Saints vs Rams NFL Betting?
Saints Go Marching In to St. Louis Sunday
The New Orleans Saints did themselves a big favor in Week 14 by knocking off their pursuer in the NFC South – the Carolina Panthers.
New Orleans (10-3) at St. Louis (5-8)
When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, December 15, 2013
Where: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
Broadcast: FOX
Saints vs. Rams Betting Line
New Orleans Saints -5½ -110 -245 Ov 46½ -110
St. Louis Rams +5½ -110 +205 Un 46½ -110
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Now they are tasked with heading to St. Louis to try to keep some space between themselves and the Panthers. Waiting for New Orleans is the Rams – an improving team that still has a lot of holes – particularly in the pass defense. New Orleans is perfect at home hasn’t been terrific on the road so far this season – at just 3-3 they look like a totally different team away from the Superdome.
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Here are some intriguing numbers about the Saints away from home this year. The Saints average 32.9 points and allow 15.4 per game at home but are scoring 18.8 and giving up 22.5 per game on the road. Drew Brees has thrown 23 of his 33 touchdowns while posting a 122.5 passer rating at home. On the road, he’s thrown five of his eight interceptions and has an 87.7 rating. And the New Orleans defense – it hasn’t been nearly as good on the road as it is at home.
Still, the Saints enter Sunday’s contest with one of the best offenses in the game – the fact that they are playing in a dome should really help them eclipse their average numbers away from the Superdome. We all know about Drew Brees – he has been typically sensational – completing 68 percent of his passes with 33 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Jimmy Graham is the consummate weapon and has 74 receptions and 14 touchdowns and Marques Colston has 56 catches and four touchdowns.
The running game has had its moments this year but has mostly been disappointing – Pierre Thomas has rushed for 500 yards and has 64 receptions, while Darren Sproles has rushed for 195 yards and he has 58 receptions.
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Expect a heavy dose of Drew Brees and the passing game – the Rams pass defense is one of the weakest units in the NFL allowing 8.4 yards per pass attempt (second-worst average in the league), allowing opposing quarterbacks a 97.2 QB rating (27th in the NFL) and 68.5% completion percentage (worst in the NFL). Ungood when Drew Brees is coming to town!
The New Orleans defense is the single biggest difference on this team – from historically bad to a pretty good all around unit. The Saints are allowing 18.7 points and 313.6 yards per game – not great but not bad either. Rob Ryan is a creative coordinator that has his guys playing at a very high level right now.
The St. Louis Rams are having another disappointing season but their play isn’t as bad as their record indicates. They go beaten down by the Cards last week but in their last home game ran for a season-high 258 yards during a 42-21 victory over Chicago on Nov. 24 – not too bad at all.
The Rams lost Sam Bradford early in the season forcing them to go with Kellen Clemens who has thrown one TD and three INTs in the last two games – not nearly good enough. Clemens has been sacked 18 times in limited action. For the season he has completed 52.9 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and five interceptions. Clemens’ weapons aren’t exactly awe-inspiring – Jared Cook has 43 receptions and four touchdowns and Tavon Austin has 40 receptions and four touchdowns – Austin should be the guy that has an enormous impact but he has not quite found his groove yet aside from one game earlier this year.
Zac Stacy has been OK in the Rams backfield, rushing for 721 yards and five touchdowns. He will be needed in order to keep the clock moving and Drew Brees off the field Sunday.
Week 15 Football Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• NO are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games in December.
• STL are 2-9-1 ATS in their last 12 games in Week 15.
• Under is 7-2-1 in STL last 10 games in Week 15.
• STL are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 vs. NFC.
• Over is 8-1 in the last 9 meetings in St. Louis.
• Over is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings.
It’s true that the Saints are a different team away from home than they are in Louisiana but they have the pleasure of playing in a dome Sunday – where they can let all of their track stars roam at will. St. Louis’s weakness on defense is in the passing game – uh oh! Look for Brees and the boys to go off and easily cover the 5 1/2.
Pick: New Orleans Saints -5 1/2
