4 Props to Bet in Falcons vs Eagles 2018 NFL Season-Opener

• Will Steve Sarkisian force-feed the ball to star WR Julio Jones in Week 1?
• Which player presents the most value to score the first TD of the game?
• Find four props for tonight’s 2018 NFL season-opener you’ll want to jump on

We did it everyone. We managed to make it through another NFL-less summer.

With the kickoff to the 2018 NFL season less than two hours away, it’s time to dive into the season-opener a little further.

If you’re looking for the most recent moneyline, spread, and totals, check out our Atlanta Falcons vs Philadelphia Eagles Betting Preview, as we’ll be strictly focused on props from tonight’s game.

If you are looking for a props sheet to spruce up the Falcons vs Eagles game, head to our Printable Props Sheet.

Read on for advice on which way you should bet these four props, along with which one of our online sports betting sites are responsible for each prop.

Prop #1: No Successful 4th Down Conversion

The Philadelphia Eagles converted the most fourth down attempts in the NFL last season – 17 of 26 attempts. The Falcons, on the other hand, only converted on four of their 13 attempts.

So just looking at the averages, the Eagles converted 1.06 fourth downs per game, while the Falcons only converted 0.25. And when these two teams played in the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs last year, they each converted a fourth down attempt.

The last time the @Eagles + @atlantafalcons met?
It came down to this fourth down.
NFC Championship Game spot on the line. ?

?: #ATLvsPHI: TONIGHT at 8:20PM ET (NBC) #Kickoff2018 #tbt pic.twitter.com/DRwI6a6jn9

— NFL (@NFL) September 6, 2018

The numbers would suggest we are going to see a fourth down converted here.

But I’m going the other way. I foresee this being a game of field position, as the Eagles defense is so strong and Super Bowl 52 MVP Nick Foles hasn’t instilled much confidence in anyone with his poor preseason. Neither coach is going to be willing to take a huge risk in such a tight game.

Getting +145 odds makes it that much sweeter.

Prop #2: Julio Jones Goes OVER his Receiving Yards Projection

This is a pretty easy bet. Julio Jones averages 95.3 yards per game, an all-time NFL high.

The Eagles, like just about every other team in the league, do not have a corner capable of lining up with Julio. When these two teams met in the playoffs last year, Jones recorded 101 receiving yards.

Julio Jones was PFF’s top graded receiver in 2016 and 2017.

3-peat?? pic.twitter.com/Bc0bD6zxha

— PFF ATL Falcons (@PFF_Falcons) August 16, 2018

After Steve Sarkisian spent the offseason listening to criticism over his refusal to feed his star WR, I expect Atlanta to feed the 29-year-old early and often, rather than pound their head against the brick wall that is the Eagles front seven.

Prop #3: Ajayi Scores the 1st Touchdown

Jay Ajayi only scored one touchdown after being acquired by the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of the NFL Trade Deadline. But that was a result of the team also having LeGarrette Blount in the backfield, vulturing all the goal line work.

Blount is now a Lion and this is Ajayi’s backfield.

As mentioned, Nick Foles has not impressed this preseason and I anticipate Doug Pederson playing it a little more conservatively than normal in the red zone this week.

Prop #4: Field Goal or Safety as the 1st Score of the Game

In 2017, the Eagles boasted the league’s best TD% once entering the red zone (65.45%). The Falcons, however, only punched the ball into the end zone 50% of the time when entering the red zone (23rd).

But with these two defenses, there’s no guarantee either of these two teams even reaches the red zone early in the game.

Field goal/safety is the best bet here, as both teams are very comfortable sending their kickers out for 50+ yard attempts. The Falcons made more 50+ yard field goals than any other team in the NFL last season (8/9), while Philadelphia also made six of their seven attempts.