Are you ready for some football? We sure are, and it returns this week when the Atlanta Falcons (0-0) and Denver Broncos (0-0) kick off the 2019 NFL preseason, meeting in the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio Thursday, Aug. 1, at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Denver Broncos: Game preview, betting trends and notes



Remember, this is the FIRST game of the preseason: Don’t expect to see much out of starters or key role players from either team.

Just how little action? Last year, Falcons QB Matt Ryan , who may not play at all in this one, attempted just two passes (one called back on penalty) in their first preseason game. Key starters were on the field for one drive that consisted of four plays, six yards and a punt. Look for the same playbook.

, who may not play at all in this one, attempted just two passes (one called back on penalty) in their first preseason game. Key starters were on the field for one drive that consisted of four plays, six yards and a punt. Look for the same playbook. Both teams are coming off subpar seasons; the Falcons were 7-9, while Denver was 6-10.

Denver has a new face under center in Joe Flacco (Ravens), but don’t expect to see him other than on the sideline. The Broncos start figuring out QB2 – rookies Drew Lock and Brett Rypien and Kevin Hogan are in the mix, and Hogan will get the start. Lock and Rypien are expected to follow. The team hopes Lock is QB1 of the future, but new head coach Vic Fangio said Lock is “not a quarterback yet. He’s a hard-throwing pitcher that doesn’t know how to pitch yet.”

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Denver was 6-9-1 ATS last season, while the Falcons were 5-11.

Denver was 3-13 over/under in 2018, while Atlanta was 9-7.

The Broncos have won four of their last five versus Atlanta.

The Broncos are 4-1-1 against the spread in their last six games against NFC opponents and are 7-1 ATS against NFC South opponents in their last eight games.

The under is 6-1 for Atlanta in their past seven preseason games.

The total has gone under in all of the Broncos last nine games.

Last year, Atlanta scored 0 points vs. Jets, 14 vs. Chiefs, 6 vs. Jaguars and 7 vs. Dolphins in four preseason games.

The Broncos dropped 28 points vs. Vikings, 23 vs. Bears, 29 vs. Redskins and 21 vs. Cardinals in four preseason games last year.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Denver Broncos: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated August 1 at 11:10 a.m. Eastern.

Prediction

Falcons 17, Broncos 13.

The Broncos opened at -108, but the line has moved: First it was at -130 and now they’re favored at -144. Nothing about the Broncos’ line feels good here. Denver has a new head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterback – again. Expect early bumps in the road. The Falcons (+126) are a strong bet; they opened at -108 and the line moved to -114, so this continues a strong shift in profit. It’s also your best betting option of the three.

Against the Spread (?)

Going with the underdog Falcons ATS, covering +2.5 (-105) points, is also a solid play. The Broncos are -2.5 (-115). The ATS opened at -1.5, +100/-120.

The O/U is unchanged since the lines hit the board. It is 34 points, and opened even at -110. The over now sits at -115, with the under at -105. Two of the last three HOF games played to under that number. For the first game, fully expect the defenses to be more aligned than the offenses. The under is the play here.

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