New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans sports betting odds and lines, with Week 16 NFL betting picks, tips and bets.

The New Orleans Saints (11-3) and Tennessee Titans (8-6) meet up at Nissan Stadium in Nashville Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (on FOX). We analyze the Saints-Titans sports betting odds and lines, with NFL betting picks and tips for the Week 16 matchup.

Saints at Titans: Week 16 preview, betting trends and notes

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The Saints enter the week as one of four 11-win teams in the NFC, so this is a very important game in their pursuit of home-field advantage in the postseason
The Titans are still very much alive for a wild-card spot in the AFC, but they need a win and the Steelers to lose.
New Orleans ranks ninth in total yards per game (373.3), seventh in passing yards (264.6 YPG) and sixth in points scored (27.0 PPG).
Defensively, the Saints rank fourth in the NFL with just 90.8 rushing yards per game allowed.
New Orleans is 25-8 ATS across the past 33 road games and 9-3 ATS in the past 12 overall. The Saints are also 26-12-1 ATS in the past 39 against teams with a winning record.
Tennessee is 4-1 ATS in the past five games overall, while going 3-1-1 ATS in the past five home outings. The Titans are just 2-5 ATS in the past seven against winning teams.

Saints at Titans: Key injuries

Saints: S Vonn Bell (knee), LB Kiko Alonso (quadriceps) and RG Larry Warford are out, while LG Andrus Peat (forearm) is questionable.

Titans: WR Adam Humphries (ankle) and CB Adoree’ Jackson (foot) are out, while DT Jeffery Simmons (knee) is questionable.

Saints at Titans: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Titans QB Ryan Tannehill. (Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel – USA TODAY Sports)

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 2:20 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Titans 26, Saints 24

Moneyline (?)

The TITANS (+115) should be playing with some desperation, while the Saints (-139) also have a ton on the line. This should be one of the better games of the Week 16 slate, coming right down to the end. Take the home side to pull it out.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the moneyline returns a $11.50 profit with a Tennessee victory.

Against the Spread (?)

The TITANS (+2.5, -106) are a better play on the moneyline, as it’s generally a good rule of thumb to bet the ML when dealing with ‘dogs of three or fewer points. However, if you want a little insurance with the home team, take the points.

Over/Under (?)

PASS. The total of 50.5 (Over -106, Under -115) is going to be awfully close. Save your money and find another game. This won’t be a defensive slog, but it also won’t be a track meet. Look for the total to come in right around 50 points, so this total is too close to call.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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NFC Playoff picture heading into Week 16

Outside of the NFC East, the NFC’s playoff teams are set. The Rams could make the playoffs but it would take a miracle. The Rams would have to beat the Niners – in San Francisco – and Cardinals and the Vikings would have to lose out. The Vikings …

Outside of the NFC East, the NFC’s playoff teams are set. The Rams could make the playoffs but it would take a miracle. The Rams would have to beat the Niners — in San Francisco — and Cardinals and the Vikings would have to lose out. The Vikings have two home games. It’s doubtful they are going to lose out. That’s why the Rams aren’t on the list. Let’s check out the other races.

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles 7-7

Remaining Games: Cowboys, @Giants

Dallas Cowboys 7-7

Remaining Games: @Eagles, Redskins

One write up for both teams. The NFC East crown is on the line in Week 16. It’s that simple. The winner of this matchup will win the division because there’s no way either team should — or would — lose to the Giants or Redskins. Yes, Dallas can make it into the playoffs if they lose to the Eagles but the Eagles lose to the Cowboys due to division record. Let’s just call this what it is, the game for the NFC East title.

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Former OSU standout Michael Thomas sets Saints single-season receptions record

Former Ohio State standout receiver Michael Thomas set the New Orleans Saints’ single-season receptions record on Monday night — again.

Former Ohio State standout receiver Michael Thomas set the New Orleans Saints’ single-season receptions record on Monday night. Who did he beat out? Well, he beat out Michael Thomas from 2018.

With 125 catches last season, Thomas set the single-season record for the historic organization a season ago. However, this season, he has bigger goals in mind.

Thomas entered the Saints’ Week 15 matchup needing eight receptions per game to top Marvin Harrison’s league-wide single-season record of 143. Well, he got a start on that with 12 against the Colts, and now needs just eleven more the final two weeks to set the all-time mark.

For the year, Thomas has a league-high 133 receptions to go along with a NFL leading 1,552 yards. Recently announced as a Pro Bowl starter, Thomas has taken his game to the next level.

Michael Thomas has a Saints single-season record 126 receptions and counting 😤 pic.twitter.com/uAo56UaX1Q

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 17, 2019

Thomas spent three seasons with the Buckeyes, totaling over 780 yards in each of his last two seasons. A second-round pick in 2016, the former Buckeye is now one of the league’s highest-paid receivers.

Indianapolis Colts at New Orleans Saints odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s Colts at Saints Week 15 NFL matchup, with NFL betting odds, picks and best bets

The Indianapolis Colts (6-7) will try to snap their three-game losing streak on Monday night against the New Orleans Saints (10-3), who are coming off a loss to the 49ers in Week 14.

These two cross-conference foes will square off at 8:15 p.m. ET from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

Colts at Saints: Week 15 preview, betting trends and notes

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The Colts have lost five of their last six games this season, going 2-3-1 against the spread in that span.
The Saints are 9-2 straight up and 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games. Their only SU losses this season were to the Rams, Falcons and 49ers.
New Orleans is 15-5 SU in its last 20 games at home (including playoffs).
The Saints are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games against the Colts
In the last five games between these teams in New Orleans, the total has gone over four times.
The Colts are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games against teams above .500.
The Saints are 4-1 ATS against teams with a losing record.

Colts at Saints: Key injuries

Colts WR T.Y. Hilton has a calf injury and is questionable to play on Monday night.

Saints DT Sheldon Rankins (ankle) and DE Marcus Davenport (foot) were both placed on injured reserve this week. TE Jared Cook suffered a concussion against the 49ers and will be monitored.

Colts at Saints: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 12:40 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Saints 31, Colts 20

Moneyline (?)

It’s hard to fathom a way in which the Saints lose this game, especially being at home and coming off a 48-46 loss to the 49ers. The Colts are really struggling right now and shouldn’t pose much of a threat to the Saints.

Bet the SAINTS (-455) to win outright on Monday night and defend their home turf.

New to sports betting? A successful $10 wager on the Saints to win would return a profit of $2.20.

Against the Spread (?)

The Saints come into this one as 9.5-point home favorites over the Colts. Three of the Saints’ last five wins have come by at least 11 points, so they’re plenty capable of winning handily.

Take the SAINTS -9.5 (-106) to cover the spread and beat the Colts by at least 10 points.

Over/Under (?)

The over/under of 45.5 points is certainly a reachable number, considering the Saints have scored at least 26 points in each of their last four games, and just put up 46 on the 49ers’ top defense.

Take the OVER (-125) because this game has a good chance of topping 50 total points.

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Follow @camdasilva and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Who is Taysom Hill and why is he so important?

Who is Taysom Hill?

In youth football, for those who had the pleasure of playing the game, it was not really about offensive schemes or play calling. At least at the earliest levels it was all about who had the most athletic player that could do it all; running around, reversing, field, and basically just out-performing all other 21 kids out there.

This type of do it all player disappears as a young athlete progresses through the levels of football. Granted you might be a star receiver who also returns kicks in college, but we see less and less big time players play multiple positions. The Saints however found a diamond in the rough who does just about everything, a rarity in today’s game.

Meet Taysom Hill. The quarterback, running back, receiver, kick returner, punt returner, special teams specialist, and tight end. At 6’2″ and 220 pounds, Hill is highly athletic with the ability to beat anyone in open space and can be a matchup problem wherever he lines up.

Hill was the starting quarterback at BYU and went undrafted in 2017. He was claimed by the Packers and spent the preseason in Green Bay before being waived and picked up by the Saints shortly after. After starting out on special teams, Sean Payton knew they had a unique playmaker on their roster.

The Saints love to get creative with Hill as well. They line him up at quarterback in the wildcat formation, which keeps defenses on their toes because of his strong arm and quickness. He has one rushing touchdown in 2019. He also tends to line up at wide receiver and has four receiving touchdowns on the year as well.

The Colts will have to be conscientious of wherever Hill lines up on the field Monday night. Many defenses do not account for his versatile skill set and can get burned, especially in the red zone. The Saints creative play designs make it easy for Hill to be wide open.

Matt Eberflus needs to always have someone spying on or covering this dynamic playmaker all game if the Colts want to have any success against this multi-faceted and talented offense. His fitting nickname with New Orleans media is “the human Swiss Army knife.”

NFC Playoff picture heading into Week 15

The Niners are at the top of the NFC playoff race, but it’s tight when it comes to which teams will take the top seeds.

We didn’t really learn much about the NFC in Week 13 that we already didn’t know. The NFC East isn’t very good. The Saints are the only team in the NFC South that is better than mediocre. The NFC North’s two-team race is still the same — although the Bears could make a theoretical run if they win their next game. The NFC West’s two top teams may be the best in the NFC. Both are making it to the postseason tournament.

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles 6-7

It took 13 weeks but the Eagles are finally atop the NFC East. There is literally one game that matters more than any other on their schedule and that’s against the Cowboys. They need to win the other games, but the Cowboys game will be for the NFC East.

Remaining Games: @Redskins, Cowboys, @Giants

Dallas Cowboys 6-7

This is what happens when Jason Garrett is your coach. Now the Cowboys have to face off against the scorching hot Rams and then go to Philadelphia to beat the Eagles. That’s not going to be easy even if the Eagles are as banged up as they are right now.

Remaining Games: Rams, @Eagles, Redskins

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Which Saints must the Colts game plan for in Week 15?

These Saints must be in the gameplan in Week 15.

The Indianapolis Colts, currently sitting at 6-7, travel to “The Big Easy” to take on the 10-3 Saints on Monday Night Football. New Orleans is coming off a tough loss in what was perhaps the game of the year last week against San Francisco where they lost in the final minute of the game 48-46.

Colts fans have a special type of resentment towards the Saints. The obvious reasoning behind it would be the Super Bowl in 2010 where the Saints beat the Colts 31-17. The game was filled with high-powered passing offenses, an onside kick to start the second half, and the haunting Tracy Porter pick-six that sealed the win for New Orleans.

The Saints have already clinched the NFC South while the Colts are fighting for their lives in the AFC playoff race. If the Colts want to avenge that brutal Super Bowl loss and have a last-ditch effort to save their season, here are seven Saints the Colts must gameplan for in Week 15 in order to pull off the upset:

QB Drew Brees

Another piece of distain comes from Drew Brees breaking Peyton Manning’s regular season records for passing yards and passes completed. Monday night Brees has a chance to break yet another record held by Manning. Currently, Peyton sits at 539 passing touchdowns while Brees is closely behind him with 537.

You have to respect Brees and what he has been able to accomplish throughout his career. This season he missed five games with a broken thumb but has come back strong with 1,072 passing yards and 12 touchdowns over the last four games.

Getting after Brees and forcing him to move out of the pocket will be huge for the Colts pass rush led by Justin Houston. If Brees has all day to throw, it will be a long game for the Colts defense.

LB Demario Davis

Davis has revitalized his career after coming to New Orleans last season. He leads the team in tackles in 2019 with 95 total on the year. Contributing to his impressive stat sheet are also three sacks, 9.5 tackles for a loss, and an interception.

Davis is a talented linebacker with great pass rushing and run stopping abilities. The Saints love to send a combination of players on blitzes so it will be crucial for the Colts offensive line to pick up Davis and others coming off the edge and up the middle.

RB Alvin Kamara

Kamara’s season has seen limited production due to injury, but he is not to be underestimated. The third-year running back out of Tennessee took the league by storm his rookie year in 2017 and has been adjusting to team’s gameplans for him. He currently has 612 yards and one touchdown on the ground so far this season.

Where Kamara gets dangerous is in the pass game. He is a very talented receiver and has a great connection with Drew Brees. He has 68 receptions for 462 yards and a touchdown through the air as well. Stopping this dual-threat target will be huge in slowing down this Saints offense.

CB Marshon Lattimore

Another player who took the league by storm in his 2017 rookie campaign was Lattimore. He and Kamara took home the Defensive and Offensive Rookie of the Year awards that year respectively. Lattimore is considered one of the best shutdown corners in the league.

He has only one interception on the season but when teams purposefully do not throw to your side, that is expected. If T.Y. Hilton is still not healthy enough to go Monday night, look for Lattimore to be on Zach Pascal down the field. He is not impossible to beat, but Jacoby Brissett has to be careful when throwing to the talented corner.

WR Michael Thomas

His Twitter handle “@Cantguardmike” says it all. Thomas is one of the best, if not the best receiver in the game currently. His size and speed makes him a matchup problem for just about anyone in the league and his impressive season has landed him in the MVP conversation.

So far on the year, Thomas has 121 catches for 1,424 yards, both of which lead the league for all receivers. He has also found the endzone eight times this year and he and Drew Brees have been clicking as of late.

Pierre Desir will likely be on Thomas but he will need some help over the top, possibly from Malik Hooker or Khari Willis. Stopping Thomas from catching everything thrown to him should help slow own this aggressive Saints pass game.

DE Cameron Jordan

The Colts have faced some good pass rushers this season (Von Miller, T.J. Watt, Yannick Ngakoue) but Jordan is by far the biggest challenge they will face up front in 2019. With 46 total tackles, one fumble recovery, and 13.5 sacks, Jordan is an absolute monster off the edge.

He typically lines up on the right side which will be a matchup problem for Braden Smith and Mark Glowinski on that side of the line. Look for the Colts to either run to the side Jordan is not on or pull Quenton Nelson to that side to try and move the ball on the ground.

Safety Marcus Williams

Williams is a very talented safety but makes mistakes in big moments. Last week against San Francisco he grabbed a hold of George Kittle’s face mask and gave the 49ers 15 extra yards which put them into easy field goal range to win the game. You may also remember Williams botched the coverage that led to the Stefon Diggs “Minnesota Miracle.”

With four interceptions on the year and 53 total tackles, Williams is having a great year. This Saints secondary has really stepped up this season and can cover just about anyone down the field. Williams is very skilled, but attacking him and getting him frustrated will be vital for the Colts passing game that is limited already due to receiver injuries.

49ers may benefit from not clinching playoff spot in Week 14

The 49ers may actually want to avoid clinching a playoff berth in Week 14 vs. the Saints.

The 49ers may find themselves in a situation where they’re rooting against clinching a playoff spot Sunday afternoon.

For the second consecutive week, San Francisco can clinch a playoff spot with a win and a Rams loss. The scenarios where the 49ers punch their ticket to the postseason for the first time since the 2013 season are straightforward:

49ers win, Rams lose or tie
49ers tie, Rams lose

Typically it would be a no-brainer for the 49ers to pull for a Rams loss in the afternoon following their 10:00 AM Pacific Time start in New Orleans. However, San Francisco may actually be rooting against their own self interest in regards to clinching a playoff berth Sunday.

The Rams are hosting the NFC West-leading Seahawks. A Seattle loss, regardless of the outcome of the 49ers’ game in New Orleans, helps San Francisco.

If the 49ers win and the Seahawks lose, San Francisco regains the NFC West lead and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

If the 49ers lose and the Seahawks lose, the two teams stay locked in a tie atop the NFC West with the 49ers getting a chance to even and win the division when the two teams square off in Seattle the final week of the season.

There’s an added layer that makes a delay in their playoff clinch preferable for the 49ers. They play the Rams in Week 16, so a win in that game would lock up a playoff spot even if the Rams hang around the next couple weeks. Beating the Rams would clinch that playoff berth if it hadn’t already happened.

While clinching a playoff berth is the first step toward the team’s goal of a Super Bowl, it would wind up benefitting them if that clinch doesn’t happen this weekend.

NFC Playoff picture heading into Week 14

(Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys 6-6

There’s a legit chance the Cowboys don’t make the playoffs and there’s only one thing to blame here. They’ve been coached out of games they should have won. Now they face a tough game in Chicago against a pretty good Bears defense and then have to face a Rams team that is making a last-ditch effort for the wild card. Win those two games and they travel to Philadelphia for what could be an NFC East championship game. Good luck, Jason Garrett.

Remaining Games: @Bears, Rams, @Eagles, Redskins

Philadelphia Eagles 5-7

I am going to have to speak this into reality because there is absolutely no reason a playoff team should lose to the Miami Dolphins. Yet, here we are. The Eagles have a cake schedule the rest of the way and only need to beat the Cowboys at home to make the playoffs. Unfortunately, they don’t have Nick Foles around for this run — and their eventual playoff games.

Remaining Games: Giants, @Redskins, Cowboys, @Giants

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Shy Tuttle gets first NFL interception in Saints victory

Shy Tuttle gets first NFL interception in Saints victory.

ATLANTA — Former University of Tennessee football player Shy Tuttle has had a solid season as a rookie in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints.

The defensive lineman, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent, reached a career milestone on Thanksgiving night against the Atlanta Falcons in a 26-18 victory in a prime time showdown.

Tuttle picked off Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan in the third quarter. It was Tuttle’s first career interception and helped New Orleans avenge an earlier 26-9 loss to the Falcons in New Orleans on Nov. 10.

Tuttle also assisted on a tackle for the Saints, who host San Francisco on Dec. 8 in a key game for playoff seeding. The Saints are 10-2 in 2019.