New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
Sunday, December 19, 2010, 1:00 pm EST, TV: FOX
Opening Line: Ravens -2.5
Current Line: Ravens -1
Opening Total: 44
Current Total: 43.5
Money Line: Ravens -120 / Saints +100
The Baltimore Ravens (9-4) will need to play much better defense if they have aspirations of reaching the Super Bowl, something the New Orleans Saints (10-3) know all too well as they clash on Sunday. The Ravens (-1) will have something to prove when they host the defending Super Bowl champions after blowing a 28-7 lead in a 34-28 overtime win at Houston on Monday night.
Baltimore was fortunate enough to pick off Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in the extra session and return it for the game-winning touchdown after seeing Schaub lead his team to 15 points in the last six minutes. The Ravens led 21-7 at halftime thanks to a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Willis McGahee while wide receiver Derrick Mason added a pair of scores.
Despite the win, starting running back Ray Rice continued to struggle for Baltimore with only 54 yards on 19 carries against Houston. Rice has rushed for more than 88 yards only once this season, scoring just one touchdown since scoring two in Week 5 at home against Denver.
The Ravens have played better defense at home, limiting their last three opponents to 13 points or less with the UNDER cashing each time. However, they have failed to cover the spread in their last games two there, including a 13-10 loss to Pittsburgh two weeks ago.
The Saints enter this game on a six-game winning streak and have improved dramatically on offense during that stretch. They have scored 30 points or more in five straight games after hitting topping that mark just once in the first half of the season.
Reigning Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees has played extremely well lately even though he has tied a career high with 18 interceptions. Brees has thrown at least one interception in the last nine games but has more interceptions than touchdowns in a game just twice this season.
New Orleans has struggled defensively in its last two road games, needing touchdown passes from Brees in the final minutes to win both. He threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marques Colston to beat Cincinnati 34-30 on the road two weeks ago but did not need such heroics in a 31-13 home win against St. Louis last week.
Baltimore presents a much different challenge for the Saints offensively and defensively and will be their toughest opponent since playing the Steelers in Week 8. New Orleans beat Pittsburgh 20-10 to start the winning streak but has dropped four of the last meetings with the Ravens, who are 5-1 against the spread in the last six games between the teams.
If you are wagering on this football game between the Ravens & Saints, make sure to check out the winning NFL picks packages we offer. You can also get free winners on our free NFL picks page.
