NFL Week 2 Predictions: Will Patriots vs. Saints be high-scoring? 9/17/17
Will the Patriots and Saints light up the scoreboard this afternoon in New Orleans?
The Odds: Patriots at Saints, 1:00PM ET, Superdome
According to oddsmakers, New England is now a 6-point favorite to beat New Orleans. The line opened at Patriots -4.5 before climbing to 6. As for the total, the number hit the board at 53.5 but has jumped to 55 at most sports books.
New England Patriots Betting Trends
The Patriots have covered the spread in eight of their last nine road games, are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games played in September, and are 19-7 at the betting window in their last 26 games overall. They’re also a remarkable 40-18-1 against the spread in their last 59 games following a loss.
New Orleans Saints Betting Trends
Despite failing to cover Monday night versus the Vikings, the Saints are 10-4 against the number in their last 14 games overall. That said, they’re also 2-6 against the spread in their last eight games played in September and 1-4 against the spread in their last five games played in Week 2 of the season.
Our Prediction
New England struggled offensively last week but that won’t be the case today. The Saints are horrendous defensively and the Pats are coming off an extra three days of rest and preparation. Tom Brady also had to sit and listen to some suggest that he should take a backseat to Jimmy Garoppolo. The Pats could score 40 this afternoon, with Brandin Cooks lighting up his former team several times.
As for New Orleans, the Saints will have plenty of success against a New England defense that was shredded by Alex Smith and the Chiefs last Thursday. Once Dont’a’ Hightower left the game against Kansas City, the Chiefs racked up plenty of yards in the second half. At some point Bill Belichick will get the Patriots’ defensive issues ironed out, but it won’t be today in New Orleans.