The Miami Dolphins have fallen on hard times in recent seasons, and theyre not showing much of anything in the 2012 NFL preseason. They need to answer the bell this Friday against Atlanta.
Atlanta Falcons @ Miami Dolphins – Friday, August 24
Betting line: No line
Why Atlanta Will Win
An mma betting student knows that NFL preseason games arent as fiercely contested as MMA bouts, but it nevertheless remains that football requires a certain undeniable amount of emotion. You have to play football with passion. The sports action is too furious, the physical contact too substantial, for any player to go through the motions. Playing football at half-speed is an invitation to injury. The preseason is not played with quite the same intensity of the regular season; the physicality isnt as pronounced. Yet, the speed of the game is still relatively similar (the simplified playbooks represent the most pronounced departure from regular-season or playoff football).
Teams have to go on the field and compete, and so it needs to be said that when one very inferior team is involved, a preseason game can still be judged according to regular-season standards. This tilt between Atlanta and Miami is one such case. The Dolphins have been awful this preseason, scoring just seven points in week one against Tampa Bay and then scoring only 10 points in the first 56 minutes of last weeks loss to Carolina. The Dolphins have nothing at the skill positions, especially quarterback, that will scare opposing defenses. They are being re-built from scratch.
Theyre starting over with a brand-new head coach, Joe Philbin, and have an ownership group that is not making very astute decisions in the day-to-day running of the organization. Atlanta doesnt have many reasons to play really hard in this game. The Falcons need to save their gunpowder for the regular season and are aware of that reality. Yet, the Dolphins are so dysfunctional and disorganized that Atlanta should be able to swing into Miami and win.
Why Miami Will Win
When online football betting pundits assess this game, theyll be straightforward in acknowledging the difference between Atlantas first team and Miamis first team, but theyll also point out that the Falcons are in a position to bide their time. Atlanta knows that its foremost NFC South rival, the New Orleans Saints, is going to enter the regular season with a depleted defense due to BountyGate suspensions. The Falcons will not want to show off too much of their playbook, even in a week-three situation (when starters generally get more playing time). Miamis first-team offense isnt going to be formidable in 2012; that can be said with confidence even now. Yet, after two horrible outings in the preseason, the Dolphins will want to push extra hard in this contest. That will help them against the Falcons.
Who Will Win
It’s true that Miami will play hard, but the Dolphins just dont have much of any talent in the cupboard. The Falcons should build a lead by halftime and maintain that lead in the second half. Take Atlanta here.
NFL Football Betting Pick: Atlanta