New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers
Thursday, 9/8/11, 8:30 PM EST, TV: NBC
Opening Point Spread: Green Bay -5
Current Betting Line: Green Bay -4
Opening Total: 46.5
Current Total: 46
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
New Orleans has been in this situation before and head coach Sean Payton now has the security of knowing he’ll be on the sidelines through the 2015 season. He just agreed to a contract extension and signals a possible new contract for quarterback Drew Brees over the course of the year. The Saints will be playing in the NFL’s season opener for the third time in four years. “The challenges are going into a venue with added excitement because there is going to be recognition of last year’s championship,” Payton commented. “We have played in this.” Last year, New Orleans captured a 14-9 home contest over the revenge-minded Minnesota Vikings in this same exact spot. New Orleans is 7-10 ATS on the road the last two years.
The Saints certainly possess an explosive offense with Brees under center, ranking third in the league by averaging 26.9 points a contest since the 2006 season. New Orleans leads the NFL in passing yardage over the same span, averaging 290.6 yards per game. On the other side of the ball, the defense ranked fourth in the league in total defense a year ago. The squad finished the preseason with a 2-2 straight-up record and 2-2 ATS mark.
Green Bay didn’t get to enjoy its Super Bowl win like other teams of the past due to a lockout period, but the squad took a trip to the White House just a few weeks ago and will get showered with praise Thursday night at Lambeau Field. The Packers have a good chance of starting the year in the win column due to a 5-0 all-time record in prime-time season openers, winning four such games on Monday and one on Sunday night. Head coach Mike McCarthy has also enjoyed great success in September, entering with a 11-6 (.647) record, which is tied for the fifth-best winning percentage since the 2006 campaign. Green Bay is 10-5 ATS at home the past two years.
The Packers offense finished the year ninth in total offense, averaging 358.1 yards a contest. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers joined the league’s elite at the position and finished in nearly every top 10 category for the second straight season. On the other side of the ball, the defense was second in the league by surrendering just 15.0 points a game, trailing only the Pittsburgh Steelers (14.5). Getting after the opposing signal-caller was key to that success, totaling 47 sacks. The team was also very successful in creating 32 takeaways, it’s second consecutive season of creating 30-or-more turnovers.
Bettors will be interested in backing the Saints due to their 5-1 ATS mark in Week 1, while the Packers are 2-5 ATS in their last seven Thursday contests.
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