NFL Betting: Why You Should Expect Fireworks in Sunday’s Packers-Saints Matchup
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Bovada Sportsbook Staff : Ocotber 24, 2014
Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees are both first-ballot lock Hall of Famers. They have faced off three times as starters, which resulted in high-scoring affairs. They meet again in the Week 8 Sunday night game, and the 56-point total is the highest this season so far. The Saints are 1-point home favorites, and there will be live betting available at Bovada.
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The Packers worried their fans with a 1-2 season start. Rodgers told everyone to relax, and he was right. Green Bay has won four straight games, three by blowout, and averaged 36.3 points per game in that stretch. When the Packers set a franchise record of 560 points in 2011, they averaged 35.0 per game.
That was the year Rodgers won the MVP, and he has jumped into the conversation this season with his brilliant play as of late. Denver’s Peyton Manning is +150 to
win MVP, and Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray is right behind at +350. Rodgers is at +550, and Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is +650.
On the season, Rodgers has a ridiculous touchdown-to-interception ratio of 18:1. He is the first player to begin a season with at least 18 touchdown passes and a maximum of one interception. Since their four-game winning streak, Rodgers has thrown at least three touchdowns with no interceptions in each. That ties Tom Brady’s 2007 mark for the longest in NFL history. Brady was an MVP that year. Rodgers is +250 to have another three-touchdown, no-pick game on Sunday. The no for that prop is favored at -400. The Saints aren’t strong against the pass, ranking 28th overall, and they have just three interceptions in six games.
Green Bay’s surge has moved the Packers into the second-favored role to win the Super Bowl at +800, the favored role to win the NFC at +325 and also favored to win the NFC North a fourth straight season at -225.
The Saints were preseason NFC South favorites, and a lot of people believed they were a Super Bowl-caliber team. However, New Orleans has been a disappointment at 2-4. To be fair, three of those losses could have been wins as they were by a combined six points. All were decided in the final two minutes. Last week in Detroit, the Saints blew a 23-10 lead with less than four minutes remaining, losing by one.
On the bright side for the Saints, they are unbeaten at home, totaling 57 points in the two games, and the NFC South could be won with a .500 or worse record. Carolina leads the division at 3-3-1 and is an underdog Sunday vs. Seattle. There is a Week 8 special about the winner of the division having eight wins or less; yes is even money and no is -140. An NFL division winner has finished below .500 once before. The Saints actually remain division favorites at +110. They are -120 to make the playoffs and the same price not to. Clearly it’s going to have to be through a division title and not a wild card.
As for the Rodgers-Brees rivalry, Brees leads 2-1 and their three matchups have combined for 211 points. Brees is averaging 396.0 yards passing in those three with 10 touchdown throws and no interceptions. Rodgers averages 293.0 yards with nine touchdowns and four picks. The clubs haven’t played since 2012 when the Packers won 28-27 at home. Brees threw for 446 yards and three scores, and Rodgers had 319 yards passing and four touchdowns.
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