Last Updated Oct 08, 2021, 11:00 AM
New Orleans Saints vs. Washington Football Team Predictions, Odds, Picks
The New Orleans Saints (2-2) travel to the nation’s capital to battle the Washington Football Team (2-2) Sunday at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised on CBS.
Score Prediction: Saints 26, WFT 21
Best Bet: Saints ML
Best Bet: Over 44.5
New Orleans Saints vs. Washington Football Team Predictions
The Jekyll and Hyde Saints followed up a road victory against the New England Patriots with an overtime home loss against the previously winless New York Giants last weekend. The Washington Football Team topped the Giants in a Thursday game earlier in mid-September, but they failed to cover. Washington is coming off an impressive 34-30 comeback victory on the road against the Atlanta Falcons last time out.
WFT head coach Ron Rivera knows the Saints all too well from his days at the helm with the Carolina Panthers, but he’ll be glad that he isn’t seeing QB Drew Brees on the other sidelines. Washington’s 34 points last week against the Falcons was a season high.
New Orleans Saints vs. Washington Football Team Betting Odds
New Orleans Saints vs. Washington Football Team Betting Resources
- Matchup: NFC South vs. NFC East
- Date: Sunday, October 10, 2021
- Venue: FedExField
- Location: Landover, Maryland
- TV-Time: CBS - 1:00 p.m. ET
New Orleans Saints Betting Analysis
Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)
- SU: 2-2
- ATS: 2-2
- O/U: 1-3
- ATS - Home: 1-1
- ATS - Away: 1-1
The Saints have been a very, very difficult team to figure out on a weekly basis. They opened the season in Jacksonville against the Green Bay Packers, burying them 38-3 to easily cover as four-point underdogs. They followed that up with an egg-laying in Carolina, falling 26-7. They then rebounded with a 28-13 win in New England, before laying another egg at home against the G-Men. You just never know which Saints side is going to show up.
The inconsistency of the offense is one thing, as they have averaged 33.0 PPG in two wins, and just 14.0 PPG in two losses. But it’s a team effort, too, and the defense has allowed 8.0 PPG in two victories, and 26.5 PPG in two setbacks. It isn’t just QB Jameis Winston showing inconsistency, it’s everybody. Winston actually threw for a season-high 226 yards last week against the Giants.
The Saints head into the weekend with a 7-2 ATS mark across the past nine as a favorite, while going 16-7 ATS in the previous 23 as a road fave. They’re also 8-3 ATS in the previous 11 games overall.
Washington Football Team Betting Analysis
Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)
- SU: 2-2
- ATS: 1-3
- O/U: 3-1
- ATS - Home: 0-2
- ATS - Away: 1-1
Washington heads into this one looking to go 2-for-2 against the NFC South. RB J.D. McKissic took a swing pass and lunged for the right pylon last week inside the final minute, credited with the game-winning touchdown after the Falcons came up short on a Hail Mary attempt.
Like New Orleans, Washington has been a bit up and down. They lost in Week 1 at home against the Los Angeles Chargers, they bounced back with a one-point win on a short week against the Giants, they were dusted 43-21 in Buffalo in Week 3, then they pulled off the win in Atlanta.
Last week’s win was also Washington’s first cover, while they cashed the OVER for the third consecutive weekend. The good news is that QB Taylor Heinicke has been a godsend for the WFT, tossing three more touchdowns last week. Since QB Ryan Fitzpatrick went down with a serious hip injury in Week 1, Heinicke has taken the reins and led the team to 28.3 PPG across the past three starts.
Washington has posted a 5-2 ATS mark in the past seven as an underdog, and they’re also 5-2 ATS in the past seven as a home ‘dog. They have followed up victories with covers lately, too, going 5-1 ATS in the past six following a straight-up win.
Inside the Stats - New Orleans Saints
- Record: 2-2
- Division Standing: 3rd - NFC South
- Points Scored: 94
- Points Allowed: 69
- PS/G: 23.5 (17th)
- PA/G: 17.3 (5th)
Inside the Stats - Washington Football Team
- Record: 2-2
- Division Standing: 2nd - NFC East
- Points Scored: 101
- Points Allowed: 122
- PS/G: 25.3 (10th)
- PA/G: 30.5 (30th)
Key Players to Watch
- NOR: Jameis Winston - QB (55/86, 613 yards, 8 TD, 2 INT)
- NOR: Alvin Kamara - RB (78 carries, 297 yards, 2 total TD)
- WFT: Antonio Gibson - RB (59 carries, 253 yards, TD)
- WFT: Terry McLaurin - WR (25 catches, 354 yards, 3 TD)
New Orleans Saints vs. Washington Football Team Betting Conclusion
These are two teams which have been quite inconsistent, so don’t wager too much whichever way you’re feeling. I like the New Orleans pass attack to perhaps have its best day of the season, as Washington has allowed 299.0 passing yards per game, ranking 29th in the NFL. They’re also allowing 30.5 PPG, so the Saints should be able to move the ball well.
The problem with backing the Saints, they just haven’t shown a penchant for throwing the ball much. The training wheels have been kept on, and Winston has been treated with kid gloves. Instead, the Saints want to pound the ball, using Alvin Kamara. He is a great back, but the team lost some depth when Tony Jones Jr. went down with a serious leg injury, and he is out indefinitely.
It’s been strange, and a bit circumstantial, but it’s an odd-numbered week, and that’s when the Saints have performed at their best. Look for the strange trend to continue in D.C.
New Orleans Saints vs. Washington Football Team Betting Trends
- Washington has lost four of its last five home games.
- New Orleans has covered the spread in eight of its last 10 games after losing the game prior.
- Washington has gone OVER the point total in six straight games when facing New Orleans.
