2013 Record: 11-5

2014 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 9.5

2014 Season Win Total Pick: 'Under'

It was easy to predict a bounce back 2013 for the Saints after they endured a tumultuous, scandalized 2012 season. Sean Payton proved again how vital coaching is in the NFL and the Saints easily made the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.

As crucial as Payton's return to the sideline was for New Orleans the addition of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was just as impactful. The Saints defense rebounded from one of the worst seasons in NFL history to become a Top 5 group. It was a brilliant transformation. But Ryan's history suggests that he is actually pretty bad at his job and that his team will have a steep drop-off this season. And the course of the 2014 Saints season will be directly related to how well the stop unit performs.

The Saints have averaged 12 wins per season the last four seasons that Payton and Drew Brees have been teamed up together. They have beaten their season win total in each of those four years and I would be hard-pressed to think that they won't reach double-digit wins again this year.

New Orleans opens with one of the easier schedules in the league. Yes, they play four of their first six games on the road. But all six games are against teams that missed the playoffs last year and they have a Week 6 bye before a trip to Detroit. The toughest test in the opening stanza is the season opener at rival Atlanta. But New Orleans is 13-3 straight up in that series lately and if the Saints win that one they have a great chance to start 6-0 or 5-1.

The most difficult nondivisional opponents on the Saints schedule - Green Bay, San Francisco and Baltimore - all have to come to the Superdome. New Orleans also has just two potential cold weather games late in the season: at Pittsburgh on Nov. 30 and at Chicago on Dec. 15.

The Saints are the top team in their division and one of the best teams in the loaded NFC. Barring an injury to Brees or another Payton suspension I can't think of any reason why New Orleans won't reach 10 wins again. This one is an easy call: take the Saints 'over'.

Saints Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 7, at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 14, at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 21, Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 28, at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 5, Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Week 6: BYE

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 19, at Detroit, 1 p.m.

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 26, Green Bay, 8:30 p.m.

Week 9: Thursday, Oct. 30, at Carolina, 8:25 p.m.

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 9, San Francisco, 1 p.m.

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 16, Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Week 12: Monday, Nov. 24, Baltimore, 8:30 p.m.

Week 13: Sunday, Nov. 30, at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 7, Carolina, 1 p.m.

Week 15: Monday, Dec. 15, at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 21, Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 28, at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Robert will be releasing his 2014 NFL Futures Picks on Thursday, Aug. 14. Last year's top two picks (8-Unit Play on Arizona 'over' 5.5 wins and 6-Unit Play on Kansas City over 7.0 wins) both won easily and he has hit his top NFL Futures Play (rated 7.0 or higher) in four straight seasons. For more information visit his Insider's Page HERE.

Robert Ferringo is one of the best NFL handicappers in the world and is coming off one of the best football betting seasons in the 43-year history of Doc's Sports. Robert banked nearly $8,000 in profit for his football clients and won a stunning 62.1 percent of his NFL plays (95-58). Robert has won over 70 percent of his last 58 NFL side plays (41-17) and has posted six of seven winning NFL seasons. He has banked $17,400 in football profit, college and pro, over the last 20 months and he is excited about building on his staggering resume. Take advantage of our free, no-strings-attached $60 credit to use toward a purchase of Robert's football selections. You cannot afford to miss out on this great offer - click here.

Read more articles by Robert Ferringo