Saints 2012-2013 NFL Futures Lines & Predictions
The Saints have Drew Brees back in the fold after signing him to a massive contract in the off-season, but can they get over the Bountygate scandal? Head coach Sean Payton is suspended for the season, as is one of the leaders on defense in Jonathan Vilma.
2012 New Orleans Saints Team Preview /Predictions
2011 Record: 13.3
ATS Record: 12-4
2012 Saints Futures
Super Bowl Odds: +1400
Conference Odds: +800
NFC South Odds: +105
2012-2013 NFL Regular Season Wins: 9.5 wins
Saints Preview
A few other players are suspended for a few games, but even with all that the Saints are still loaded and last season Brees set the NFL record for passing yards in a season.
Brees had a great season last year and while the team did lose WR Robert Meachem they still have the great WR duo of Marques Colston and Lance Moore and TE Jimmy Graham, who had a monster season in 2011 going for 99 receptions for 1,310 yards and 11 TD.
The Saints did lose OG Carl Nicks, who is one of if not THE best guards in the NFL, but the team brought in Ben Grubbs and he should be a good replacement. The offensive line is decent, but not great, but it does not have to be since Brees is so mobile and has the quickest release in the league.
Darren Sproles had a great first season the Big Easy ranking 2nd on the team in catches and he also rushed for over 605 yards. RB Mark Ingram was injured for much of last season and he is a question mark this season after recently having a minor knee surgery. Sproles is too small to be a featured back and Ingram and Pierre Thomas have to help him out.
Even though Ingram was injured and Thomas is not a star RB the Saints still tanked 6th in the league last season in rushing yards.
The Saints defense is the unit that will struggle because of Bountygate, but the Saints still made some solid off-season moves. They signed the LB duo of Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne and DT Brodrick Bunkley, who will help greatly with run defense. DE Will Smith had 6.5 sacks last season, but he is suspended for the first 4 games of the season. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Saints do not have a great pass rush, but they are hoping the new additions will change that.
The Saints biggest weaknesses on defense last season were their lack of QB pressure and a pass defense that ranked 30th in the league. CB Tracy Porter left for Denver and Jabari Greer and 2010 first-round pick Patrick Robinson must play better in coverage. The big issues in the secondary are starters SS Roman Harper and FS Malcolm Jenkins, who both struggled mightily last season.
The Saints went undefeated last season at home, but they have a tall task repeating that. Their first 6 home games are all tough facing the Redskins, Chiefs, Chargers, Eagles, Falcons, and 49ers. On the road it does not get much easier since they face the Packers, Broncos, Giants, and Cowboys. All in all, the Saints have a tough schedule this season.
The Bountygate scandal will hurt the Saints, but not that much. The defense is the unit affected, but they were not good last season and that will likely happen again. However, the offense is still in tact and Brees will lead the Saints to another great season, as they will win the NFC South, but I think they will lose in the NFC title game.
2012 Saints Predictions:
Place they’ll finish in NFC South 1st
Place they’ll finish in NFC Conference: 2nd
Over/Under Wins Prediction: Over
