Joseph D'Amico
Info Plays
Larry Cook began betting sports in the early 80's and took his fair share of bumps and bruises before he learned what it takes to win consistently as a sports bettor.
Jeff Alexander
Jeff Alexander began his career as a college and NFL football Handicapper.
Matt Fargo
Matt Fargo is becoming recognized as one of the best and most consistent handicappers in the world.
Johnny Banks
Johnny Banks has been betting on sports successfully for several years and in 2009 he decided to take his sports picks public to help the average sports bettor beat the books.
MNF Preview – Saints/Falcons (ESPN) – 8:35 pm ET by Steve Merril
Current Odds
The Falcons opened as a 2-point home favorite and the line has since risen to -2½ in most locations as 53% of the public is supporting Atlanta according to the consensus sites.
The Over/Under line opened at 47½ total points and has since risen to 49 points as 75% of the public favors the Over according to the consensus sites. The weather will not be an issue since this game is being played inside the Georgia Dome.
Injury Report
One of the reasons these two teams enter with a combined 22-6 SU record this season is because they have been able to stay healthy. Atlanta will have all of their key players ready for Monday night, while New Orleans will also have the majority of their lineup.
New Orleans’ defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove (knee) and cornerback Jabari Greer (knee) are both probable, along with wide receivers Courtney Roby (head) and Robert Meachem (toe). Running back Christopher Ivory (hamstring) is questionable, while tight end David Thomas (knee) is doubtful.
Breesy Time
New Orleans’ quarterback Drew Brees has been one of the best in the NFL since signing with the Saints back in 2006. Brees has had monster games against just about every team in the league, but he has had a collection of big-time performances against the Falcons, a team the Saints play twice a year in the NFC South.
In his nine career starts against the Falcons as a Saint, Brees has averaged 301 passing yards per game and he has thrown at least two touchdown passes eight times. He’s thrown for more than 300 yards five times, including a 365-yard, three-touchdown performance in the Falcons’ 27-24 overtime victory in New Orleans back on September 26th.
”They do a great job and Drew is as good as any quarterback in the league in terms of pre-snap reads to identify what you’re trying to do,” Atlanta head coach Mike Smith said. “It’s going to be important for us as a team to make sure that we can get some pre-snap tips on what they’re trying to do as well.”
Roddy vs. Dilfer & Saints on Twitter
Atlanta wide receiver Roddy White took to Twitter to wage battle with former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer. On a NFL segment on ESPN, Dilfer compared the Falcons to the 2003 Kansas City Chiefs who went 13-3 and then lost in the first-round of the playoffs. Dilfer said the Falcons “are not indestructible” at home and he went on to say the Saints could very well win Monday night’s game, then come back and beat the Falcons again in the playoffs in the Georgia Dome.
Roddy White fired back on Twitter: “No chance in hell the ‘Aints come into the dome and win once Trent Dilfer.” He followed that up with this. “The ‘Aints fans are so rude… we shall see Monday night.” And then this: “Y’all [New Orleans] fans keep talking making it worst for those guys that got to guard me cause y’all don’t. LOL”
Numerous Saints players responded to his tweets, but the best was this from Reggie Bush who said: “Wondering how @roddywhitetv has the audacity to call us ‘AINTS.” And he attached a photo of the Saints’ Super Bowl ring from last year.
What a Pair
Since head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees have worked together, they’ve put-up some incredible offensive numbers. The duo started together in New Orleans back in 2006, and since then, they’ve won 48 games while amassing over 22,000 passing yards. They reached the pinnacle last year when the Saints beat the Colts in the Super Bowl.
Payton has always been a master play caller from his days under Bill Parcells with the Giants and Cowboys. He is simply phenomenal in structuring a game plan and then being aggressive once the game gets underway. And Payton’s ability to keep defenses off balance hasn’t gone unnoticed, especially by Atlanta head coach Mike Smith.
”Head coach Sean Payton is one of the most innovative offensive coaches in terms of how he packages his game plan together,” Smith said. “He forces you to use a lot of brain power, especially in the first 15 to 20 plays with the personnel groupings, and it’s very high tempo. It’s going to be a big challenge for our team. Their running game is something that you can’t overlook. Everybody talks about Drew Brees and his ability to throw the football and the weapons that they have at wide receiver and tight end, but they can run the ball effectively.”
