Previews and betting tips for the 2024 NFL season - Falcons and Buccaneers 

The 2024 NFL season kicks off with a Thursday/Friday doubleheader starting Sept. 5 with the full Week 1 Sunday schedule Sept. 8. The two-time defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs (-3, 46.5) host the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Sept. 5 in an AFC playoff rematch with those two teams the AFC favorites to reach Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, 2025 in New Orleans. The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are shooting for more success with the Buccaneers winning the last three division titles and a Super Bowl as wild card with Tom Brady quarterback in 2022. The Falcons have not had a winning season or playoff win since 2017, but Atlanta is the division favorite in 2024. 

NFL Week 1 Matchups And Odds 

But as the 2024 season kicks off following training camp and NFLX, football and fantasy fans get their juices flowing. Sports bettors are pouring through the teams schedules, rosters, stats, odds, futures and props and making bets at leading online sportsbooks. That includes on the AFC and NFC teams with the NFC South representing the worst in the NFC the last two seasons with the Buccaneers the only team to reach the playoffs even with a losing record in 2022. 

NFC West - 49ers and Rams 
NFC West - Seahawks and Cardinals
NFC East - Eagles and Cowboys 
NFC East - Commanders and Giants 
NFC North - Lions and Packers
NFC North - Vikings and Bears
NFC South - Saints and Panthers

NFL Scoring 

Last season the NFL average scoring per game was 43.5 points, down from 43.8 in 2022 and 46.0 points per game in 2021. The record scoring of 49.6 points per game in 2020 seems gone, but new NFL kickoff rules will appear to improve starting field position by 2-5 yards with scoring expected to increase by at least 1.5 points per game. 

Football odds from BetOnline and top online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting.

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Atlanta Falcons

Season Win Total: 9.5 (Over -155) - Bet Under   
Division Odds: -135 / NFC Odds: +1100 / Super Bowl Odds: +2800
Record Last 2 Years: 7-10, 7-10
Head Coach: Raheem Morris (1st season) 

Falcons Schedule, Odds and Props

Division games and advance point spreads (DraftKings) 

Week 4 New Orleans Saints  (ATL -3.5 / 44.5) 
Week 5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ATL -35 / 44.5) Thurs 
Week 6 at Carolina Panthers (ATL -3.5 / 44.5)   
Week 8 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ATL +1 / 44) 
Week 10 at New Orleans Saints (ATL -1 / 44.5)
Week 18 Carolina Panthers  (ATL -6.5 / 45.5) 

Other Key Games
Week 1 Pittsburgh Steelers (ATL -4 / 42)  
Week 2 at Philadelphia (ATL +4) MNF 
Week 3 Kansas City (ATL +2.5) SNF 
Week 7 Seattle Seahawks (ATL -3.5 / 48)    
Week 9 Dallas Cowboys  (ATL +1 / 48)  
Week 14 at Minnesota Vikings (ATL -1 / 45)
Week 15 at Las Vegas (ATL -1 / 45.5) MNF 

Bye: Week 12

Home: Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Kansas City, LA Chargers, NY Giants, Seattle, Pittsburgh
Away: Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Denver, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Washington, Minnesota 

Key Player Props (regular season at BetOnline) 

QB Kirk Cousins - O/U 3,900.5 Passing Yards / 27.5 Passing TD's / 8.5 INT  
RB Bijon Robinson - O/U 1,000.5 Rushing Yards / 6.5 Rush TD's / 60.5 Receptions / 550.5 Rec Yds    
WR Drake London - O/U 1,050.5, Rec Yds / 80.5 Receptions / 5.5 Rec TD's
S Jessie Bates - O/U 2.5 INT's

Stats and Notes (check back ahead of season for more betting notes). NFC South Falcons and Buccaneers handicapping and research includes sources and stats from beat writers, team sites and press notes, bettors and newsletters or betting guides like VSiN, Sharp Football, Playbook, CleveAnalytics, ESPN Stats & Info and more including FairwayJay's proprietary data base and stats. 

The Falcons are the division favorites in 2024 despite not having a winning season or playoff appearance since 2017. That includes six straight losing seasons, five with 7 wins and three straight 7-10 season entering the new era under head coach Raheem Morris and veteran QB Kirk Cousins. (Check back for more) 

Pro Football Focus Offensive Line Rankings Entering 2024 Season (Falcons No. 6, Buccaneers No. 17) 

Betting: 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Season Win Total: 7.5 (Over -115)  
Division Odds: +300 / NFC Odds: +3300 / Super Bowl Odds: +8000
Record Last 2 Years: 9-8, 8-9 
Head Coach: Todd Bowles (3rd season) 

Buccaneers Schedule, Odds and Props 

Division games and advance point spreads
Week 5 at Atlanta Falcons (TB +3 / 44.5)  
Week 6 at New Orleans Saints (TB +1.5 / 43) 
Week 8 Atlanta Falcons (TB -1 / 44) 
Week 13 at Carolina Panthers (TB -1 / 46) 
Week 17 Carolina Panthers (TB -5 / 43)
Week 18 New Orleans Saints (TB -2.5 / 43) 

Other Key Games
Week 1 Washington Commanders (TB -3.5 / 42.5) 
Week 2 at Detroit Lions (TB +6.5 / 48.5) 
Week 4 Philadelphia Eagles (N/A)
Week 7 Baltimore Ravens (N/A) MNF 
Week 9 at Kansas City Chiefs (TB +7.5 / 47) MNF
Week 10 San Francisco (TB +7 / 46.5)
Week 14 Las Vegas Raiders (TB -3 / 44) 
Week 16 at Dallas Cowboys (TB +4.5 / 46.5)  

Bye: Week 11 

Home: Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans, Denver, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Washington, San Francisco, Baltimore 
Away: Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans, Dallas, Kansas City, LA Chargers, NY Giants, Detroit  

Key Player Props 

QB Baker Mayfield - O/U 3,600.5 Pass Yards / 22.5 Pass TD's / 11.5 INT's
WR Chris Godwin - O/U 850.5 Rec Yards / 78.5 Receptions / 4.5 Rec TD's
WR Mike Evans - O/U 1,050 Rec Yards / 68.5 Receptions / 8.5 Rec TD's.
LB Lavonte David - O/U 120.5 Tackles & Assists 

Stats and Notes - The Buccaneers have won three straight division titles, and the Saints (+450) won the four previous NFC South titles. 

Betting: 

Check back for more updates, ATS and information you can bet on. 

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FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper with unparalleled success in NFL pointspread prognosis. He's posted 57% ATS winners at OSGA on his NFL Underdog side selections since 2016. Fairway is recognized as one of the sports industry's insightful analysts, and he chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on X @FairwayJay for more sports betting insights.