St. Louis Rams (6-6) vs. New Orleans Saints (9-3)
NFL Point Spread: Saints -9.5 O/U 47
By: Barrett Kazmerzack of Coopers Sports Picks CALL NOW 1-888-730-COOP
The Saints are big home favorites in this game and it is not hard to see why since
they have won 5 straight and in their last 4 games they have scored at least 30
ppg. New Orleans is 1 game behind Atlanta in the NFC South and a confident
Rams’ team that has won 2 straight road games will test them. St. Louis is
only .500, but they are tied with the Seahawks for first place in the weak NFC
West.
Rams’ rookie QB Sam Bradford has been one of the reasons St. Louis is a legit
playoff contender, but the main reason has been their defense. Last season
St. Louis finished with the 31st ranked defense and this season they have the
league’s 9th ranked scoring defense. However, their pass D only ranks 19th,
which is not good facing Drew Brees and the Saints’ 3rd ranked passing offense.
Brees has played well all season and he is finally getting help from the rushing
offense. Last week in their 34-30 comeback win over the Cincinnati Bengals RB
Chris Ivory rushed for 117 yards with 2 TD averaging an impressive 7.8 yards per
carry. RB Reggie Bush is finally healthy and RB Pierre Thomas is set to come
back after missing 9 straight games with a sprained ankle.
In the 19-6 win over the Arizona Cardinals last week the Rams’ D played well
only giving up 224 total yards and forcing 2 turnovers, but this week face a much
better offense. If the Rams’ defense cannot keep the Saints from lighting up the
scoreboard they may be in trouble, as a shootout definitely gives New Orleans
the advantage.
Sam Bradford has been playing well and unlike the first few games of the season
he is avoiding the INT. In the win over the Cardinals he did throw a pick, but in
his last 7 games he has 11 TD and only 2 INT. He does not have a great WR
corps and he will be facing the strength of the Saints’ defense, which is their 3rd
ranked passing defense. RB Steven Jackson will be counted on to have a good
game against the Saints and their 15th ranked rushing defense and even though
he rushed for 102 yards last week he only averaged 3.6 yards per carry.
It is a good thing the Saints’ offense is on fire because their defense is not. In
their last 2 games they have given up 57 points. In their last game they gave up
they gave up 434 yards to the Bengals and in the previous week 457 yards to the
Cowboys. The Saints also have to avoid playing a sloppy game like they did last
week when they committed 11 turnovers for 100 yards.
This season the Rams have been a great team to bet on going 9-3 ATS while the
Saints are only 5-7 ATS.
St. Louis has covered the spread in their last 4 games and is 4-1 ATS in their last
5 games as a road underdog. New Orleans is 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as a
home favorite of 3.5-10.
Pick: OK, so the Rams are a much better team, but can they beat the defending
Super Bowl champion Saints in the Big Easy? No way. The Saints will continue
their strong play on offense and while their D may continue to struggle they will
win this game and cover the spread.
Who dat?