| NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (10-6 SU, 10-6 ATS):
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| | as a favorite of between four and seven
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| Sean Payton did the impossible in New
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| | points.
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| Orleans last season, turning a moribund
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| | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (4-12 SU, 6-9-1
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| 3-13 team into a Super Bowl contender.
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| | ATS): While the Saints were going from
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| With the return of QB Drew Brees, twin RB
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| | worst to first, the Buccaneers were
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| threats Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush,
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| | heading in the opposite direction, from
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| and emerging WR star Marques Colston, the
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| | first to worst last year. Head Coach Jon
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| offense is lethal. The defense also
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| | Gruden hopes that savvy QB Jeff Garcia,
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| showed improvement under first year
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| | who the Buccaneers acquired through free
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| coordinator Gary Gibbs but lacked
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| | agency, will be able to run his complex
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| aggression, finishing 31st in the NFL in
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| | West Coast offense with more precision
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| takeaways in 2006. The line, led by
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| | than Chris Simms or Bruce Gradkowski did
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| Charles Grant and Will Smith, is solid
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| | in 2006. Tampa Bay has gotten old on
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| but the Saints need more big-play
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| | defense, falling from the top 10 in the
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| potential at linebacker and in the
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| | league for the first time in a decade
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| secondary. Still, an offense as potent as
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| | last season while ranking 31st in sacks
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| New Orleans' will win a lot of games.
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| | with just 25.
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| By the Numbers (Regular Season,
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| | By the Numbers (Regular Season,
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| 1998-2006)
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| | 1998-2006)
|
| SU: 64-80
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| | SU: 77-67
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| ATS: 69-72-3
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| | ATS: 69-69-6
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| HF: 14-24-1
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| | HF: 30-26-2
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| HD: 10-16-2
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| | HD: 9-2-1
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| AF: 9-6
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| | AF: 15-18
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| AD: 32-25
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| | AD: 15-21-2
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| Sportsbook Buster: The Saints are 8-2 ATS
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| | Sportsbook Buster: The Buccaneers are 5-1
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| their last 10 games versus the 49ers, who
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| | ATS versus the Rams, who they play at
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| they play in San Francisco, Oct. 28.
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| | home, Sept. 23.
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| NFL Betting Angle: New Orleans has been a
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| | NFL Betting Angle: Tampa Bay was 3-1 ATS
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| miserable bet at home, compiling just a
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| | last year and is 9-2-1 ATS the last nine
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| 24-40-3 record ATS the last nine seasons.
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| | seasons in the role of a home underdog.
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| CAROLINA PANTHERS (8-8 SU, 5-9-2 ATS):
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| | ATLANTA FALCONS (7-9 SU, 8-8 ATS): The
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| Injuries ravaged the Panthers and the
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| | Falcons didn't figure to be a playoff
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| team that made it to the Super Bowl a
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| | contender with QB Mike Vick so their
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| year earlier couldn't even make to a
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| | fortunes are even dimmer now that Vick is
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| winning record in 2006. The offense
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| | likely to miss the season defending
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| struggled last year with inconsistent
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| | himself against a federal indictment for
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| play from QB Jake Delhomme and a ground
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| | dog-fighting sand gambling. New Head
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| game that finished 24th in the NFL,
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| | Coach Bobby Petrino will have to overhaul
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| prompting Head Coach John Fox to fire
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| | an offense that has been dependent on
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| offensive coordinator Dan Henning and
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| | Vick since his arrival in Atlanta seven
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| replace him with Jeff Davidson. The
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| | years ago. The defense, which played well
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| Carolina defense was as good as the
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| | last year, gets a new coordinator in Mike
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| offense was bad last year with DE Julius
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| | Zimmer, from Dallas.
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| Peppers leading the way. The Panthers
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| | By the Numbers (Regular Season,
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| also have a quality secondary and hope
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| | 2002-2006)
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| that No. 1 draft choice Jon Beason
| |
| | SU: 70-73-1
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| (Miami) will be the playmaker they need
| |
| | ATS: 68-70-6
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| at linebacker.
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| | HF: 22-21-2
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| By the Numbers (Regular Season,
| |
| | HD: 10-17
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| 1998-2006)
| |
| | AF: 9-6-1
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| SU: 64-80
| |
| | AD: 27-26-3
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| ATS: 71-66-7
| |
| | Sportsbook Buster: The Falcons are 4-0
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| HF: 20-27-1
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| | ATS versus the Lions at home their last
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| HD: 13-9-2
| |
| | four meetings. The teams meet in Tampa
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| AF: 8-12-1
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| | Bay, Nov. 11.
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| AD: 27-19-3
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| | NFL Betting Angle: Atlanta is 9-2 as an
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| Sportsbook Buster: The Panthers are 6-0
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| | underdog after a bye week. This year,
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| ATS versus the Saints, their last
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| | Atlanta travels to Tampa Bay, Nov. 4,
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| half-dozen meetings.
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| | after its open week.
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| NFL Betting Angle: Carolina is 3-12 ATS
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|
