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The New Orleans Saints will be looking to avoid an 0-3 start to the season with a win over the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night.
New Orleans is a 2.5-point favorite according to OddsShark. The computer expects the Saints to be victorious 25.4-23.1, but fail to cover. The computer is taking under on the point total.
Monday night’s total is set at 53.5 points, the highest of any game in Week 3. The match-up is likely to be a high-scoring affair between the NFC South rivals. Atlanta has allowed eight touchdown drives of 75 yards or more over 23 possessions in the 2016 season.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees is on a roll with five touchdown passes for 686 yards and no interceptions. He’s also utilized his offensive weapons as he’s already used 10 different receivers. Brees has thrown for 300-plus yards in each of the past four meetings against Atlanta.
Although the Saints had a difficult time offensively in last week’s 16-13 loss to the New York Giants, the team is poised the gain momentum against a Falcons team that has allowed 29.5 points per game so far this season. Expect New Orleans to have a more balanced offensive attack after calling just 13 rushing attempts last week.
The Saints are coming off a 16-13 loss on the road to the New York Giants last Sunday. The Falcons, on the other hand, secured their first win last week with a 35-28 victory over the Oakland Raiders on the road.
Besides quarterback Matt Ryan’s one interception, Atlanta has handled ball protection well, however head coach Dan Quinn wants to improve the team’s turnover ratio.
“Our turnover margin after two games is zero,” Quinn told reporters, according to the team’s website. “And we are just trying like [crazy] to be in the plus. [The Saints] are plus-2 on the year. That part is really important to us.”
Heavy’s Pick: New Orleans Saints 37, Atlanta Falcons 34. Saints (-2.5). Over on the point total