Atlanta Falcons (7-10) vs. Miami Dolphins (11-6)
Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins August 9 2024 – On Friday, August 9, 2024 the Miami Dolphins will host the Atlanta Falcons for a preseason game in Week 1 at Hard Rock Stadium. It’s a showdown between the surging 11-6 Dolphins and the struggling 7-10 Falcons that presents an intriguing early-season contest. Both teams are desperate to start off with a win thereby setting the tone for the season ahead. However, as fans await this match with great enthusiasm also the NFL preseason betting picks focus on its pre-season performance to rate its strength.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins August 9, 2024 Game Info
| When: | Friday, August 9, 2024, at 7:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Hard Rock Stadium |
| TV: | — |
| Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins Betting Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Falcons | -145 | -2.5 (-110) | 36.5 over(-110) |
| Dolphins | +125 | +2.5 (-110) | 36.5 under (-110) |
The betting odds favor the Falcons slightly in terms of the spread, despite their less impressive record last season. This might reflect the unpredictability of preseason games and the experimental line-ups often used. The total points line set at 36.5 suggests expectations of a moderately high-scoring game, possibly influenced by the offensive capabilities demonstrated by both teams.
Taylor Heinicke QB vs. Tua Tagovailoa QB
The Falcons’ quarterback Taylor Heinicke was not consistent with his play. Over five games, he had a passer rating of just 74.7 and completed slightly more than half of his throws. For Heinicke to give the Falcons a chance to win games this season, he will have to drastically improve on his decision-making skills that caused him many turnovers last year.
On the other hand, Tua Tagovailoa had an amazing season where he completed almost 70% of passes thrown for over 4600 yards. He is one of the best players in NFL history regarding distribution and making key plays for an offense which has been its backbone all along. His high passer rating (101.1) also shows how efficient and effective he was as Miami’s leader last year.
When these two quarterbacks meet in battle on field pitch then it will be an interesting duel because their recent performances are different from each other completely. Heinicke needs to step up if he wants to compete against Tagovailoa who will be looking forward to using all weaknesses within Falcon’s defense that existed during last season’s playtime or even longer before that time frame ends.
Falcons Offensive Breakdown
The Falcons’ ground game and aerial attack last season had their ups and downs. Bijan Robinson emerged as a crucial part of the rushing offense, amassing 976 yards and proving his ability to break significant runs. However, consistency in converting these into more scores will be vital. In the air, Drake London was a primary target, racking up 905 receiving yards. Yet, the team will need more from him and the other receivers to improve on their scoring stats and convert plays into crucial first downs and touchdowns.
Dolphins Offensive Strengths
Conversely, the Dolphins showcased a more potent offense, spearheaded by the dynamic duo of Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback and Tyreek Hill as the leading receiver. Hill’s explosive play-making ability, highlighted by his 1799 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, provided Miami with numerous game-changing moments. Raheem Mostert’s rushing prowess, with over 1000 yards and an impressive 18 touchdowns, gave the Dolphins a balanced offensive threat that could take on any defense.
Atlanta Falcons Betting Trends
Atlanta are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Atlanta’s last 20 games.
Atlanta are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games.
Falcons are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games against Miami.
Atlanta are 2-7 SU in their last 9 games against Miami.
Miami Dolphins Betting Trends
Miami are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami’s last 5 games.
Miami are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Miami’s last 5 games against Atlanta.
Miami are 7-2 SU in their last 9 games at home.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins 8/9/24 Betting Picks
Given the preseason nature of the game and both teams likely testing depth and tactics, Miami might actually be a better option to bet on especially with points if one considers Falcons’ poor ATS record vis-à-vis Dolphins’ stronger recent home form. The crux of the matter is if Atlanta’s defense can contain Miami’s high-powered attack. Looking at prop bets for individual performances, it may be worth considering players like Tyreek Hill.
The forecast suggests a tight contest, slightly favoring the home team due to their potent and balanced offense. Therefore, they have an edge in this early pre-season encounter since Miami is expected to capitalize on its home ground advantage. These factors make them a great choice when it comes to legal online betting.
Score Prediction: Dolphins 24, Falcons 21.
