NFL Betting Preview
New Orleans Saints (7-6) at Chicago Bears (7-6)
Thursday, 8:15 pm Eastern – NFL Network

SBG Global Opening Line: Bears -  3 ,  Total  44

The playoffs may not be here yet but Thursday night might as well be a playoff game for the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears.  Both teams are at 7-6 and in virtual must-win situations.  The Bears have the better chance of making the playoffs simply because they are in the NFC North and only trail Minnesota by one game.  The Saints are in the NFC South and are virtually out of contention for the division so they need to qualify for the playoffs with a Wild Card. SBG Global reports that early NFL betting has the public taking Bears at Home.

The Saints have not had much success recently at Soldier Field, losing the NFC Championship game two years ago and last year in their final game of the season.  The weather could be a factor on Thursday which means the running games for both teams will be important.  The Saints definitely look better in that category as they have Reggie Bush healthy again and a newcomer named Pierre Thomas.  The Saints rushed for a season-high 184 yards in a 29-25 win over Atlanta last week. Thomas has rushed for 311 yards and four touchdowns in his last four games. “He catches people off balance because you see him in the backfield and he doesn’t look like a big, massive physical running back, but that’s exactly how he plays,” Saints receiver Lance Moore said about Thomas. “He just makes plays and that’s a credit to how hard he’s worked.”

On the other side of the ball the Bears will look to Matt Forte who has 1,476 yards from scrimmage this season to break Gale Sayers’ record for a Bear’s rookie. “I couldn’t even imagine coming in and going past Gale Sayers’ yards as a rookie,” Forte said. “I really don’t even look at stats. I just go out there and play.”

Here are the NFL betting stats for Thursday’s game. The Saints are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall. The Saints are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on grass. The underdog is 5-2-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings between the two teams.

The Bears are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in December. The Bears are 4-9-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

SBG Global Current Line: Bears -  3 ,  Total  45

The Over is 7-0 in the Saints last 7 games in December. The Over is 13-4-1 in the Saints last 18 games overall. The Under is 4-1 in the Bears last 5 games overall. The Over is 19-7 in the Bears last 26 home games. The Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Chicago between the two teams.

Pick: Saints 3 out of 5 units

NFL Betting Preview

Green Bay Packers (5-5) at New Orleans Saints (5-5)
Monday, 8:35 pm Eastern – ESPN

SBG Global Opening Line: Saints - 2.5 , Total 53.5

A high scoring shootout should be on tap Monday night on ESPN as the New Orleans Saints host the Green Bay Packers. Both teams come into the game at 5-5 but the game is far more critical to New Orleans since the Packers play in the weaker NFC North. “There is a sense of urgency that this game is important and it’s certainly important for Green Bay,” New Orleans coach Sean Payton said. “I think that after this game next week there’s going to be that same urgency because not only the division, but the rest of the NFC is playing pretty well.”
SBG Global reports that early NFL betting has the public taking Titans at Home.

The Saints are 3-1 at home this season while the Packers are 2-3 on the road. The Packers are 14-6 all-time against New Orleans but they have lost two of the last three meetings. The Packers are coming off a great performance last week when they routed Chicago 37-3. The defense will be tested a lot more this week against a New Orleans offense that is averaging 416.9 yards and 29 TDs. “The Saints possess an excellent challenge for us,” Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy said. “They have the ability to attack you a lot of different ways. I think Drew Brees and Sean Payton are a very good match as far as the way Sean attacks a defense and Drew’s ability to run the wide-open offense.” On the other side of the ball the Packers can score as well with quarterback Aaron Rodgers who is averaging 235.1 passing yards per game.

Here are the NFL betting stats for Monday’s game. The Packers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games in November. The Packers are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 road games. The Packers are 19-8-2 ATS in their last 29 vs. the NFC. The Packers are 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 Monday games.

The Saints are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games. The Saints are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Monday games. The Saints are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. the NFC.

SBG Global Current Line: Saints - 1 , Total 51.5

The Over is 8-1-1 in the Packers last 10 road games. The Over is 20-6-1 in the Packers last 27 games overall. The Over is 16-5-1 in the Packers last 22 vs. NFC. The Over is 8-1-1 in the Saints last 10 home games. The Over is 11-3-1 in the Saints last 15 games overall. The Over is 20-8-1 in the Saints last 29 vs. the NFC. The Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between the two teams.

Pick: Packers 4 out of 5 units

NFL Betting Preview
San Diego Chargers (3-4) vs. New Orleans Saints (3-4) at London
Sunday, 1:00 pm Eastern – CBS

SBG Global Opening Line: Chargers  -  3   ,  Total  46.5

Two teams that were thought of as Super Bowl contenders are struggling as both the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers come into Sunday’s game at 3-4.  This game will be played in London and unfortunately for the Saints that means they lose a home game since they are the designated home team in this matchup. The Saints will be without Reggie Bush who is injured. “He has been a big part of what we have been able to do offensively and it’s an injury that we have to deal with,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. SBG Global reports that early NFL betting has the public taking Chargers on the Road.

The Saints realize that they really need to win on Sunday. “We came over here knowing that this is pretty much a must-win game for us,” said wide receiver Marques Colston, “We have the bye week next week, and just to go in with a win could set our season back on the right track.”  The Chargers are not in much better shape although they at least don’t lose a home game by going to London.  Last week the Chargers lost 23-14 at Buffalo as quarterback Phillip Rivers fumbled twice and threw an interception. “The taste of that loss isn’t gone by any means,” Rivers said.  The Chargers quarterback leads the league with 16 TD passes and is supposed to be getting help from LaDainian Tomlinson but that has not been happening. “The run game comes with opportunities and gaining some momentum,” Tomlinson said. “Obviously, we didn’t have any momentum in the run game. That’s why we’re suffering.”

Last year in the first regular season game in London, the Giants beat the Dolphins 13-10.  Here are the NFL betting stats for Sunday’s game.  The Chargers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in Week 8. The Chargers are 6-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record. The Chargers are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games in October.

SBG Global Current Line: Chargers  -  3   ,  Total  45

The Saints are 1-4 ATS vs. a team with a losing record. The Saints are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games in Week 8.

The Under is 5-0 in the Chargers last 5 games in October. The Over is 11-5 in the Chargers last 16 vs. a team with a losing record. The Over is 9-2-1 in the Saints last 12 games overall.

Pick: Over 2 out of 5 units, Saints 1 out of 5 units

Minnesota Vikings (1-3) at New Orleans Saints (2-2)
Monday, 8:35 pm Eastern – ESPN

SBG Global Opening Line: Saints  -  3   ,  Total  47

The New Orleans Saints defense will be tested on Monday night as Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings come to town.  The Saints have given up almost 1,500 yards this season, 5^th worst in the NFL.  If they expect to win on Monday night they will have to find a way to stop Peterson. “We’ve seen some real good runners both at home and on the road, but this guy is the best we’ve seen to date,” New Orleans head coach Sean Payton said, “That’s no slight on anyone that we’ve played to date, but there’s something else about him and the guys blocking for him are something else. (Peterson’s) big and strong - he’s exceptional.”
SBG Global reports that early NFL betting has the public taking Saints at Home.

The Saints usually do the opposite of the Vikings and that is throwing the ball. Quarterback Drew Brees is the leagues third-highest rated quarterback and the Saints lead the league with 327.3 passing yards per game.  The Saints have had very little success recently against Minnesota, losing six of the last seven matchups and 17 of 24 overall.  The last meeting between the two teams at New Orleans was in 2004 and Minnesota won 38-31.

Here are the NFL betting stats for Monday’s game.  The Vikings are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games. The Vikings are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The Vikings are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings between the two teams.

The Saints are 4-9 ATS vs. a team with a losing record. The Saints are 7-16-1 ATS in their last 24 home games. The Saints are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games in Week 5. The favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings between the two teams.

The Over is 8-0 in the Vikings last 8 games in Week 5. The Under is 8-2 in the Vikings last 10 Monday games. The Over is 7-3 in the Vikings last 10 games on field turf.

SBG Global Current Line: Saints  -  3   ,  Total  46.5

The Over is 8-0-1 in the Saints last 9 games on field turf. The Over is 6-0-1 in the Saints last 7 home games. The Over is 8-0-1 in the Saints last 9 games overall. The Over is 14-3-1 in the Saints last 18 vs. the NFC. The Over is 5-2 in the Saints last 7 games in October. The Over is 5-1-1 in the last 7 meetings between the two teams.

Pick Vikes 3 out of 5 units

New Orleans Saints at Denver Broncos
Sunday, 4:05 pm Eastern – FOX

SBG Global Opening Line: Broncos  -  5.5   ,  Total  51

The highest scoring game in the NFL this week could be in Denver as the Broncos host the New Orleans Saints.  The Broncos outscored the San Diego Chargers last week while the Saints lost 29-24 to Washington.  The Broncos are trying to start the season at 3-0 for the first time in five years.  Denver leads the NFL in total offense at 463.5 yards per game.  Quarterback Jay Cutler leads the league with 650 passing yards and is tied for first with six TDs.  Wide receiver Brandon Marshall caught a team-record 18 passes for 166 yards and a TD last week. SBG Global reports that early NFL betting has the public taking Broncos at Home.

The Saints usually can score points as well, but didn’t do anything late against Washington last week and lost the game. “I thought we were fortunate to be up by nine going into the fourth quarter,” said Saints coach Sean Payton, “That teased us a little bit. But when it came time in the fourth quarter with some critical plays - offensively trying to make a yard, trying to convert a third-and-5, or defensively trying to keep the ball in front of us - they made those plays.”  Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 216 yards and a touchdown but got very little help from his running backs. 

The Saints and Broncos have not met since 2004.  The Broncos won that game 34-13.  Here are more NFL betting stats for Sunday’s game.  The Saints are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. The Saints are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games in Week 3.

The Broncos are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 home games. The Broncos are 7-15-1 ATS in their last 23 games on grass. The Broncos are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 games overall. The Broncos are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games in September.

SBG Global Current Line: Broncos -  5   ,  Total  51

The Over is 7-0 in the Saints last 7 games overall. The Over is 6-2 in the Saints last 8 road games. The Over is 5-0 in the Broncos last 5 games in September. The Over is 12-1-1 in the Broncos last 14 home games. The Under is 4-1 in the Broncos last 5 games in Week 3. The Over is 21-6-1 in the Broncos last 28 games overall. The Over is 19-7-1 in the Broncos last 27 games on grass.

Pick: Saints 2 out of 5 units

NFL Preseason Betting Preview

New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals
Thursday, 8:00 pm Eastern – ESPN

SBG Global Opening Line: Cardinals - 3 , Total 37

The New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals begin their preseason play on Thursday in a nationally televised game on ESPN. The focus for Arizona is likely to be on the quarterbacks as Matt Leinart tries to prove he is the worthy starter and that Kurt Warner should remain the backup. SBG Global reports that early NFL betting has the public taking Cardinals at Home.

The Cardinals expect to play both Leinart and Warner for a couple of series on Thursday. That means the bulk of the playing time will go to Brian St. Pierre and rookie Anthony Morelli. Arizona will not have wide receivers Anquan Boldin or draft choice Early Doucet on Thursday, as both players are nursing injuries.

New Orleans is set with their quarterback rotation for Thursday. Drew Brees is expected to play two or three series followed by Mark Brunell and Tyler Palko. Running back Deuce McAllister, tight end Jeremy Shockey and cornerback Mike McKenzie will not play on Thursday. Also sitting out will be wide receiver Marques Colston, linebacker Jonathan Vilma, safety Josh Bullocks and defensive tackle Brian Young. The Saints are expecting a lot more this season after struggling to a 7-9 season a year ago. “We didn’t play well enough to be a playoff team last year, in a lot of areas,” head coach Sean Payton said, “That’s the bottom line.”

SBG Global Current Line: Cardinals - 2.5 , Total 35

The total on Thursday is one on highest on the preseason week one board at 35. With the quarterbacks looking weak in the second half the two teams may struggle to reach that number.

Here is a look at some NFL betting stats for Thursday’s game. The Saints and Cardinals have never met in the preseason. The Saints have a 3-0 lead in their all-time regular season series with the Cardinals. Last year the teams met in New Orleans and the Saints won 31-24.

Pick Cards 2 units