Sports Odds, Lines And Betting News

Falcons vs. Dolphins 2016 odds: Atlanta betting underdog but looking to remain undefeated

The Atlanta Falcons visit the Miami Dolphins in each team’s third game of the NFL preseason, with the Dolphins small betting favorites.

by OddsShark

Aug 25, 2016, 2:30 PM UTC

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Falcons are 5-2 straight up and against the spread over their last seven preseason games. The Falcons will try to earn a fourth straight preseason win this Thursday night on the road against the Miami Dolphins.

Atlanta is a 2.5-point underdog in Orlando on Thursday at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. This is the first time in Atlanta’s last 11 preseason games that they are going off as a betting underdog.

After going 5-0 SU and 4-1 through their first five games of the 2015 season, the Falcons looked like a lock to make the playoffs early in the year. But a 3-8 SU and 2-9 ATS skid to end the season brought those playoff hopes crashing down, and once again brought Matt Ryan’s leadership ability into question.

The starters will have plenty to prove this week in what will serve as a tune-up for the regular season against a solid Dolphins defense.

From 2010 to 2012, the Falcons were one of the best teams in the league with a 36-12 SU record. But over the last three seasons, the Falcons are just 18-30 SU and 20-28 ATS per the OddsShark NFL Database.

The Dolphins’ rebuilding efforts also took a hit in 2015 with a 6-10 SU and 4-8 ATS campaign. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has shown flashes of brilliance over the course of his young career, but hasn’t been able to get his game over the top to where it needs to be in the New England Patriots-dominated AFC East.

Miami opened its preseason with a strong 27-10 road win over the New York Giants, but followed that up with a 41-14 dud loss last week against Dallas. The Dolphins are just 5-14 ATS in their last 19 preseason games.

Thursday’s total is set at 43 points. The OVER is 4-1-1 in Miami’s last six preseason games.

Week 3 of the preseason is known as the dress rehearsal for the regular season as starters go deeper into the game than they did in the previous two games. With patience wearing thin among both of these teams and their fan bases, Miami and Atlanta each have plenty to prove in this matchup.