Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints 8:30 ET

Posted on 11/20/2008 12:00:00 AMby North Shore Sports, INC

ESPN’s Monday Night Football heads to the Big Easy, and Bookmaker will offer all of the great football betting action you care to sink your teeth into in the critical NFC showdown between the Green Bay Packers (5-5, 7-3 ATS) and the New Orleans Saints (5-5, 6-4 ATS).

The last time these squads hooked up was back in 2006 in Green Bay. The Saints were short favorites that day and put the Pack away by a 34-27 final count. The last time Green Bay visited the Bayou was back in 2002 in a game the host Saints won, 35-20. With respect to the series between Green Bay and New Orleans, the Pack holds a 6-2 ATS and 5-3 SU advantage since 1987.

Green Bay made a huge statement last Sunday against the visiting Chicago Bears. Oddsmakers only favored the hosts by 3.5-points, a line they obliterated by bouncing their division rivals by the resounding score of 37-3. The defense was fantastic, holding Chicago to 234 yards of offense and scored a touchdown when Jason Hunter rumbled a fumble recovery for 53-yards for the score that pushed the lead to 31-points in the 4th quarter.

QB Aaron Rodgers had another efficient performance, going 23/30 for 227 yards and two scores. RB Ryan Grant had one of his best games of the ’08 campaign, rushing for 145 yards and a touchdown. The win kept the Packers’ playoff chances alive and forced them into a first place tie in the crowded NFC North.

Speaking of crowded divisions, no team may have a harder route to the postseason in the entire NFL than the New Orleans Saints. In a division that wasn’t expected to be so strong, the Saints are in last place with three games to make up on the Panthers if they hope to win their second division title in the L/3 seasons.

They took a giant step in the right direction on Sunday, with a 30-20 victory in Arrowhead Stadium over the Chiefs. Sports bettors who backed the black and gold cashed winning tickets at -6. Though names like Bush, McAllister, Brees, and Colston are normally amongst the stars in the New Orleans offense, Sunday’s brightest included RB Pierre Thomas and WR Lance Moore. Thomas rushed for 88 yards and a score on 16 carries and added 56 yards in the receiving game, while Moore paced all receivers with eight catches for 102 yards and a touchdown. It was the first cover for the Saints on the road since September 21st.

If the Saints are going to make a move to get back in the playoff race, this week’s game is imperative, and the NFL betting line reflects it. The Saints currently sit as 2.5-point home chalks, while the ‘total’ sits at 51.5.

It may seem like a high number to reach, but the NFL betting trends justify it. Green Bay is 8-1-1 in its L/10 road games for ‘over’ bettors, while the ‘over’ has cashed in nine of New Orleans’ L/10 home games. Whether the points are flying on the scoreboard or not, one thing is for certain, and that’s that this game will have a playoff atmosphere to it.

Will the Saints keep their playoff hopes alive, or will the Packers march towards another NFC North title? Login to your Bookmaker Sportsbook account immediately and get your Monday night pigskin wagers in!