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Sunday night’s big New Orleans Saints win has sent a ripple effect around the NFL’s orbit, and it’s prompted some early lines to shift in the Week 16 betting odds. According to the oddsmakers at Tipico Sportsbook, the Saints are favored by about a field goal against the Miami Dolphins, as of Monday morning. Take that 3.5-point advantage with the over/under of 39.5 and you’ve got a suggested final score in the neighborhood of Saints 22, Dolphins 18.
It’s a bit of an odd projection, but let’s not kid ourselves. The Saints haven’t been kicking doors down on offense lately. Points have come at a premium for them and this matchup has all the hallmarks of a low-scoring evening. Miami has been averaging a modest 24.5 points per game during their six-week winning streak, and they haven’t seen a defense as stout as New Orleans.
But with that said, the Dolphins run a lot of read-option plays similar to what gave the Saints trouble in their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles not too long ago. New Orleans’ defense needs to be on top of their game if they’re going to meet expectations and get back to a winning record as the regular season draws to a close.
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