Packers vs Saints odds - Saints favored at home
Posted on 11/18/2008 2:30:26 PM
By Stan Simmons
Packers vs Saints odds: Green Bay coming off win against Chicago
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WHO: Green Bay Packers (+2.5) at New Orleans Saints (-2.5)
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WHAT: NFL football betting
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WHEN: Monday, November 24 at 8:30 p.m. ET
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WHERE: Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, LA
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KEY STATS: Green Bay is 11-3-1 ATS in its last 15 games on the road
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PICK: Packers
Packers vs Saints betting figures to be the most exciting game on the board this week, according to oddmakers who have the total set at a whopping 53.5 points. As NFL football betting sharps know, Green Bay and New Orleans are two of the most explosive teams in the league, and this Monday Night Football betting matchup should be another old fashioned shootout.
After dropping two straight to Tennessee and Minnesota, the Packers rebounded last week with a 37-3 drubbing of divisional rival Chicago. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers broke out of a mini-slump, going 23-for-30 for 227 yards and two touchdowns.
However, the big story was running back Ryan Grant, who had been frustrating fans, fantasy owners and particularly offshore sports betting customers all season long. The second-year halfback ran for 145 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
Meanwhile, New Orleans, which is favored on Packers vs. Saints odds, continued its high-scoring ways, toppling the rejuvenated Kansas City Chiefs last week, 30-20. Drew Brees didn’t exactly have his best game of the season, throwing for 266 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
More importantly, however, the Saints defense broke a two-game streak of no sacks, finally getting to Chiefs quarterback Tyler Thigpen in the first quarter. The much-maligned Saints secondary also held Thigpen to 19 completions on the day, helping cover the six-point NFL football spreads.
The return of Reggie Bush has certainly given New Orleans an extra boost on the Packers vs Saints line this week. The Saints were relying on veteran Deuce McAllister and the largely unproven Pierre Thomas to handle their ground game. New Orleans will look to score early and often, and keep its pass rush steady on Rodgers.
Green Bay will likely try to do the exact opposite, instead slowing the game down using Grant and quick outs to tight end Donald Lee. Although they are underdogs on NFL football odds, the Packers have arguably the best secondary in the league—if anyone can slow the high octane Saints down, it is Al Harris and Charles Woodson.
STAN’S PICK: While NFL football lines have moved to favor the Saints since the return of Reggie Bush, sports betting sharps have seen that his presence in the offense can sometimes be detrimental. Head coach Sean Payton has been accused of trying too hard to run the offense around Bush and often making illogical play calls to include him in the scheme.
There will be no time to mess around with a tough Packers defense and a high-powered offense. Look for the Pack to roll in this one, and take sole possession of first place in the NFL North. When making your Packers vs Saints pick, bet on the Packers.
Be sure to check out The Betting Edge each week for more NFL football betting and Packers vs Saints odds from our sports betting expert Stan Simmons.
Stan
Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping
has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much
time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps
the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or
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