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Divisional Playoff NFL Spreads: Cardinals vs. Saints

Point spread, ATS odds, and moneyline betting and preview article for the 2010 Divisional round playoff weekend matchup between the NFC West Champ Arizona Cardinals and the NFC South Champion New Orleans Saints…

DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF – Cardinals vs. Saints

The freeze that enveloped the country this winter has made a stop in Louisiana, where the fandom has had a few weeks to come to grips with the fact that while the Saints aren’t certainly as bad as the outfit that limped home with three straight losses, they might not be the machine that nailed 13 in a row to start the season, either.

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Time: Saturday 4:30 ET
Venue: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans
MoneyLine
: Saints -300 (-110) / Ravens +250 (-110)
Spread: Saints -7 (-110)
Over/Under: 57

Much of the toothpaste escaped the tube when the Saints, who unlike the Colts were candid about their desire to head into the playoffs with a 16-0 record, lost at home to the Cowboys in Week 15 and then followed that up with an inexplicable loss to Tampa Bay. By Week 17 no one much cared when the Saints dropped their third in a row, to Carolina in the finale.

New Orleans’s last victory came way back on Dec. 13, and since hanging that 38-17 Monday Night pasting on New England in Week 12, the high-scoring Saints have actually been outscored by 17 points in five games – and only one of those opponents (Dallas) finished the season with a winning record.

So what gives? Are the Saints suffering a letdown similar to the that infected the 2007 Patriots, who went from destroying teams for 10 weeks to barely getting by and covering the spread only once in the final 6? Have the Saints been merely gathering themselves for a second course, or are they too bloated to eat another bite?

The Saints won’t be playing against air, of course, and in the Cardinals they will be facing a team that is behaving eerily like the Arizona of a year ago. The 2008 Cardinals limped into the playoffs, caught lightning in a bottle, pulled a few upsets and came within one play of winning the Super Bowl.Sports Betting at Sportsbook.com

But Zona’s path is a little more problematic this time around. Their defense will have to deal with Drew Brees, who threw 34 TD passes and for a while looked like he would threaten Tom Brady’s single-season record of 50. And if they get past Brees, either Brett Favre or Tony Romo will be facing them in the eye in the NFC Championship Game. Neither Brees, Favre or Romo is likely to throw five interceptions as Jake Delhomme did in the playoffs against Arizona a year ago. Ok, maybe Favre, but you get the point.

Reports indicate that this will be the final playoff run for two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner, and from all indications Matt Leinart is in no way, shape or form ready to step in. So this could be Arizona’s last shot to win a cupie doll, at least for a while.

Bettors can get the Cardinals and 7 points, but a more enticing wager resides with the huge O/U number of 57. The public loves points and generally loves the over, and everyone was watching Sunday night when the Packers and Cardinals would have carried the over on their own points. All of which may have inflated the number from the get-go. And the over rarely carries any number in the 50s.

Pick: Saints

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Lawrence Paul is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog, and is a free-lance gambling and travel expert from Massachusetts.

By Lawrence Paul

Lawrence Paul is back in the saddle as a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog. He's got an AMAZING knack for predicting when a team will have a letdown! Stick with our resident gambling experts sports betting tips all season long!