Saints, Giants will light up the scoreboard; New Orleans stays undefeated
Sportsbook fans are salivating at this matchup of undefeated teams, as the Giants visit the Saints. Both teams are incredibly well rounded, but a high-scoring, close affair appears on hand.
New York Giants at New Orleans Saints
Sunday, October 18 at 1:00 p.m. ET
NFL betting line: Saints -3
Thanks to 220 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, the Giants steamrolled Oakland 44-7 last week. Ahmad Bradshaw had his best game as a pro, racking up 110 yards and a pair of scores on just 11 carries, plus another 55 yards on a reception. Eli Manning played only a fraction of the game as a precautionary measure?he's nursing a foot injury?yet still managed to go 8-10 with 173 yards and two touchdowns. New York is second in the NFL at 417 yards per game and fourth at 30 points per outing.
New Orleans, of course, knows a little something about offense. The Saints have scored more points than anybody?36 per game, including two 40-plus outbursts?and have also proven capable both throwing and running the football. Quarterback Drew Brees needs no introduction (though, it should be noted, he hasn't thrown a touchdown in two games) while the running game, ranked second in the NFL, has been a major committee effort by Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush, each of whom has at least 33 carries.
Both teams can shut you down, though New Orleans' sudden tenacity on defense has been surprising. New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has worked wonders with this unit. After allowing 24.6 points per game last season, the Saints have improved to just 16.5, good for seventh best in the league. The biggest reason is turnovers, which are suddenly plentiful in New Orleans; the "D" has picked off 10 passes this season, returning two for touchdowns.
The Giants are still playing their familiar brand of tough-nosed defense. Brees will have to contend with a great deal of pressure from New York's front seven, a unit that never suffers from injuries or fatigue. The team has tremendous depth in place?nine different players have sacks?and we're betting management planned it exactly like this when the blueprints were laid.
Something has to give in this game, but what? Brees is due for a breakout but that's going to be tough against the Giants' pass rush and No. 1 pass defense. Manning, meanwhile, must prove he can last an entire game with his foot injury. Playing at home, the Saints "D" is going to be especially fired up and chase Manning all over the field?aggravating his injury. This will be a high-scoring affair; side with Brees and the hometown Saints on your NFL predictions.
--BetOnline.com
Sportsbook fans are salivating at this matchup of undefeated teams, as the Giants visit the Saints. Both teams are incredibly well rounded, but a high-scoring, close affair appears on hand.
New York Giants at New Orleans Saints
Sunday, October 18 at 1:00 p.m. ET
NFL betting line: Saints -3
Thanks to 220 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, the Giants steamrolled Oakland 44-7 last week. Ahmad Bradshaw had his best game as a pro, racking up 110 yards and a pair of scores on just 11 carries, plus another 55 yards on a reception. Eli Manning played only a fraction of the game as a precautionary measure?he's nursing a foot injury?yet still managed to go 8-10 with 173 yards and two touchdowns. New York is second in the NFL at 417 yards per game and fourth at 30 points per outing.
New Orleans, of course, knows a little something about offense. The Saints have scored more points than anybody?36 per game, including two 40-plus outbursts?and have also proven capable both throwing and running the football. Quarterback Drew Brees needs no introduction (though, it should be noted, he hasn't thrown a touchdown in two games) while the running game, ranked second in the NFL, has been a major committee effort by Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush, each of whom has at least 33 carries.
Both teams can shut you down, though New Orleans' sudden tenacity on defense has been surprising. New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has worked wonders with this unit. After allowing 24.6 points per game last season, the Saints have improved to just 16.5, good for seventh best in the league. The biggest reason is turnovers, which are suddenly plentiful in New Orleans; the "D" has picked off 10 passes this season, returning two for touchdowns.
The Giants are still playing their familiar brand of tough-nosed defense. Brees will have to contend with a great deal of pressure from New York's front seven, a unit that never suffers from injuries or fatigue. The team has tremendous depth in place?nine different players have sacks?and we're betting management planned it exactly like this when the blueprints were laid.
Something has to give in this game, but what? Brees is due for a breakout but that's going to be tough against the Giants' pass rush and No. 1 pass defense. Manning, meanwhile, must prove he can last an entire game with his foot injury. Playing at home, the Saints "D" is going to be especially fired up and chase Manning all over the field?aggravating his injury. This will be a high-scoring affair; side with Brees and the hometown Saints on your NFL predictions.
--BetOnline.com
] who are no. 1, but not too far advanced of no. 3 NO...
