San Diego Chargers at New Orleans Saints 2010 NFL Preseason Odds, Picks Week 3: The French Quarter will have an extra bolt as the San Diego Chargers head to the Big Easy to take on the Super Bowl Champion Saints on Friday night. The Charger’s no longer have LaDamion Tomlinson who’s now with the NY Jets and are trying to get prepared for a better start than their normally sluggish season. New Orleans with the NFL’s number 1 offense (403.8 yards per game) is back loaded with weapons to keep any defense on its heels, but everyone will be gunning to knock off the champs. “He who wears the crown has a heavy head” said Lou Holts on ESPN Sportscenter. The odds makers at SBG Global have the New Orleans Saints -3 point favorites at home against the San Diego Chargers.
The New Orleans Saints had their first post-Super Bowl home game and showed signs of the offensive juggernaut from last season running the ball for 198 yards, controlling the time of possession with 40 minutes while running 75 offensive plays and winning 38-20 against the Houston Texans. Quarterback Dree Brees was 5 for 10 for 36 yards passing but led the Saints to two touchdowns in the first quarter. Backup quarterback Chase Daniel had a stellar outing going 15 for 21 and 182 yards and three touchdowns in the final 3 quarters. “I was able to go in there and play and do the best I could,” Daniel said. “I didn’t really look over my shoulder as I have in the past.” Rookie running back Chris Ivory added 66 yards on 20 carries for the Saints. Vegas odds makers have the over/under for the total score at 42 1/2 points combined of New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers.
The San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers had a good outing going 11 for 15 for 125 and scoring a rushing touchdown and made the most exciting play of the game defensively. Rivers threw a swing pass to running back Darren Sproles who fumbled the ball to Dallas Cowboys safety Barry Church who ran about 70 yards before a touchdown saving tackle by the Chargers QB. “Oh yeah. It was Philip Rivers. He wears knee braces. I know it’s going to be bad,” Church said regarding the grief he will take. “It showed a lot of heart and a lot of fire. He wants to win. He’s a great quarterback and he will win in this game.” The Cowboys went on to win 16—14. Vegas odds makers have the San Diego Chargers as +700 odds to win the 2011 Super Bowl.
The Superdome should be electic and so should the Saints offense so I predict a big win at home covering the spread and going over the 42.5 total. Who Dat, the Saints are until someone unseats the Champs.
NOTE: Rich Fritz is not a pro handicapper on NSAwins.com and his opinion may or may not differ from the expert handicappers on NSAwins.com. Please visit NSAwins.com’s official NFL Predictions page for tonight’s top-rated NFL picks from the nation’s Top NFL handicappers.