Green Bay Packers (2-0 2-0 ATS) at New Orleans Saints (1-1 1-1 ATS)
The Packers have looked Impressive in winning their first two games and they take a jaunt to the Big Easy to take on the Saints, who lost their last game. The Saints are the 3-point betting favorite in their house with the total at 52.5.
The public has been really backing the Packers in this game, as they opened as a 6-point dog, and as of Wednesday are half of that as a 3-point dog.
These teams last met in the 2017 season.
Green Bay’s offense has been more than solid in their first two games wherein each they scored at least 42 points. Aaron Rodgers has played great and he has yet to be picked off and has six TD.
The Saints are coming off a 34-24 Monday night loss to the Las Vegas Raiders and future Hall of Fame QB has looked, pedestrian. Star WR Michael Thomas missed the last game with an ankle injury and is a question mark for this game.
The Saints have covered the spread in five of their last six games facing the Packers.
Rodgers Has Help
While Rodgers has played well on the season in the last game RB Aaron Jones was the big star rushing for a career-high 168 yards in a 42-21 win over the Detroit Lions. The Packers outgained the Lions 488 yards to 307 yards and after being down 14-3 at the end of the first quarter they outscored the Lions 39-7 the rest of the game.
Rodgers passed for 240 yards with two TD and no INT and was only sacked once.
Not only did Jones rush for 168 yards he also led Green Bay with 68 receiving yards with Marquez Valdes-Scantling chiming in for 64 receiving yards.
Green Bay held Detroit to only 89 rushing yards after giving up 134 yards on the ground in their opener. Their run D may be key in this game, especially if Thomas cannot go as Brees’ main target.
The Saints Need the Old Brees Back
Drew Brees is no spring chicken at 41 years old and the team needs the old Brees back for this big game or they could be looking at their second-straight loss. in two games he has looked subpar and in the loss, to the Raiders he did pass for 312 yards with a TD but had a bad INT and only passed for 160 yards in the season opener.
Alvin Kamara had a big game in the loss to the Raiders rushing for 79 yards and also leading New Orleans with 95 receiving yards.
Thomas coming back is key for the Saints, as after him the team does not have a very good WR corps.
In the loss to the Raiders, the Saints outgained them 424 yards to 375 yards. However, the pick by Brees near the end of the first half led to a Las Vegas field goal and New Orleans was outscored 17-7 in the second half.
Our Prediction
Green Bay is 2-0 ATS this season and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games, overall, while the Saints have failed to cover in four of their last five home games.
I think Brees has had a great career, but his play has tapered off dating back to the second half of last season. He did not look himself in the loss to Las Vegas and with Thomas nursing a bad ankle and questionable for this game the Saints may be in trouble.
The Packers will get a solid and balanced game from the offense and their D will play well. Green Bay will not only cover but get the win and mover to 3-0 while the Saints will fall to 1-2 and questions will abound in the Big Easy because of it.
PICK: Packers +3