Saints Continue Climb Toward Legitimacy – New Orleans vs. Oakland in Week 11
The Oakland Raiders will try to bounce back from one of the biggest shellackings of the season so far when they take on the red-hot New Orleans Saints – a team that was left for dead a few weeks ago but has arisen and has become one of the scariest outs in the NFL.
New Orleans Saints (4-5) vs. Oakland Raiders (3-6)
Date/Time: Sunday, November 18, 4:05 PM ET
Venue: O.Co Coliseum
Broadcast: FOX
Saints vs. Raiders Betting Lines from Sportsbook.ag
Spread: Saints -4 1/2 (-110)
Moneyline: Saints -220: Raiders +190
Over/Under: 54 1/2 points
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For Oakland they will likely have to rely on a largely one dimensional offensive attack while for the Saints, they have found a little balance on their way to winning four of their last five.
It was only five weeks ago that the Saints were 0-4 and looking to next season already. Since that time four wins in five games including a 31-27 over the previously unbeaten Falcons has Saints-Nation believing once again. The defense is finally getting the occasional stop and the injury to Darren Sproles has allowed a couple of other runners to effectively step up and contribute to a team that had been terrible on the ground.
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Heading into Week 11 the Saints own the second best passing game in the NFL and they have climbed to the 28th ranked rushing team. Last week the Saints gained 440 offensive yards with 148 coming from their ground attack on 29 carries – a tremendous sign for this team. Drew Brees completed 21 of 32 passes for 298 yards with three touchdowns and one pick. Chris Ivory ran it seven times for 72 yards and a touchdown. Jimmy Graham caught seven passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Balance is the key to winning and it looks as though the Saints are closer to that formula.
Defensively New Orleans allowed Atlanta 454 total yards but only 46 coming from their ground attack on 18 rushes. The Saints are still 31st against the run and 31st against the pass but it appears as though they are finally figuring a few things out.
The Oakland Raiders dropped their second straight last week in a humiliating 55-20 loss at Baltimore. They are not playing well folks – the defense has been shredded of late and the running game is still stuck in neutral. Darren McFadden may return this week but he has proven to be no saviour for a team that simply can`t run the ball, control the clock and keep their opposition`s offense off the field.
The Raiders have been good in the passing game – 5th in the NFL and gaining 288 yards per game. But their stats are born out of necessity – without yards through the air this team would be going absolutely nowhere – they are the 31st ranked rushing team gaining under 77 yards per game.[soliloquy id=”82219″]
Last week Oakland’s offense generated 422 yards with only 72 on the ground on 24 carries. They turned it over three times. Carson Palmer hit on 29 of 45 passes for 368 yards with two touchdowns and one pick. Marcel Reece on 13 carries runs for 48 yards and Denarius Moore catches four passes for 90 yards and a touchdown.
Oakland`s defense allowed 419 yards to Baltimore last week and this unit seems to be going backward like the rest of the team.
Betting Prediction
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of New Orleans’s last 6 games on the road
• New Orleans is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
• The total has gone OVER in 11 of New Orleans’s last 14 games
• New Orleans is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Oakland
• The total has gone OVER in 7 of Oakland’s last 8 games at home
• The total has gone OVER in 11 of Oakland’s last 16 games
• Oakland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
• Oakland is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games
The Saints are absolutely on a roll and we all know what that means – they are going to be very difficult to stop going forward. Oakland hasn`t been stopping anyone lately. Sure New Orleans will give up yards and scores but it is unlikely that the Raiders 20th ranked scoring offense will be able to out-do the Saints. New Orleans is plain frightening right now while the Raiders are scaring absolutely nobody. Take the Saints to reach the improbable .500 mark and to enter into the cloudy NFC playoff picture.
Pick: New Orleans Saints -4 1/2
