Monday Night Football Betting Picks: New Orleans Saints vs. Las Vegas Raiders
After a gigantic DFS performance from Josh Jacobs propelled the Raiders to their first victory, the team looks to open a freshly-painted Allegiant Stadium in similar fashion. The New Orleans Saints will take a trip to Sin City as favorites despite missing their superstar wide receiver. Will the Saints spoil opening night? Will the Raiders open up Allegiant Stadium with a statement win? Here are a sports betting preview and Monday Night Football betting picks for the Saints at the Raiders.
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Saints vs. Raiders NFL Betting Odds
Spread: Saints -5.5
55% of bets backing New Orleans, per ScoresandOdds.com.
Over/Under: 48.5
60% of bets on the over.
Saints vs. Raiders MNF Betting Preview
Update: Raiders WR Henry Ruggs is expected to play Monday night.
The New Orleans Saints opened the 2020 season with a convincing victory against the Buccaneers at home. Unfortunately, in the waning moments of the contest, Michael Thomas injured his ankle and will miss the Monday night affair. The Saints are not short of weapons, though, so expect a healthy dose of opportunities for Alvin Kamara, Jared Cook, and Emmanuel Sanders. The Saints led the NFL in completion percentage in 2019 at 72.36% and could struggle to match that efficiency without Thomas in the lineup.
The home team will miss tackle Trent Brown with a calf injury and could potentially bet without rookie wideout, Henry Ruggs. Ruggs did practice during Saturday’s walkthrough but his official status has not been announced. The rookie saw 5 targets in his debut — converting 3 for 55 yards. In Week 1, however, Josh Jacobs was the star of the show. Jacobs toted the ball 25 times for a slightly inefficient 93 yards while converting 4 of his 6 targets for catches. This type of usage vaults Jacobs into the top tier for fantasy running backs and places Jacobs squarely in play as a showdown option.
Clearly, the Saints are a better football team than the Raiders — probably even without Michael Thomas. Most known for an explosive offense, the Saints were not complete slouches on defense in 2019. Ranked eleventh in both opposing rushing yards per attempt (4.1) and passing yards per attempt (6.5), the Saints will keep the Raiders offense under wraps. Yet, the Saints might struggle to pressure Derek Carr, who finished 2019 with a 5.25 sack% and was not sacked in Week 1 against the Panthers.
An element of narrative will play a role in tonight’s game as the Raiders will be opening the new Allegiant Stadium for Monday Night Football. A prime time opportunity for the Raiders to score a big win could keep Las Vegas within striking distance all game. The Saints are not unfamiliar with big narratives playing out on Monday Night Football — Derek Carr and company should be pretty fired up to open the stadium with a victory.
Monday Night Football Betting Picks
Despite knowing that the Raiders are inferior to the Saints in nearly every facet of football, the narrative element of tonight’s matchup could keep the game close enough late heroics. Jon Gruden is committed to the running game — efficient or not — and will happily limit the Saints to fewer possessions to overwhelm and average-at-best defense. The loss of Michael Thomas might slow the rhythm of the Saints offense long enough to keep the Raiders within the 5.5 number. My lean is to take the points in a new home. Give me the Raiders and the points in the opening of Allegiant Stadium.
MNF Betting Pick: Las Vegas Raiders +5.5 (PointsBet)
Editor’s note: PointsBet Sportsbook just launched their online sportsbook in Illinois. Sign up at PointsBet to get these odds and $1000 in free bets!
Saints vs. Raiders Player Props
DraftKings Sportsbook offers a promotion for primetime NFL games that allows bettors to place a bet on the first touchdown risk-free if that player scores a touchdown at some point in the game. In other words, if your player does not score the first touchdown but scores a touchdown during the game, you will receive a free bet up to $20.
Alvin Kamara +550 (DraftKings)
Darren Waller +1200 (DraftKings)
Taysom Hill +2000 (DraftKings)
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Here are my picks for one of the “More or Less” games at Monkey Knife Fight for tonight’s matchup.
Drew Brees Less than 268.5 Passing Yards
Darren Waller More than 4.5 Receptions
Josh Jacobs More than 66.5 Rushing Yards
Jared Cook More than 55.5 Receiving Yards
Image Credit: USA Today Sports Images