Game: New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Odds: Saints -4, Seahawks +4
Total: 42
The Seattle Seahawks are in desperate need of a win tonight against New Orleans. At 2-4, the Seahawks can’t afford too many more losses especially in the NFC West where the Cardinals and Rams appear to be playoff-caliber teams. Making a win tonight even more difficult is the quarterback situation. Russell Wilson will miss his second game with the injury to his finger and Geno Smith will once again start in his place.
Smith actually played alright in the Seahawks’ loss to Pittsburgh last week. He completed over 71 percent of his passes and kept Seattle close enough to have a chance to win late. He did, however, commit a costly fumble late in the game that ultimately led to a Steelers victory. As a result of Smith’s gaffe, oddsmakers are not showing a lot of faith in Smith Seattle is a four-point home underdog.
New Orleans has been a bit inconsistent. They actually have done very well outside of their home Superdome. Because of Hurricane Ida, the Saints played their first home games in Jacksonville. The only game in their home stadium resulted in a loss to the 2-5 Giants. In games not in the Superdome, the Saints are 3-1 both straight up and against the spread.
The Saints are also coming off a bye week which gave New Orleans a chance to rest. In addition to Wilson being out, the Seahawks are a bit banged up. They will be without RB Chris Carson again. RB Alex Collins is listed as questionable, but RB Rashaad Penny is probable and should play for the first time in a while.
For Seattle, Smith needs to find ways to get wide receivers D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett more involved in the offense. Those two need to get more involved in the offense if Seattle is going to have success tonight. Smith could face more pressure tonight as the Saints have both Marcus Davenport and Kwon Alexander back from injured reserve.
Seattle’s defense needs to step up and make some plays. Uncharacteristic of a Pete Carroll team, this Seahawks defense has been one of the worst in the league so far this season. The Seahawks allow 433.2 yards of total offense per game. That ranks dead last in the NFL. Seattle also allows 24.8 points per game.
The mediocre play of both offenses led to an initial total of 44 for this game. That total has already been bet down to 42. Both teams lean heavily toward the Under. In six of the last eight Saints games, the total has gone Under. The Under is 4-1-1 in Seahawks games this season and 11-3-1 in Seattle’s last 15 games overall.
The underdog has a history of doing well in this game. In the last five Saints-Seahawks games, the underdog is 4-1 ATS. In Monday night games this year, favorites were winning until the last two. The underdog covered in the last two Monday night games with Tennessee pulling the upset and beating Buffalo last week.