NORTHCOAST
2* Over
Top Opinion New Orleans Saints
Wunderdog
3 units South Florida +8
3 units on Cincinnati +4
3 units on Iona -14
Executive
300 Saints
300 Manhattan
Winning Points
4* Indy
Sports Bank
500* Under
SPORTS UNLIMITED
5* New Orleans
4* Under
4* Manhattan
NELLY
2* UNDER 56.5
Opinion Indianapolis -5, PROP Selections (all rated equally, and should be considered less than a half or a 1* play at most): No 4th down conversions in the game (+165), Indianapolis to have the longest kickoff return in the game (+120), More points scored in the 2nd Half & OT -½ (+105), Pierre Thomas Over 60½ rushing yards (+115), Joseph Addai Over 3 receptions (+130).
LEE STERLING
1.5 Units SAINTS
.5 Units OVER 56
Nick "BookieKiller" Parsons
Montreal -115
Coming off yet another shootout defeat, Boston looks to avoid matching a franchise-worst 11-game losing streak Sunday when it visits a Montreal team trying to win its fourth in a row; however, for a number of different reasons I believe the value in this contest is on the home side:
Boston outshot opponents 165-111 on a just-completed four-game homestand, but it was outscored 13-7. The Bruins led in all four games - twice by two goals - and suffered three 3-2 shootout losses.
Boston appeared to have a good chance to snap the skid Saturday, leading 2-0 on first-period power-play goals from Zdeno Chara and Ryder, but it couldn’t hold on. Leading 2-1 late in the third, Bruins left wing Milan Lucic overskated the puck allowing Pavol Demitra of the Canucks to tip-in the game-tying goal with 4:42 left in regulation. Demitra then scored the only goal of the shootout.
On the other side of the rink: Jaroslav Halak made 18 saves Saturday after stopping 45 shots in each of the first two games of the winning streak. He is 5-1-1 with a 1.83 goals-against average and one shutout in his last seven starts and 4-2-0 with a 1.82 GAA and two shutouts lifetime against the Bruins.
Montreal is 4-2 its last six at the Bell Centre.
Bottom line: In contrast, Tim Thomas, who has a 3.44 GAA in losing two games to the Canadiens this season, is 0-4-2 with a 3.30 GAA in his last six starts; look for MONTREAL to do just enough in this one to sneak away with the home victory and for Boston to fall to 10-17 (-10.8 units) revenging a loss vs. an opponent.
8* Montreal
KING MAKER
7* Syracuse -4.5
HARRY BONDI
3* Indianapolis Colts
Kevin Kavitch
3* New Orleans +4.5
I'm backing the Saints. They have a dynamic offense that has balance and a running game. Most importantly they have a top flight QB that has played well all year. That gives them a punchers chance in this game. I really liked the way Reggie Bush played with fire in his eyes last week and given the past history and experiences of the Saints, we could have some important intangibles on our side on Sunday. Only the people in the locker room know for sure but I can see it playing out this way. One of my favorite lines has to do with underdogs: "What the odds don't know is this isn't a math test, this is a completely different kind of test, one where passion has a funny way of trumping logic." And make no mistake about it, the Saints do have a punchers chance. The Saints D is healthy unlike other games this season and are capable of creating game changing turnovers. Most people don't realize that Manning has throw far more INTs than Brees this season and the Saints can bring pressure. That will be key in this game. Freeny is a question mark right now and only helps our play is he's limited. I'll take the Saints +4.5 or higher and some books have it at +6. My monitor is posting +4.5 so I'll post it now to get out my play but don't be surprised if you can catch a +6 on Sunday once the public hammers the unstoppable Colts. They'll also remember last week when the Saints could have easily lost to Green Bay. That gave gives us extra value and we've all seen teams have a way of making major adjustments week to week and look very different. The Saints got the jitters out last week, this week they can let it rip in the underdog role. Take New Orleans +4.5 (or higher) for a 3* Play.
GREGG PRICE
4* Under 56.5
We are going under the total here. 56.5 is a lot of points. One team has to get to 30 and the other 27. We just don't see that happening. Minny had a more duel attach, so they chewed up the yards against NO, Indy will run, but not as much, so NO can focus more on the pass. Lets play the under.
Score
400% New Orleans
Trent Citron
10 Units Saints
5 Units Saints ML