New Orleans at Chicago (12/15/2014)

Away:  New Orleans [5-8 ATS]
Home:  Chicago [5-8 ATS]

Game Time: 8:30 PM
Stadium: Soldier Field

Featured Lines

Recent Meetings:
N/A

Team Leaders:

New Orleans:
Passing: Drew Brees (3983)
Rushing: Mark Ingram (810)
Receiving: Kenny Stills (714)

Chicago:
Passing: Jay Cutler (3446)
Rushing: Matt Forte (854)
Receiving: Alshon Jeffery (949)

New Orleans (-3) 33 CHICAGO 27

Just as the Saints looked like they were getting their act together with a convincing win in Pittsburgh, they fell back down with a major league 10-41 beating at home to a bad Panthers team. At 5-8 they share the division lead with the Falcons (they lose the tiebreaker) so the division title and a shot at the playoffs are still within reach. I expect a rebound performance from the Saints in this game against a Bears team that has been losing both games and key players recently. Neither defense is very good but the Saints have a clear advantage on offense. New Orleans has both run and passed the ball well this season (averaging 421 total yards at 6.2 yppl against teams that allow 356 yards at 5.6 yppl) and will face a Chicago defense that has allowed 379 total yards at 6.2 yppl to teams that typically gain 348 yards at 5.5 yppl). Drew Brees and Sean Payton should be able to put up points against a suspect Bears scheme that has lost key players recently to injury. Bears LB Lance Briggs was put on IR recently and this past week LB DJ Williams was also lost for the season, thinning out the middle of an already bad defense.

When the Bears have the ball, they’ll conduct their passing offense without the services of WR Brandon Marshall as he was also placed on IR this week and that should hurt a passing offense that has been below average this season (gaining 6.2 yps against teams that allow 6.4 yps). Cutler has been a turnover machine (2nd in the league with 15 interceptions and first in the league with 21 turnovers) and without his security blanket he could be in a bit of trouble against a Saints defense that will attempt to attack.

The Bears are eliminated from playoff contention while the Saints would love to get a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. There are situations going both ways in this one but the Saints are the more talented and more desperate team and will be focused to play well after their embarrassing loss last week which prompted a shakeup around the Saints facility this week by coach Peyton (benching Kenny Vaccaro).

Saints -3 & over

Not sure which team to back.  Chicago without Marshall is tough to back, even with him, can't do it.  Not sure about the weather yet. 

Saints -3 

leaning Under, but if the weather is fine... Going OV!!!

Wow, really everybody? Everyone still buying into the Saints? Drew Brees on the road in the cold, not to mention they suck. "Fighting" to go 6-10 to "win" the NFC South?

Wow, a lot of people have really drank the Kool-Aid..... Vegas cleans up tonight.... Yeah, the Bears stink and are out of the playoffs, but it is still Soldier Field in primetime on Monday Night in late December........

Bears and Crappy Cutler win in a landslide.................

+160 seems like a Christmas gift

Good Luck Everybody.............