Falcons open as betting favorites at home against Steelers

The Falcons schedule has been released, and the new era under Raheem Morris kicks off with a bang, as a familiar face returns to Atlanta for the season opener.

The Steelers and their new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, are set to travel to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to kick off the 2024 campaign. “Arthur Smith returns to Atlanta” is going to dominate headlines leading up to Week 1.

It will be a great test for Morris and this new-look Falcons squad, led by Kirk Cousins and Zac Robinson on the offensive side of the ball and Jimmy Lake on the defensive side of the ball.

So let’s take a look at some Falcons-Steelers odds via FanDuel:

Week 1 Falcons Steelers Odds

Point spread: Falcons -3.0
Over/under: 42.5
Moneyline odds: Falcons -152, Steelers +128

The Steelers are in a similar position as the Falcons actually. The new-look Pittsburgh offense, with Arthur Smith and Russell Wilson, behind a newly built line has high expectations.

Matt Canada and Kenny Pickett were ousted, and there’s reason to believe that brighter days are coming for the Steel City. Smith may have fallen short as a head coach, but his accomplishments as an offensive coordinator with the Titans speak for themselves.

He runs a perfect system that will resonate with the fans and the way Mike Tomlin wants to play football. The Steelers acquired a veteran via trade and expect to make it back to the postseason.

As for the Falcons, they hope their veteran quarterback will elevate their team. Cousins was paid $180 million and is expected to help end Atlanta’s postseason drought and maximize the team’s trio of top 10 picks in Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson.

Ironically, both clubs could face quarterback controversy as two young signal callers in Justin Fields and Michael Penix sit behind established veterans. The matchup is great for a number of reasons, and if you’re a betting man like me, these Falcons-Steelers odds get the juices flowing.