This pick was released to clients on July 11, 2012 at 1:31PM ET.
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St. Louis at Atlanta

January 15, 2005
img8:00 PM Eastern
Premium Pick

How did St. Louis get here? This team scored 69 points FEWER than they scored during the regular season. They lost as many games as they won and their ATS record was 6-10. They gave up nearly 140 yards per game on the ground and threw the ball 200 more times than they ran it. They lucked out by drawing Atlanta in this round instead of Philly. The Rams' bubble is gonna burst soon and my feeling is it will be this weekend against the Falcons and Mike Vick. Now, I believe strongly that Atlanta has also been lucky and is overrated. But, they are a better team than St. Louis, their well rested and playing at home. They are also playing against the worst run defense playing this weekend. Atlanta can run the ball. They average 5.1 yards per run (best of remaining teams) and finished tops in the league in eating up yards on the ground. Mike Vick should be able to post 150 yards against this defense on the ground himself. Throw in Warrick Dunn and TJ Duckett and you have a recipe for ball control and game control. I also believe Vick steps it up in the playoffs, as he did against Green Bay two years ago, and will have a big game here. The only advantage whatsoever that St. Louis has in this game is with their potent passing offense. Altanta's pass defense isn't very good but they do get pressure on opposing QBs (48 sacks). If they can pressure Bulger, put him on his back a few times and force a few interceptions, the Falcons run away with this one. A one-star lean on Atlanta.

1 unit on Atlanta -7 (-110) (risk 1 to return 1.91)
Result:
WIN
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