New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints Odds

Opening Line: Patriots +3 / Saints -3 O/U 56

Time: :30 PM EST Monday November 30, 2009 on ESPN

by Marasoft.com Staff

In a HUGE Monday night match up the undefeated New Orleans Saints host the New England Patriots. The Saints are running away with the NFC South and the Patriots have a comfortable lead in the AFC East, so unless one or both of these teams implode they will both make the playoffs. Can you say Super Bowl preview? OK, so there are some teams that may have a say in this, mainly Minnesota and Indianapolis, but there is a good chance that these teams will meet again in the big game in February. The Saints were almost beat a couple weeks back by the weak St. Louis Rams before getting back to their old selves in crushing Tampa Bay last week. The Patriots are coming off a big win over New York and in the previous week a questionable call cost them ruining the Colts and their perfect season.

Last week the Saints beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38-7 and the Patriots beat the New York Jets 31-14.

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The Saints are led by QB Drew Brees (2,746 22 TD 9 INT) and his main targets are Marques Colston (44 rec 687 yds 6 TD) and Devery Henderson (31 rec 521 yds 1 TD). The solid Saints' rushing attack is led by the RB duo of Pierre Thomas (584 yds 5 TD) and Mike Bell (514 yds 4 TD). The Patriots are led by QB Tom Brady (3,049 yds 20 TD 6 INT) and his main targets are Randy Moss (63 yds 925 yds 8 TD) and Wes Welker (79 rec 854 yds 4 TD). The Patriots' rushing attack is led by RB Laurence Maroney (455 yds 6 TD).

The Saints have the league's top-ranked offense and Drew Brees does not have to do it all since the Saints rushing offense is averaging 154.3 yards per game, which is the 2nd most in the league. The Saints can do it all on offense moving the chains on the ground and in the air and they are the highest scoring offense in the league averaging almost 37 points per game. The Patriots' defense ranks 6th in the league and their secondary is stellar. They will have to play a good all around game not only containing Brees, but also the Saints' rushing offense. The front line D of the Pats is legit at stuffing the run, but not at getting to the QB with only 18 sacks this season. They have to get to Brees, as if the MVP candidate is given time in the pocket he will make the big play.

The Patriots have the 2nd best offense in the league and Tom Brady is all the way back from his knee injury and looks better every week. Laurence Maroney has to pick up some yards in the ground so the Saints do not only focus on stopping the pass. Maroney has been decent this season, but he is only averaging 3.9 yards per carry. The Saints' defense is mediocre ranking 17th in the league and their secondary, which is giving up an average of 214.9 passing yards per game, has to have solid coverage on Moss and Welker and not allow them to make the big play. The Saints have 24 sacks this season so the Pats' offensive line has to have a good game protecting Brady.

The Patriots are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games and 4-2 ATS in their last 6 road games. The Saints are 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 games and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games in the Big Easy.

Both teams should make the playoffs regardless of the outcome of this game, but it is still an important one and the marquee match up of the week.

The Marasoft Pick: New England +2.5