVOA | 23 | 30 | |
| Pass DVOA | 21 | 29 | |
| Rush DVOA | 18 | 28 | |
The Falcons enter this 5-8, just one win back from the NFC South lead, but they feel like a team in rebuild mode. They've already made the switch at QB with Ridder coming in for Marcus Mariota — it will be fascinating to see how Ridder fits in and whether they have their quarterback of the future.
Cordarrelle Patterson is the team's main offensive weapon with five touchdowns on the season, but he hasn't scored since Week 9. Rookie wide receiver Drake London, who has four touchdowns, has shown real promise while hauling in 47 of his 81 targets. He has the potential to explode with a better quarterback under center.
Bet Atlanta vs. New Orleans at FanDuel
Another playmaker in desperate need of a new QB is Kyle Pitts. The second-year tight end had sky-high aspirations this season, but hasn't made the impact many expected and now finds himself on IR.
The Saints are another team in a rebuild with Andy Dalton — a capable, but not exceptional quarterback — under center.
Alvin Kamara continues to be their X-factor, although that's being challenged by Chris Olave. The rookie receiver looks like one of the best in his draft class and has had a brilliant season with 60 catches for 887 yards and three scores.
With Michael Thomas still injured, the door is open for another rookie — Rashid Shaheed — to get time on the field, and he looks promising.
The Saints find themselves in a weird spot, as they're building for next season already but aren't totally out of contention yet.
Betting Picks
The main narrative of this game is Ridder, the 74th overall pick of last year's draft, making his debut for the Falcons. The former Cincinnati Bearcat has an interesting athletic profile — he's big and quick — and showed decent ability with his legs in college, exceeding 580 rushing yards in three of his four seasons.
The only year he didn't reach that mark was his senior season, which saw him refine himself as a passer. But it's clear he has the ability to use his feet, and I would expect him to showcase that area of his game in his NFL debut.
He rushed only eight times in three preseason games, but he had six carries for 59 yards in the first one, averaging 9.8 yards per carry. With Ridder's rushing yard line sitting at 20.5, we'll be taking a shot on the over.
Pick: Desmond Ridder Over 20.5 Rushing Yards (-135 | Play to 22.5)
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