The NFL betting capital of the world finally has a home team to root for as the Las Vegas Raiders get set for their inaugural home game against the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.
Both teams are coming off wins in Week 1, although the Raiders had an easier opponent to deal with in the Carolina Panthers, while the Saints spoiled Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers debut. NFL odds have New Orleans as a 5.5-point favorite for Monday night, with the Over/Under installed at 49.5.
Here are our free NFL picks and predictions for the Saints vs. Raiders on September 21.
New Orleans Saints vs Las Vegas Raiders betting preview
Weather
Weather won't play a factor in this contest with the Raiders playing their home games at the domed Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions for the other Games in Week 2 with our NFL weather info.
Key Injuries
Saints: Michael Thomas WR (Out), Marcus Davenport DE (Questionable), Cesar Ruiz G (Questionable), CJ Gardner-Johnson S (Questionable), Kiko Alonso LB (Out)
Raiders: Henry Ruggs III WR (Questionable), Trent Brown OT (Questionable), Marcus Mariota (Out), Tyrell Williams WR (Out)
Find our latest NFL injury reports.
Betting trend to know
Under is 6-2 in Raiders last 8 games overall. Find more NFL betting trends for Saints vs. Raiders.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
Last week, the Raiders played against a Panthers team that might be the worst in the league, and still needed a touchdown with four minutes left in the game to pull off the victory. The Saints looked a bit more convincing against a new-look Bucs squad that is expected to be a playoff contender.
While New Orleans will be without All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas for the next few weeks due to an ankle sprain, he didn't do much last week, picking up just 17 yards before getting hurt in the fourth quarter.
The Raiders rode running back Josh Jacobs last game and it paid off with the sophomore rushing for 93 yards and three touchdowns. But that sort of production won't come easily against a Saints defense that held the Bucs to 3.3 yards per carry in Week 1 and allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards in the league last season.
The Raiders defense is far less reliable, ranking second-last in the NFL in defensive DVOA in 2019 and giving up 388 yards to the Panthers last Sunday. This game should be a battle won in the trenches and the Saints have the edge there on both sides of the ball.
PREDICTION: New Orleans -5.5
Over/Under pick
Don't let the 34-23 win last week fool you, the Saints offense did not look good in that contest. Drew Brees threw for just 160 yards on 30 pass attempts while the Saints run game totaled 82 yards on 32 carries.
The loss of last year's AP Offensive Player of the Year in Thomas can't be overstated. Thomas is the Saints' biggest weapon. Without him, Emmanuel Sanders becomes the No. 1 wide receiver while Tre'Quan Smith and Deonte Harris step into two and three WR sets.
That changes the New Orleans offense completely, so expect Sean Payton to lean more heavily on their ground game and Alvin Kamara. With Jacobs and Kamara the best offensive weapons for each team, expect plenty of runs and short passes in this one. Take the Under.
PREDICTION: Under 49.5
Prop Pick
New Orleans might not be renowned for their defense, but they finished fourth in the NFL in sacks and 11th in yards allowed in 2019. Defensive end Cameron Jordan and cornerback Marshon Lattimore are two of the best in the business and they helped hold the Bucs to just 4.8 yards per play and forced three turnovers in Week 1.
The Raiders offense looked OK in Week 1 but the Panthers have a terrible defense and Vegas still doesn't have a consistent downfield option for quarterback Derek Carr. Rookie wideouts Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards have potential but are too green to be the relied upon at this stage. Only seven of Carr's 22 completions in Week 1 were thrown to wide receivers.
Expect a conservative game plan from Gruden and a strong defensive showing from New Orleans to result in the Raiders going Under their team total.
PREDICTION: Raiders team total Under 22 (-110)
Saints vs Raiders betting card
- New Orleans -5.5
- Under 49.5
- Raiders team total Under 22 (-110)
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