Atlanta Falcons +3 v Carolina Panthers
The Atlanta Falcons can draw level with the Carolina Panthers for the NFC South on Sunday, but they will have to win their fourth straight game when the teams meet for the first time this season.
The Falcons have had the best of it of late, but the games have been tight with two of three wins coming in overtime, including a 34-31 win over the Panthers last December that really knocked the Panthers' play-off hopes.
Atlanta have won throught agaist Carolina nine times out of the last ten meetings, with the only loss in that span coming in 2003 when Michael Vick was sidelined with a broken leg.
Atlanta have not had to play since Thanksgiving where they had an easy 27-7 victory at Detroit. Vick threw for 146 yards and two touchdowns and W.Dunn rushed for 116 yards.
Dunn, who has rushed for 1,094 yards, leads the NFL's top-ranked rushing team which averages 183 yards. Of course that total is bolstered by Vick, who has rushed for 434 yards.
However, the Falcons should get a good test from the Panthers, who allow around 82 yards per game on the ground to rank third in the league. Carolina have won seven of their last eight games.
Last week, Jake Delhomme threw a three-yard touchdown pass to tight end Michael Gaines with 2:16 remaining in the fourth quarter to lift the Panthers to a 13-9 victory over the Bills.
From a football betting perspective, Atlanta Falcons are currently +3 on the points-spread and we have them +1500 (15/1) to win the Super Bowl.
