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New Orleans Saints 2015 Gambling Odds & Handicapping Preview

2015 New Orleans Predictions

The New Orleans Saints enter the 2015-16 NFL Season looking to avenge a lackluster 7-9 campaign in an attempt to return to elite levels. They have the luxury of playing in a weak NFC South division, but here’s the catch: They’re aren’t just playing in a weak division; they’re part of the reason the division has become weak in recent seasons.

NFL Handicapping Insight

NFL Futures

2014 Record: 7-9 – Saints
Panthers Odds to win the 2016 NFC South Division: +225
Panthers Odds to win the 2016 NFC Conference: 22/1
Panthers Odds to win the 2016 Super Bowl: 40/1

Let’s take a look at the numbers:

Last season, the Saints were No. 1 in the NFL in terms of yards per game. They racked up 411.4 yards in that category, as they completed 297.8 yards per contest through the air (3rd) and 113.6 yards per contest on the ground (13th).

In total, the Saints scored 25.1 points per game, which was good enough to keep them in the top 10 of the league at No. 9.

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It goes without saying that the offense has been the staple of this franchise for quite some time, but this season it’ll have to maintain that mentality without stud tight end Jimmy Graham. The team traded the big guy to the Seattle Seahawks this past season, but it also added Max Under and C.J. Spiller.

Spiller could look to be the next Darren Sproles, while Unger will obviously upgrade an offensive line that needed it from last season.

Despite upside from Brandon Cooks and the dump-off potential to Spiller, this team could take more of a run-first approach this season — or at least more of a run-neutral approach. While Drew Brees is still considered a great quarterback, he’s certainly entering his twilight years at 36 (37 in January), and with Graham gone, his safe target is far less obvious.

Brees threw 33 TDs to an unfortunate 17 interceptions last season, which is another reason this team will rely on Mark Ingram and Spiller out of the backfield to make plays.

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Defensively, this group is still a question mark. It used six of its eight draft selections on defensive players, which is more than understandable considering this group gave up an average of 26.5 points last year.

This defense is mediocre at best, but considering how elite the offense has the potential to be, any sort of improvement could push them into a NFC South championship.

Saints Betting Outlook:

The Saints are looking to knock off the back-to-back division champion Carolina Panthers this season, and it looks as if they’re going to need double-digit wins to do it. Both New Orleans and Carolina look like nine- or 10-win teams.

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The truth is that we could see this team begin to establish a completely different identity this season. The defense could be marginally improved, while the offense could certainly take a step back. Remember: Brees will be 37 late in the year and if he hasn’t discovered a Graham-like safety net, it could neutralize the offense and the defense that have been so far apart for so many years.

Really this season will come down to how well the offensive line can protect Brees and Co. If Brees is given time and players like Spiller are protected, you could be looking at the NFC South champs.

If not, give the crown to Carolina for a third straight season.

With training camps under way the NFL betting season is here at Cappers Picks. NFL Football handicappers have been hard at work putting out the team by team 2015 Football Predictions and NFL Season Previews for those of us who can’t wait.

The 2015 NFL futures betting season is right around the corner! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting.

CappersPicks.com has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well.

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By PDX PIX

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