NFL Week 7: The Falcons are perfect underdogs

Believe it or not, we’re officially a third of the way through the NFL regular season. Time sure flies when you’re having fun.

• By now, we’re hoping you’re feeling more confident about the world of sports betting. And if you ever need support, you can always hit up our new sports betting guide.

This week, I’m going to let you in on a little secret: what I’m — as The GIST’s resident sports betting queen — betting on.

• Each week, I’ll share my picks in this email and in The GIST’s Twitter Community, including a weekly tally of how I’m doing. Full disclosure, I’m by no means a pro gambler, but I do enjoy having skin in the game, especially on football Sundays.

You can tail my picks (sports betting lingo for placing the same bets) or fade and go your own way.

First up, a look at an eye-catching Atlanta Falcons trend, as they are just the third team in the past decade to start 6-0 against the spread (ATS).

• As underdogs in all six of those weeks, this means the Falcons either won the game or lost by less than the sportsbook-assigned point spread.

• The birds are (+6.5) underdogs yet again this week, this time against the Cincinnati Bengals. A bet on the spread, therefore, wins if the Falcons snag the W, or lose by less than 7 points.

Sweeten the week with a pair of prop bets (bets not directly tied to the outcome of a game) on two surging running backs (RBs).

• NY Giants’ Saquon Barkley has run for 70+ yards in every game this season, but he’ll be in tough this week against a rock solid Jacksonville Jaguars defense that’s allowed the third least rushing yards so far. A $5 bet on Barkley to rush for under 76.5 yards would win $9.53 in profit.

• On the flip side, Las Vegas Raiders star RB Josh Jacobs is squaring up against a Houston Texans defense that’s allowed the third most rushing yards this season. A $5 bet on Jacobs to rush for over 80.5 yards would also win $9.53 in profit.

FanDuel has both a new user special promotionand a refer a friend promo for returning customers, now with $100 (!!!) in free bets for both you and a friend.

As always, let us know who you’re rooting for in our GISTer Twitter Community so we can cheer along with you.