The New Orleans Saints have
a 3-1 spread record in their last four games, with the ‘under’ also going
3-1. Sean Payton’s squad returns from its bye week to host Sunday’s
battle against the Seattle Seahawks.
Sportsbooks opened New Orleans as a 12 ½-point home favorite in
the NFL betting odds, with Seahawks action dropping the margin to 11 ½ on some
boards. Betting shops first posted the ‘total’ at 42 ½, with action
on the ‘over’ quickly moving the number to as high as 44 ½.
The Saints picked up their second straight win two weeks ago, with
a 34-3 triumph as 5 ½-point road favorites against the Seattle
Seahawks. New Orleans’ offense controlled the ball for 35 minutes, moving
the chains for 27 first downs.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees completed 27-of-43 passes for 253
yards. The three-time Pro Bowl selection found mates Jimmy Graham
and Jeremy Shockey for touchdown strikes.
New Orleans’ Julius Jones rushed for a season-high 68 yards on six
carries. The Notre Dame alum’s 54-yard dash on his team’s first
drive was shortly followed by Brees’ sole interception of the game.
The Saints’ defense logged four sacks en route to allowing a
stingy 195 yards. Defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis recorded his fourth
sack of the year, ending a stretch of four games without one.
The lopsided affair’s combined 37 points ducked ‘under’ the
‘total’ of 40. New Orleans reached the end zone on 3-of-6 journeys
inside the 20-yard line, while denying Carolina a touchdown on all three of its
red zone trips.
The Saints are 2-3 ATS in their first five home dates, with the
‘over’ also going 2-3. Brees and Co. have been held to 18.2 PPG in
that stretch.
Seattle notched its highest scoring of the year in last Sunday’s
36-18 victory as a 3 ½-point road dog against the Arizona
Cardinals. Pete Carroll’s crew logged 490 yards in its 35 minutes of
possession.
Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw for 333 yards,
connecting on 22-of-34 passes. The 13-year veteran suffered a hand
injury during the game, but is listed by DonBest.com as “probable” to play
against New Orleans.
Hasselbeck’s favorite target Mike Williams notched 11 catches for
a season-high 145 yards. The Florida native failed to reach the end
zone for a third straight game.
Seattle’s rushing duo of Justin Forsett and Marshawn Lynch united
for 93 yards on 22 carries. Both running backs logged a touchdown
inside the five-yard line, while the Seahawks went 0-for-6 in their remaining
red zone trips.
The divisional duel’s combined 54 points soared above the ‘total’
of 41, extending the ‘over’ to 2-0 in Seattle’s last two games.
The Seahawks’ win improved Hasselbeck and Co. to 2-3 ATS in its
first five road games, with the ‘over’ going to 3-2.
Seattle is 3-1 ATS in its last three meetings against New Orleans,
with the ‘under’ also 3-1.
The Saints won the most recent battle between the foes, 28-17, as
a 5 ½-point road dog in a 2007 trip to the northwest. Brees threw
for 246 yards and two touchdowns, while Hasselbeck was sacked five times.
Sunday’s kickoff is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. (ET), with FOX
providing television coverage in some markets.
New Orleans will have a short rest before traveling to meet the
Dallas Cowboys as part of the league’s Thanksgiving slate. Seattle
resumes action next Sunday at home against the Kansas City Chiefs.