NEW ORLEANS (1 - 0) at SAN FRANCISCO (0 - 1)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN FRANCISCO is 22-9 ATS (+12.1 Units) when playing on Monday night since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW ORLEANS is 1-0 against the spread versus SAN FRANCISCO over the last 3 seasons
NEW ORLEANS is 1-0 straight up against SAN FRANCISCO over the last 3 seasons
0 of 0 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO
NEW ORLEANS: 82-55 Over off home game
SAN FRANCISCO: 22-9 ATS on Monday night
NEW ORLEANS vs. SAN FRANCISCO
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New Orleans's last 5 games when playing on the road against San Francisco
New Orleans is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against San Francisco
San Francisco is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games at home
San Francisco is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against New Orleans
Saints at 49ers - The Saints are 9-0 ATS (16.8 ppg) since December 10, 2006 on the road vs a non-divisional opponent before playing at home. The 49ers are 7-0 ATS (12.3 ppg) since September 21, 2008 at home between away games. The 49ers are 7-0-1 ATS (7.9 ppg) since November 10, 2008 as a dog when facing a team that has completed at least 65% of their passes season-to-date. The Saints are 13-0 OU (11.8 ppg) since November 17, 1991 on the road the week after a win at home in which their dps was negative. The 49ers are 0-8 OU (-12.5 ppg) since December 14, 2006 when they suffered a 10+ point ATS loss last week. The 49ers are 0-8 OU (-15.3 ppg) since October 2005 as a dog when they lost by 20+ points last week.
NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO - Singletary "under" 15-6-1 last 22 and 49ers 7-1 last 8 as dog, also 7-2-1 vs. line their last 10 as host. Singletary 14-7-1 last 22 on board (though 0-1 in 2010). Tech edge-49ers and "under," based on Singletary trends.
New Orleans SERIES: 3-0 L3/5-0 L5 A… 7-1 O/U Game Two
SAN FRANCISCO 4-0 Game Two… 2-12 w/non-div conf rev… SINGLETARY: 4-0 H vs .500 > opp
New Orleans is 10-2 in the last 12 vs. San Francisco
San Francisco is 12-17 in the last 29 as home underdogs
Saints at 49ers: What Bettors Need to Know
By Steve Merril
ODDS AND OUTS
The oddsmakers opened the Saints as a 4.5-point road favorite and the early money quickly came in on the favorite, pushing the line to -5.5. There is a chance the line will push higher on Monday night because 73 percent of the public is backing the Saints according to the Covers.com’s Consensus numbers.
There has been very little movement on the total as some sportsbooks opened at 44.5, while most opened at 44. About 70 percent of the Covers Consensus is on the over, so this number could move up before kickoff.
The weather conditions will not be an issue at Candlestick Park as the forecast is calling for clear conditions with a 69 degree temperature at kickoff and winds only around nine mph.
INJURY REPORT
San Francisco’s leading tackler from last season, LB Patrick Willis was limited in practice Friday because of knee and thumb injuries, but he is expected to play.
Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky was asked if the thumb was broken and replied, “No, I don't think it is. That would be news to me. He’s fine. He’ll be ready to go on Monday.”
Center Eric Heitmann (fibula), wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. (knee), cornerback Will James (ankle), and right guard Chilo Rachal (stinger) did not participate in practice and are all listed as doubtful to play this week.
The long stretch between games has been positive for the Saints’ injury report. Only three players are listed as doubtful this week; tailback Chris Ivory (knee), offensive tackle Zach Strief (knee), and linebacker Anthony Waters (hamstring).
Linebacker Stanley Arnoux (ankle) practiced fully and is expected to return after being injured early in training camp. New Orleans is still without two other linebackers, Jonathan Casillas and Clint Ingram, plus free safety Darren Sharper who are on the injured list.
PRIMETIME SAINTS
New Orleans is no stranger to playing under the primetime lights. Monday night’s game in San Francisco will be the Saints’ fifth consecutive primetime game dating back to last year’s playoff run. Being in the spotlight of the cameras is a situation the Saints have grown accustomed to according to head coach Sean Payton.
"When you start to have success, part of what comes with it are the Thursday nights, the Thanksgiving Days, the Monday nights, the Monday nights on the road," Payton said. “It's really where you want to be, and yet you understand that there's a challenge with that."
THE OFFENSIVE 49ERS
San Francisco’s offensive execution and production in their season opener at Seattle was atrocious. The 49ers scored just 6 points on a pair of Joe Nedney field goals. They actually led that game against the Seahawks 6-0 before getting out-scored by 31 points the rest of the way to lose 31-6.
Quarterback Alex Smith played a terrible game as he completed just 26 of his 45 passes for 225 yards and two interceptions. The 49ers had just 49 rushing yards and they converted on just six percent (1-15) of their third downs and they also went 0-3 inside the red zone.
CALL AN EXTERMINATOR
San Francisco was blasted in the media following the anemic offensive performance in Seattle, and head coach Mike Singletary went nuts after being questioned about a Yahoo! story that said there was dissention between the offensive coaches. Singletary said there is a “rat” and “coward” in the 49ers locker room as the online story quoted an unnamed source.
“One thing that I want to teach our guys is to be men. If there's something that you have to say, go say it, and say that you said it," Singletary said. “But don't go say a bunch of stuff (without attribution). To me, that's a rat, that's a coward. I don't want to spend my time trying to find a rat. In time, the smell will come."
MNF - Saints at Niners
By Kevin Rogers
The defending Super Bowl champs were the first team to play in Week 1, but will be the last team to take the field in Week 2 as the Saints head to San Francisco to battle the Niners. Each team didn't look great on the offensive side, as New Orleans looks to keep up its momentum after the opening week victory over Minnesota.
The Saints became the 11th straight defending Super Bowl champion to win the first game of the following season, pulling out a 14-9 triumph over the Vikings. In a rematch of last season's NFC Title Game, many thought Minnesota was the better team after outgaining New Orleans by 218 yards in February's overtime loss to the Saints. However, the New Orleans defense limited Minnesota to 253 yards last Thursday, while Sean Payton's club controlled the ball for 33 minutes.
The Niners were touted as the team to beat in the mediocre NFC West this season, but San Francisco didn't provide a solid showing in its season debut by getting pounded at Seattle, 31-6 as three-point road favorites. Former top pick Alex Smith has not been a reliable play on the highway, as the Niners are 1-6 in his last seven road starts. However, San Francisco finished last season with four consecutive home victories with Smith under center.
Mike Singletary's defense didn't play too poorly last week, allowing 244 yards to the Seahawks. San Francisco couldn't get its running game going as Frank Gore was held to 38 yards on 17 carries. Smith threw a pair of interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown by Marcus Trufant to start the second half and essentially put the nail in San Francisco's coffin.
Playing at the Superdome is always a huge advantage for the Saints, but New Orleans performed extremely well away from Louisiana last season with an 8-1 SU and 5-4 ATS mark on the highway. The only SU loss came in a meaningless Week 17 contest at Carolina as the Saints had wrapped up home-field advantage for the playoffs. Under Payton, New Orleans owns a profitable 10-4 ATS ledger as a road favorite since 2006.
The Saints only make one more substantial road trip this season, as New Orleans travels to Arizona on October 10. That's meaningful since the Saints don't have to move over two time zones more than twice this season, including this late afternoon kickoff at Candlestick Park.
The Niners were a strong team to back last season when playing by the Bay, owning a 5-2-1 ATS home record. San Francisco was listed as a home underdog only once, but it came in a similar scenario. The Niners upended the Cardinals, 24-9 last December as four-point 'dogs on a Monday Night at Candlestick. Under Singletary, San Francisco is 2-0 ATS in Monday games, including a 29-24 loss at Arizona as 10-point 'dogs in 2008.
Taking it a step further, since Singletary took over the reins for Mike Nolan in '08, the Niners are 8-2-2 ATS as an underdog. However, San Francisco has won just four of these 12 games, but is 2-0 SU/ATS when receiving points at home. Last season, home underdogs off a road divisional loss put together a 4-11 SU record, but managed an 8-7 ATS mark.
VI capper Bruce Marshall isn't ready to give up on San Francisco yet, "It might be too soon to jump off the 49ers bandwagon after that unexpected humbling at Seattle last week. Most NFC West insiders still believe San Francisco is the team to beat in the division, but are still waiting to see if Smith can lend enough cutting-edge to the offense for the 49ers to move up in the NFC contenders' queue."
Marshall says that with the venue shifting, it will definitely benefit Singletary's club, "We'll get a better idea if San Francisco still merits any mention in that discussion when hosting the Saints, where the 49ers' offensive play-calling apparatus should work more smoothly than it did in the Qwest Field noise chamber last week. And despite its Super Bowl win, note that New Orleans has only covered four of its last 14 on the board, dating back to midseason last year."
The Saints are 10-5 to the 'over' since 2007 in road games with the total listed at 49 or below. The Niners cashed the 'under' in six of eight home games last season, while scoring 24 points or less six times.
New Orleans opened as a four-point favorite, but the public money has pushed the Saints up to six-point road 'chalk.' The total has settled at 44 at most books after opening at 44 ½. The game kicks off at 8:30 PM EST and will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Looking ahead to Week 3:
Eight games involve interconference matchups next week, as five NFC teams play host. The Niners hit the road to Kansas City, while the Steelers play their second straight road game at Tampa Bay. Probably the most intriguing game between AFC and NFC foes takes place in Houston as the upstart Texans host the Cowboys.
The Saints return to the Superdome to host division-rival Atlanta, as New Orleans has won four straight home meetings in this series. In other divisional showdowns, the Patriots entertain the Bills, the Ravens take on the Browns, and the Vikings battle the Lions. The primetime games involve divisional contests when the Dolphins and Jets hook up in Miami, while the Packers and Bears close out the week at Solider Field on Monday.
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Tips and Trends
New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers
SAINTS: (-4.5, O/U 44) New Orleans has had plenty of time to enjoy their season opening win against the Vikings, 14-9 SU. New Orleans won their Week 1 game on 9/9, 11 days ago. Will the Drew Brees offense come out rusty, or will the time off help this team get firing on all cylinders? New Orleans has never started off a season 2-0 SU, yet can do just that tonight with a win in front of a national audience. The time away has been good for the Saints according to Coach Payton, as they've been able to work on their offense. In their win opening win against the Vikings, the 14 PTS represents the fewest amount of PTS the Saints have had in victory under Payton. Brees connected on 75% of his passes in Week 1, the Saints simply struggled in the red zone. Brees has never lost to the 49ers, going 4-0 SU with 1,221 YDS and 10 TD's lifetime. Lost in their Super Bowl run was how great this Saints defense is. Time and time again the defense stepped up in the most opportunistic of times, and they only allowed the Vikings 9 PTS in Week 1. The Saints are only 3-9 ATS in their past 12 NFC games overall.
Saints are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Over is 4-1 in Saints last 5 Monday games.
Key Injuries - S Darren Sharper (knee) is out.
Projected Score: 30 (OVER-Total of the Day)
49ERS: San Francisco went from the penthouse to the outhouse in 1 single game. The chic pick to due damage in the NFC this year, the 49ers are now trying to regroup after losing to Seattle 6-31 SU as a 3 point favorite. Making matters worse is the fact that there is reported turmoil in the San Francisco locker room. Coach Mike Singletary needs to rally his team quickly, as they now face the defending Super Bowl champion Saints tonight. San Francisco didn't have a single TD, and QB Alex Smith is again facing adversity. To beat the Saints tonight, San Francisco will have to run the ball well. In week 1, the 49ers only had 49 rushing yards. RB Frank Gore is going to have to rush for at least 100 YDS tonight and run the ball effectively to keep the high powered Saints offense off the field. As noted below, San Francisco has been dominant on Monday Night, going 16-5 ATS in their past 21 Monday Night games. The 49ers have only lost twice ATS in their past 12 games against a team with a winning record.
49ers are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 Monday games.
Under is 4-0 in 49ers last 4 games following a S.U. loss.
Key Injuries - LB Manny Lawson (ribs) is probable.
Projected Score: 24