The Miami Dolphins are finally going to play a team that is not from Florida. After sweeping the battles for Florida by beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Jacksonville Jaguars in their first two preseason games, the Dolphins are catching the eye of the betting world. The most curious thing about the Dolphins is the way they are playing their quarterbacks.Quarterback Chad Pennington did not play in the first preseason game against the Buccaneers, but he came into the game against the Jaguars and threw a touchdown pass. Starting quarterback Chad Henne looked potent in the Jacksonville game as he went 11 for 14 with 151 yards and two touchdowns. NFL betting experts were also happy to see quarterback Tyler Thigpen get in the game against Jacksonville and throw for 76 more yards.
All of the Dolphin quarterbacks seem to thrive in head coach Tony Sporano’s offense. In a move that resembles a college football betting gimmick, it is entirely possible that the Dolphins will utilize all three of their quarterbacks all season long. Let us also not forget the time that running back Ronnie Brown spends under center in the wildcat. It may all seem like a bad movie to defensive coordinators around the league, but it is also incredibly difficult to defend.
The Falcons are still trying to find their defense in this preseason. Quarterback Matt Ryan is getting limited action, but he looks good when he is in. Aside from veterans John Abraham and Erik Coleman, the Falcons are getting some inconsistent play on defense. Young defensive players like Kroy Biermann and Trey Lewis look good, but the Patriots put almost 130 rushing yards on the Falcons. The Falcons need to tighten up on the defensive line.
It is important to remember that the NFL football betting lines have the Falcons at 30 to 1 odds to win the Super Bowl, so there is not much expected from Atlanta. However, the Falcons will give the Saints a run for their money in the NFC South and challenge for a playoff spot all season long.
Miami just remains an enigma to the rest of the league. On defense they are pretty solid. They can stop the run, and they have some pretty good defensive backs. But what remains the best defense in Miami is their offense. Because the Miami offense has so many different looks, they manage to keep the ball for long periods of time in every game they play. In their games against the Jaguars and the Buccaneers, the Dolphins had the ball for nearly 34 minutes. If the other team’s offense is not on the field, they cannot score.
The Falcons will get their team figured out in time for opening day, and they will challenge for the division title. The Dolphins have the Jets and the Patriots to compete with for the AFC East title, so it may be a case of the Dolphins challenging for a wild card. But in this game, the Dolphins may be able to play “keep away” long enough to send the Falcons home disappointed.
Pick; Miami Dolphins 24-13
