Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins Betting Preview
The Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins are set to play in a preseason game on Friday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
These two teams are playing their first of three preseason games. This game is one of six slated for Friday night in Week 1 of the preseason schedule.
The Atlanta Falcons come into the game as the favorite on the road. Atlanta is listed at -2.5, with the total set at 36.5 points.
Falcons Young on the Offensive Side
The Atlanta Falcons look to be young on the offensive side of the ball, and that’s a blessing but also a curse. The Falcons are going with Desmond Ridder as their starting quarterback and will give chances to rookie running back Bijan Robinson.
Despite the youngsters there, some veterans are at the backup spots. Taylor Heinicke, who has plenty of experience, is under center, and Cordarrelle Patterson remains as a backup running back.
The receiving core for the Falcons is still unknown. Drake London, Mack Hollins, and Scott Miller are the three leaders in the clubhouse for now. Kyle Pitts and John Smith are the two tight ends worth keeping an eye out for. A season ago, London caught 72 passes for 866 yards, while Pitts only finished with 356 yards in 10 games.
Atlanta is one of four teams in the NFC South that feel they have a shot at winning the division. The Falcons will play their three preseason games and then open the season with back-to-back home games. In Week 1, the Panthers come to town, and the following week the Falcons will welcome the Green Bay Packers.
Expectations are High in Miami
There is no doubt that the expectations are high for Mike McDaniel. The Dolphins feel they have a chance to dethrone the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East. To do that, they will need a healthy Tua Tagovailoa.
A season ago, he missed four games. Despite that, he still threw for nearly 3,600 yards and 25 touchdowns. He has two of the best weapons in all of the game in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Both players soured by the 1,000-yard mark a season ago.
The preseason is going to give the Dolphins a chance to figure out who is the best backup for Tua. Is it Mike White or Skylar Thompson? The Dolphins will also try to decipher the running back pecking order as well.
Raheem Mostert should get the bulk of the carries, but will it be Jeff Wilson Jr, De’Von Achane, or Myles Gaskin getting carries? Look for Achane to get a bunch of carries in this preseason tilt.
Alongside Waddle and Hill, who is going to step up as #3? That’s something we will need to watch in this game. Could a guy like Braxton Berrios be the guy? Or Braylon Sanders?
The Dolphins start the regular season with back-to-back road games. In fact, three of their first four are on the road. Miami will need to be ready as they are at the Chargers Week 1, at New England Week 2, and Buffalo Week 4. The Broncos come to Miami for a Week 3 tilt.
Take the Home Team
This is a preseason game, so be sure to temper your expectations for this game and all games in the preseason. Things change quickly in a preseason game. In the end, though, there is not a great reason for the Falcons to be road favorites in Miami in this one.
The Falcons do not have a game plan or a depth chart that looks like it’s going to be head and shoulders above what Miami is doing. Take the points. Bet the underdog.
Take the Miami Dolphins +2.5 at home on Friday night in the National Football League preseason.
