Saints, Vikings to decide NFC championship
After both teams dismantled their opponents over the weekend, there's no argument that the two best teams in the NFC will meet to decide who goes to Super Bowl XLIV.
I don’t understand some of the stuff that passes as analysis in the mainstream media.
On more than one occasion over the weekend, I read about how recent matchups between the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings have been exciting, riveting affairs.
I guess I have a different definition of “recent” than my friends who don’t have to worry about their readers’ bankrolls. One writer in particular outlined three meetings between the Saints and Vikings as being real barnburners (one in 2002, one in 2004, and the other last season).
The ’02 and ’04 games are ancient history as far as football handicapping is concerned. Minnesota’s 30-27 win over New Orleans in the Big Easy as three-point underdogs last season means a little bit more, but not by much.
A look at the names in the boxscore from last year’s meeting paints a telling picture: Gus Frerotte. Deuce McAllister. No Brett Favre, Sidney Rice, or Percy Harvin. No Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell, or Jeremy Shockey. Marques Colston didn’t play for the Saints.
I know McAllister made a return as New Orleans’ designated rah-rah guy on Saturday, but even Rudy Ruettiger had a bigger impact in that role than Deuce did in the Saints’ 45-14 shellacking of the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Divisional Round.
Besides, previously entertaining games say nothing about who’s going to cover in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday night at the Superdome (6:40 PM ET, FOX).
Both teams come into the contest having put up dominating performances over the weekend, but the Vikes’ 34-3 pounding of the Dallas Cowboys says more than the Saints’ payday over the Cardinals.
New Orleans’ pasting of Arizona, even if the Saints rolled into the postseason with three SU and ATS losses in a row, was mostly foreseeable. Kurt Warner and the Cards got rave reviews for their 51-45 overtime win over the Green Bay Packers, but the reality is they gave up a boatload of points on their home field.
Once word got out that Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Antrel Rolle were banged up, it was inevitable New Orleans would cover easily. The reality is the Saints faced a mediocre and depleted secondary on Saturday.
Minnesota, on the other hand, had its way with a Dallas team that was the trendy pick to win the Super Bowl only a few days ago. Not only did their pass rush completely negate the Cowboys’ offense on Sunday afternoon, but the Vikings also posted 34 points against a defense that had allowed only 14 total points in its last three games.
That’s why you have to like Minnesota to cover as four-point pups against New Orleans on Sunday night. The Vikings were also available at +4½ at some outlets, so if you’re headed in that direction it’s best to shop around.
The Saints haven’t lit it up for backers lately. New Orleans’ cover against Arizona was its first since slamming New England 38-17 as one-point faves on November 30; the Saints are now just 3-8 ATS (8-3 SU) since starting the season on a blistering 6-0 SU and ATS pace. Everyone loves New Orleans, and that’s exactly why you should stay away from it, even if it’s able to pull out a victory against Minnesota.
While the Vikes’ win at the Superdome last season doesn’t mean much in real terms, it does help the underdogs in one respect. Many of the Minnesota players have no fear of going into New Orleans. They can remember winning at the Superdome, and sometimes that means a lot to the sometimes-irrational mind of the professional football player.
Don’t think that’s the case? Reggie Bush helped pump up his teammates by leading the Saints onto the field (along with McAllister) while brandishing a baseball bat given to him by Sean Payton.
As for Bush’s play on the field, don’t expect him to have a big game two weeks in a row. Bush had 217 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns against Arizona, but the tailback isn’t known for his consistency. Cap Bush to come back to down to earth and for Drew Brees and New Orleans to rely on a balanced approach on Sunday.
The total for the NFC Championship Game opened at 52½ points, and the under is the sharp wager. The Vikings are 2-7 O/U (6-3 SU, 5-3-1 ATS) in their last nine games, while the Saints are 2-6 O/U in their last eight matchups (5-3 SU, 3-5 ATS).
After both teams dismantled their opponents over the weekend, there's no argument that the two best teams in the NFC will meet to decide who goes to Super Bowl XLIV.
I don’t understand some of the stuff that passes as analysis in the mainstream media.
On more than one occasion over the weekend, I read about how recent matchups between the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings have been exciting, riveting affairs.
I guess I have a different definition of “recent” than my friends who don’t have to worry about their readers’ bankrolls. One writer in particular outlined three meetings between the Saints and Vikings as being real barnburners (one in 2002, one in 2004, and the other last season).
The ’02 and ’04 games are ancient history as far as football handicapping is concerned. Minnesota’s 30-27 win over New Orleans in the Big Easy as three-point underdogs last season means a little bit more, but not by much.
A look at the names in the boxscore from last year’s meeting paints a telling picture: Gus Frerotte. Deuce McAllister. No Brett Favre, Sidney Rice, or Percy Harvin. No Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell, or Jeremy Shockey. Marques Colston didn’t play for the Saints.
I know McAllister made a return as New Orleans’ designated rah-rah guy on Saturday, but even Rudy Ruettiger had a bigger impact in that role than Deuce did in the Saints’ 45-14 shellacking of the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Divisional Round.
Besides, previously entertaining games say nothing about who’s going to cover in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday night at the Superdome (6:40 PM ET, FOX).
Both teams come into the contest having put up dominating performances over the weekend, but the Vikes’ 34-3 pounding of the Dallas Cowboys says more than the Saints’ payday over the Cardinals.
New Orleans’ pasting of Arizona, even if the Saints rolled into the postseason with three SU and ATS losses in a row, was mostly foreseeable. Kurt Warner and the Cards got rave reviews for their 51-45 overtime win over the Green Bay Packers, but the reality is they gave up a boatload of points on their home field.
Once word got out that Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Antrel Rolle were banged up, it was inevitable New Orleans would cover easily. The reality is the Saints faced a mediocre and depleted secondary on Saturday.
Minnesota, on the other hand, had its way with a Dallas team that was the trendy pick to win the Super Bowl only a few days ago. Not only did their pass rush completely negate the Cowboys’ offense on Sunday afternoon, but the Vikings also posted 34 points against a defense that had allowed only 14 total points in its last three games.
That’s why you have to like Minnesota to cover as four-point pups against New Orleans on Sunday night. The Vikings were also available at +4½ at some outlets, so if you’re headed in that direction it’s best to shop around.
The Saints haven’t lit it up for backers lately. New Orleans’ cover against Arizona was its first since slamming New England 38-17 as one-point faves on November 30; the Saints are now just 3-8 ATS (8-3 SU) since starting the season on a blistering 6-0 SU and ATS pace. Everyone loves New Orleans, and that’s exactly why you should stay away from it, even if it’s able to pull out a victory against Minnesota.
While the Vikes’ win at the Superdome last season doesn’t mean much in real terms, it does help the underdogs in one respect. Many of the Minnesota players have no fear of going into New Orleans. They can remember winning at the Superdome, and sometimes that means a lot to the sometimes-irrational mind of the professional football player.
Don’t think that’s the case? Reggie Bush helped pump up his teammates by leading the Saints onto the field (along with McAllister) while brandishing a baseball bat given to him by Sean Payton.
As for Bush’s play on the field, don’t expect him to have a big game two weeks in a row. Bush had 217 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns against Arizona, but the tailback isn’t known for his consistency. Cap Bush to come back to down to earth and for Drew Brees and New Orleans to rely on a balanced approach on Sunday.
The total for the NFC Championship Game opened at 52½ points, and the under is the sharp wager. The Vikings are 2-7 O/U (6-3 SU, 5-3-1 ATS) in their last nine games, while the Saints are 2-6 O/U in their last eight matchups (5-3 SU, 3-5 ATS).
