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The New Orleans Saints have taken the Gulf South by storm, winning their first four games by two touchdowns or more heading into Sunday’s open date.
When the Saints return to the field for next week’s home game against the New York Giants, they figure to generate the kind of hype we saw for last week’s game against the previously unbeaten New York Jets.
In Las Vegas, however, the game will be just one of many, in large part because of its time slot, a 1 p.m. Eastern/noon CDT kickoff. Eight of the 13 NFL games scheduled for Sunday will be played then, which affects the overall handle the game will generate in Nevada, the only state where sports betting is legal.
Of course, that’s just a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of wagering that’s done illegally, but for a large audience, pro football’s appeal is how it lends itself to gambling on the games.
USA Today analyst Danny Sheridan, who is based in Mobile, believes the Saints will be favored by less than a touchdown in next week’s game against the Giants. But that could change depending on the health of Giants quarterback Eli Manning, whose unbeaten team plays host to the dreadful Oakland Raiders (1-3) on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.
“If the Saints and Giants were playing this weekend, I’d make New Orleans a 4-point favorite,” Sheridan said. “In my NFL power ratings, right now, the Saints are the best team in the NFC, followed by the Giants. If the Saints were playing the Giants or (AFC power) New England, at home, they’d be a slight favorite.
“None of us know if Eli Manning is totally healthy.”
Sheridan is quick to point out that the betting line is set to ensure similar action on both teams, not necessarily on the relative strengths of the opponents. The official line, he said, is established “after all the injuries are reported.”
The home field, Sheridan said, is usually worth 2 to 3 points in the betting line.
An estimated $4 billion is illegally wagered on NFL games each week, but Sheridan believes that total is slightly more than half of the action taken in on college football.
Dan O’Brien of Las Vegas Sports Consultants also sees the Saints as a 3.5- or 4-point favorite for the Giants game, but his colleague, Tony Sinisi, said the game’s time slot will result in a more modest handle in Las Vegas.
“In the gaming world,” Sinisi said, “people play the games in front of them. The Sunday night and Monday night game get a lot of interest. I know that in New York, New Jersey and the New Orleans area, this game will be a big deal, but out here, where all the games are shown, it’s one of many.
“I understand (the Saints-Giants game) will be a big game of the day, but there’s a correlation to when the game is played. The time slot is more important than the opponents.”
Of course, the 70,000 folks who pack the Louisiana Superdome and follow the game on television along the Gulf South are inclined to have other ideas.

Saints figure to be slight favorite against Giants - New Orleans Saints - SunHerald.com

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arsaint

I would have guessed Saints favored by a FG.

Fleured

If the crowd and the defense gets juiced like the Jets game, we can focus solely on the run game.


Mark Sanchez picks the Saints by 10.

SmashMouth

Yes indeed!

Sir Psycho Sexy

WHhat?! have you guys seen a Giants game? Eli has been killing secondaries with Manningham and Steve Smith. This will be the most balanced offense we will see all year, Pats included. We will have to be just as balanced on Def to win.

Also, if our Offense is only good for 10-17 points we lose this game. Their D ranks either 1 or 2 overall so SP better have a better plan than the last 2 weeks cause we are playing a better team than the jets or bills.

saintsrule

Whoever is favored I don't think it will be by much.

Tobias-Reiper

I have seen a Giants game.
I've seen them beat the Skins, the Cowboys, the Bucs, the Chiefs, and the Raiders. Oh, yeah! They're killers.

Rather than saying the Saints have not faced anyone like the Giants yet, I'd say the Giants have not faced anyone like the Saints yet.

papz

This will be a big test for our defense. Their trio of receivers are very talented and the Jacobs/Bradshaw combo is lethal. I'll also have to say this is the best I've ever seen Eli since his days at Ole Miss... he's actually playing like a franchise quarterback. Should be an exciting game.

Sir Psycho Sexy

I'll agree it's the toughest game yet for both teams, but my comment was to address the feeling that all we have to do is play the run. We'll have to play balanced D and the O needs to get i9ts swagger back and put up 25+ to win.

boonedocksaint

"The New Orleans Saints have taken the Gulf South by storm, winning their first four games by two touchdowns or more heading into Sunday’s open date."

hmmmm...isnt that kind of poor taste in words? too soon?