SmashMouth

NEW ORLEANS over BALTIMORE, Sunday at 3:05 p.m.
Full disclosure, as one who has followed this team since my dad would get on the roof to turn the rabbit ears in the direction of Lafayette so we could watch the blacked-out home game, this pick could smell a bit of homerism. How could a life-long New Orleanian pick against Drew Brees after the Monday night performance he put together a couple of weeks ago?
Back to reality, this one should smell bad for Saints fans because they have had little success against Ravens. In fact, not only is this the only team Drew Brees has never defeated, but the Black and Gold as a team has beaten them just once in the six-game series history (in 2002). In fact, they are 1-9 all-time against teams from Baltimore if you include the three games against the Pre-Indianapolis Colts.
However, I choose to go with the stat the Saints have won seven out of their past nine following a bye week, including two in a row. With the brutal schedule on the horizon, it's hard to imagine they won't be highly focused with a chance to go 5-1 before games against Minnesota and the Rams.
I think this will be low-scoring and could come down to a final drive in chilly Baltimore. But the Saints are much more balanced offensively than the Ravens, and the week off could be the clincher. Against the spread: Saints plus-2.5. Favorite pick against the spread.