I don't know what goes through the heads of gamblers when it comes time to setting the betting lines for an NFL game, but I truly am aghast at the very idea that the bumbling New Orleans Saints are a -1.5 point road favorite this week at the New York Giants.
I just don't get it.
Sure the Giants are lucky to be 3-1-1 right now. They had to win two games on the final play, and get a brain fart on the part of Jayden Daniels and Dan Quinn to pull out a tie in Washington. Still though, the G-Men are 3-1-1, and the Saints (1-4) are in my mind have been the most overhyped team in the NFC South since the season began.
I mean people were not only picking the Saints to win this division, which might still happen, but they were already putting Saints Head Coach Kellen Moore on the Mt. Rushmore of brilliant young head coaches, and quarterback Tyler Shough as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Really? Are we really that serious?
Outside of their one-point Week 1 loss to Detroit, the Saints have been blown out of every other game they have lost this year. So to spot them as a road favorite is generous.
Sure Shough has put up good numbers, but let's get real, if the Saints are picking high in the first round next Spring, you can bet dollars to donuts they are taking a quarterback, especially if someone like Arch Manning is sitting there.
New Orleans biggest issue this year has been the ground game. They are averaging only 3.5 yards per game on the ground. That's not good at all.
Will be fascinating to see how the Giants who rank seventh against the pass, but 25th against the ground handle this Saints attack. If Big Blue is as opportunistic against Shough as it was against Jacoby Brissett and Cam Ward, it will be a long day for New Orleans.
On the flip side, Jamies Winston has to get off to faster start in these games. The offense has been notoriously slow in the opening quarter of games. Big Blue could use an opening touchdown drive to get this rolling.
The Saints are 25th in the NFL in total defense, and are ranked 30th and 31st against the run and in points allowed per game.
Expect Winston to have a solid enough afternoon, and for the Giants to pull away to 4-1-1 before the schedule gets really tough.


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