Just how successful will the New Orleans Saints be this season? Oddsmakers aren’t expecting much of them, at least in their season-opening home game with the Green Bay Packers.
According to Tipico Sportsbook, Green Bay is favored for that Sept. 12 kickoff at Caesars Superdome (on FOX at 3:25 p.m. CT) — by 2.5 points, nearly a field goal. Odds were widely unavailable over the summer during Aaron Rodgers’ prolonged absence, but now that he’s leading the Packers again there appears to be little confidence in the Saints.
That isn’t too shocking considering Rodgers’ squad got away with a 37-30 win last season when they visited New Orleans. Tipico’s over/under for the follow-up has been set at 50.5 points, which is tied for the sixth-highest scoring game of Week 1.
Last year, the Saints ranked fifth around the league with 30.1 points scored per game. Green Bay ranked best in the NFL with a 31.8 per-game scoring output (which, combined, equals a weekly average of 61.9).
We’ll see if New Orleans can cook up similar production without Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, Wil Lutz, potentially Deonte Harris, and neither of last year’s co-starters at tight end. They may need even more from Alvin Kamara than the 197 scrimmage yards and pair of touchdowns he contributed last year. Whether it’s Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill starting under center against Rodgers, here’s hoping they and their supporting cast are up to the challenge.
