NFL Picks Week 1 – Saints vs. Vikings

The Super Bowl Champions will look to start the 2010 season with a win against the Minnesota Vikings, this Thursday at 8:30 PM at the Super Dome, in the official season-opening game.

NFL Betting Odds:

Minnesota Vikings +5

New Orleans Saints -5

O/U 48

The Vikings travel to New Orleans seeking revenge after a hard defeat in the NFC Championship match where they lost 31-28 against the Saints, despite outplaying the home team in that game. However, the Vikings might not be among the best NFL Picks for this week, so keep that in mind.

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Favre returns to make his record 286th consecutive start, but I’ll bet he had some true nightmares about the Saints after getting seriously hit by their defense last season. The Vikings outgained the Saints 475-257 in total yards but they committed five turnovers that cost them the game, including a late fourth quarter interception thrown by Favre deep in the New Orleans field.

The Saints are five-point favorites, and it’s basically because of their high-powered offense that is virtually unstoppable, and I can assure you that they are going to prove that once again this season. Drew Brees has so many weapons than is impossible to cover all of them.

On offense, the Minnesota Vikings will have some troubles especially considering that running back Chester Taylor is gone, Percy Harvin has been suffering bad migraines, and Sidney Rice won’t be able to play for the first six weeks due to a hip surgery. This will give Adrian Peterson more loads to carry on this game but also the responsibility to stop fumbling the ball.

Peterson ran for 122 yards and three touchdowns in last year’s clash, but had two crucial fumbles that kept the Saints alive in the match.

The best bet here are the New Orleans Saints, especially considering that Minnesota’s diminished offense won’t be able to keep the pace. Consider that MINNESOTA is 2-0 against the spread versus NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons and 2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons.

My pick: Saints will cover and the Over.