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NFL Week 15 ATS Picks

Pittsburgh at New Orleans Preseason Week 3 Lines & Expert Pick

Written by on August 24, 2016

NFL News and Rumors
There has been one tie in NFL history for the passing yardage title in the NFL and that was between future Hall of Famers Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers and Drew Brees of the Saints, both who own at least one Super Bowl ring, in 2014. They square off Friday night in the third preseason game for both teams. The Saints are home favorites in NFL betting.

Pittsburgh at New Orleans Preseason Week 3 Lines, Expert Pick & TV Info

When: Friday, Aug. 26, 8 PM ET Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome TV: check local listings Stream: NFL.com Radio: Pittsburgh / New Orleans Opening NFL Lines: Saints -1.5 (45)

Pittsburgh vs New Orleans Historic Betting Trends

This features the second (New Orleans) and third-ranked (Pittsburgh) offenses in the NFL in 2015. The Steelers have an 8-3 lead in the preseason series, with this being the first exhibition between the two clubs since the 2007 Hall of Fame Game. The Saints last hosted the Steelers in the preseason in 1992. The clubs last played in the regular season in Week 13 of the 2014 season, a 35-32 Saints road win. Brees threw five touchdown passes. Kenny Stills, Ben Watson, Marques Colston, Erik Lorig and Nick Toon hauled in touchdowns as New Orleans romped. Roethlisberger passed for 435 yards and two touchdowns but also threw two interceptions for the Steelers. Le’Veon Bell caught eight passes for a career-high 159 yards and also added 95 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Why Bet Pittsburgh?

Their Steelers’ trio of offensive stars –Roethlisberger, Bell and Antonio Brown – have yet to play a single snap this preseason while most teams have played their starters for at least a few series up to this point. It does appear all three will see action here because they will then sit out the final preseason game. “I feel like I could go into the regular season and do it, but I’d like to be out there because it’s a different speed,” Roethlisberger said this week. “You want to get out there. I wouldn’t even mind getting hit once maybe after the ball’s gone – just a little tap from someone.” By game time, the Steelers could have added former Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis as he is talking with the team about a deal. Lewis has interest from up to six teams so far after being released by the Saints on Friday. The 30-year- old will have to show that he is close to returning from a hip injury that has plagued him for the last year. But when healthy, Lewis played as a bona fide No. 1 cornerback for the Saints from 2013-2014. The new isn&’t as good for outside linebacker Bud Dupree, the team’s 2015 first-round pick. Dupree has missed most of camp with the issue, and he suffered setbacks while attempting to come back too soon from his groin injury. You won’t thus see him in this game. This year’s first-rounder, cornerback Artie Burns, is dealing with a similar plight. He’s missed much of the preseason with a left quad injury and vows to remain patient.

Why Bet New Orleans?

The Saints are playing their first home preseason game of the year after losing Week 1 34-22 in New England and Week 2 16-9 in Houston. Against the Texans, New Orleans had a chance to send the game to overtime with an untimed down from the 12-yard line, but third-string quarterback Garrett Grayson threw an interception to cornerback Robert Nelson in the end zone. Brees was 5 for 8 for 29 yards and an interception. I expect the Saints to pull out the full playbook offensively because that unit has been terrible through two games. The first-team offense has no points in four possessions (13 snaps, one INT, one fumble, one sack). Brees’ passer rating is 48.6. The ground game has been nonexistent. If you remove five scrambles for 40 yards by reserve quarterbacks Luke McCown and Grayson, the Saints have generated 120 rushing yards on 51 carries, or 2.35 yards per carry. On the bright side, the NFL has been pretty good after finishing at or near the bottom of the league the past season in numerous statistical defensive categories, including points allowed (32nd), total defense (31st), total yards allowed (31st) and passing yards allowed (31st).

My Expert Pick

Go Saints at home on NFL lines and the under.
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