Atlanta Falcons 2007 Draft Preview

Football Betting Lines

04/04/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Falcons have multiple needs on defense, and with the No. 8 overall pick (obtained in the Matt Schaub trade) could justify selecting any of the following players - safeties LaRon Landry (LSU) and Reggie Nelson (Florida), tackles Amobi Akoye (Louisville) and Alan Branch (Michigan), and defensive ends Gaines Adams (Clemson) and Jamaal Anderson (Arkansas). Atlanta could also use a cornerback to play opposite DeAngelo Hall and is in need of depth at linebacker, but those positions look like more of a second-round focus at this stage. If Atlanta takes an offensive player on the first day, he is likely to be an offensive lineman to help protect Michael Vick. Wide receiver is less of a need after the team obtained Joe Horn off the free agent wire. The Schaub trade gives the team a void at backup QB, and it seems obvious that the Falcons will take a signal-caller in the middle rounds to compete with Chris Redman and D.J. Shockley for that job.

2006 Record: 7-9

First Pick: No. 8

Number of Selections: 10 (1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7)

RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2006 - none; 2005 - Roddy White (WR, UAB); 2004 - DeAngelo Hall (CB, Virginia Tech), Michael Jenkins (WR, Ohio State); 2003 - none; 2002 - T.J. Duckett (RB, Michigan State); 2001 - Michael Vick (QB, Virginia Tech); 2000 - none; 1999 - Patrick Kerney (DE, Virginia); 1998 - Keith Brooking (LB, Georgia Tech); 1997 - Michael Booker (CB, Nebraska); 1996 - none; 1995 - Devin Bush (S, Florida State); 1994 - none; 1993 - Lincoln Kennedy (OT, Washington); 1992 - Bob Whitfield (OT, Stanford), Tony Smith (RB, Southern Mississippi); 1991 - Bruce Pickens (CB, Nebraska), Mike Pritchard (WR, Colorado); 1990 - Steve Broussard (RB, Washington State).

Sportsbook-internet-sportsbook Football Betting News

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Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

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