New Orleans Saints (-6.5) at Carolina Panthers, Total 51 |
New Orleans has recovered nicely after dropping a 42-34 season-opening contest to the Green Bay Packers as four-point road underdogs, winning three consecutive games entering this Week 5 matchup.
The Saints are second in the league in total offense, averaging 471.5 yards per game, while also putting up 31.8 points a contest. Quarterback Drew Brees continues to prove that he’s one of the best players in all of football.
The former Purdue Boilermakers star has led the team to convert 55.2 percent of its third-down opportunities, which is second in the NFL. He should have a field day against a defense that has allowed at least 28 points in three of four games this season.
Offensively, the running game is starting to gain some traction, rushing for 177 yards last week versus the Jaguars. New Orleans ranks 10th in the league in gaining 119 yards a game, which is 25 yards more than last year’s total that saw the team finish 28th.
Bettors will find that the Saints are 3-0 ATS this year as favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points, while the ‘under’ is 2-1 in those contests. New Orleans is 8-11 ATS on the road and 20-20 ATS over the last two-plus seasons.
Carolina is 1-3 on the season, but all four of the games have been decided by one score. The Panthers failed to cover their first game by a half-point, but have rattled off three consecutive ATS victories.
“For a person to tell me you can’t win them all, that’s a loser’s mentality,” commented Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton. “I play the game and I want to win very single game I play.”
He’s certainly done a good job of showing that ability, ranking second in the NFL with 1,410 passing yards, but has thrown just five touchdowns with five interceptions.
Offensively, the team set a franchise record for total offense with 543 yards last week, but first-year head coach Ron Rivera is focused on getting his team to finish games. “If you really go back and look at it, every game we’ve lost, we’ve had an opportunity to finish somebody off,” he stated this week in practice.
The defense has been terrible against the run, allowing Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte to have a field day last week ,which is a cause for concern when game planning against Saints all-purpose back Darren Sproles.
The former San Diego Chargers running back is averaging 8.9 yards per carry this season and leads the Saints in receptions with 26 for 224 yards.
Bettors will find that the Panthers are 11-16 ATS as an underdog and the ‘over’ is 14-12 in those contests.
