As the Atlanta Falcons get set to open up training camp next week, talk of the team and how well they will perform this season continues to appear to be a bit of a mixed bag of predictions. Depending on which way the wind is blowing on any particular day, some sports writers and analyst believe that the franchise, while having made some impressive moves, have not done enough to make a drastic improvement from this past season, yet, for others, Atlanta has more upside than many may be believe.
And while questions surround what type of play the Falcons will get from second year quarterback, Desmond Ridder, the addition of rookie running back, Bijan Robinson, and a returning Kyle Pitts in addition to Drake London, Tyler Algeier and Cordarrelle Patterson on the offensive side of the ball and safety, Jessie Bates, defensive tackle, David Onyemata, and veteran Calais Campbell to the defensive personnel, optimism for the Falcons appears to be rising and even the odds are signaling that sentiment.
“The Falcons are, you know in that kind of position where, you know, people think they’re good, people think they’re bad. You know, there’s a lot of trending in all different directions about what this Falcons team is going to ultimately be,” 92-9 The Game’s Jon Chuckery said on Wednesday as he discussed recent betting odds on which team would win the NFC South this season. According to BET MGM, the Falcons are at a +220 to win the division, with the Saints at +125, Carolina at +350 and Tamps Bay at +750. However, Chuckery noted that what stood out to him more is that the Falcons have the “highest ticket percentage that’s been bet” at 40 percent.
When asked if the rising optimism for the Falcons could be a result of the overall consensus of the division is somewhat of a question, the evening host responded, “I think it’s a combination because I do think that people looked at, ok the Falcons had money and they went out and improved their roster and they signed some good players,” Chuckery said, noting Campbell and Bates as some of the additions. However, as Chuckery continued with his response, he added that with the NFC South having been down as a whole for a couple of seasons, the window for “optimism just about what the Falcons could ultimately be,” is wide open.
Click link above to hear Chuckery’s comments in their entirety:
