NFL Betting: Vikings vs Saints - Week 1 Picks

The New Orleans Saints will open their Super Bowl title defense tonight as favorites in NFL betting odds against the team that literally gave them the NFC Championship last year with 5 turnovers that destroyed 475 yards of total offense. The Minnesota Vikings have seethed all off-season at their own ineptitude and mistakes that cost them a trip to the Super Bowl as they believe they were the better team than the Saints. They will get the chance to prove it tonight on NBC with an 8:35pm EST kick-off. Online sportsbook NFL week 1 picks for the Vikings vs Saints season opener line favors New Orleans -6 at home with an over/under total of 49.5. The point-spread money line the Saints -240 while the Vikings are +200 underdogs.

The Saints gave what would be the equivalent of a strong poker “tell” in the game last year that the Vikings, QB Brett Favre and NFL odds handicappers can expect to see throughout the 2010 season as they brought considerable pressure by blitzing and also with some physical contact that the Vikings believe went far beyond love taps. While Viking coach Brad Childress said the Saints went over the line in their abuse of the 40-year old Favre although the quarterback himself didn’t press charges. While Childress said they Saints deliberately tried to hurt Favre the old gunslinger simply said “it’s football.” Regardless, the high pressure defense will be back tonight and the rest of the NFL is likely to copy it this year.

The Saints will also have to address the Super Bowl hangover issue and have repeatedly stated that they are ready to roll and looking forward. “I keep hearing you guys talking about this Super Bowl hangover,” said defensive coordinator Gregg Williams this. “And it’s starting to chap me a little bit. I’ve seen nothing that would indicate that we can’t make another run at this.” Heading into NFL week 1 picks for the Vikings vs Saints opener on NBC, the Vikings are a 6/1 choice to win the NFC and 12/1 longshot to win the Super Bowl. Their over/under regular season win total is 9.5 UNDER (-140). The Saints are a 5/1 favorite to win the NFC and a 10/1 favorite to win the Super Bowl with a regular season over/under win total at 10.5 OVER (-125).