New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings Week 1 NFL Picks & Predictions 9/11/2017

Monday, September 11, 2017

U.S. Bank Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Minnesota Vikings host the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday, September 11, 2017. The opening line for this game has Minnesota as 3.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 48.5. The Vikings had an over/under record of 7-9-0 and they were 9-7-0 against the spread last year. The Saints had an ATS record of 10-5-1 while their over/under record was 9-7-0.

Valuable New Orleans Saints Betting Trends

The New Orleans Saints were 9-7-0 against the over/under last season

The New Orleans Saints were 10-5-1 against the spread last year

Important Minnesota Vikings Betting Trends

The Minnesota Vikings were 7-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Minnesota Vikings were 9-7-0 against the spread last year

Key New Orleans Saints Injuries

08/28/17 DT Nick Fairley Heart out indefinitely
08/16/17 CB Delvin Breaux Fibula expected to miss 4-6 weeks
07/30/17 LB Dannell Ellerbe Foot out for season
07/30/17 T Terron Armstead Shoulder PUP

Key Minnesota Vikings Injuries

08/28/17 WR Michael Floyd Suspension 4-game suspension (eligible to return 10/9 vs. Chicago)
08/28/17 DT Sharrif Floyd Knee doubtful Monday vs. New Orleans
07/30/17 QB Teddy Bridgewater Knee PUP

Useful Offensive Statistics

The New Orleans Saints ran for 1,742 yards as a team last year, which ranked 16th in the NFL. They ran 404 times, averaging 4.3 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Saints were penalized on offense 107 times for 969 yards last season, which had them 17th in the league in penalties. They were 2nd in the NFL in points scored with 469. They ran 1,105 plays last season for 6,816 yards, which ranked them 1st in the league in total offense. The Saints averaged 6.2 yards per play, which was 3rd in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 395 1st downs last year, placing them 1st overall as an offensive unit. Drew Brees averaged 7.7 yards per pass attempt and 11.1 yards per completion last season. He completed 471 passes on 673 attempts for a completion percentage of 70.0%. His QBR last year was 72.0 while is quarterback rating was 101.7. He threw for 5,208 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Saints rush defense allowed 396 attempts for 1,626 yards last year, putting them in 14th place in the league against the run. New Orleans committed 104 penalties for 881 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 9th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 45.3% of possessions on defense, which was 32nd in the league. They were 31st in the league in points allowed on defense with 454. They surrendered a total of 6,006 yards on D, which was 27th in the NFL. The Saints were ranked 31st in yards per play allowed with 6. Their pass defense gave up 7.2 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 31st in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 378 passes on 582 attempts against the New Orleans Saints defense last season, placing them 24th and 20th in the National Football League. The New Orleans pass defense also gave up a total of 4,380 yards through the air, which was 32nd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The New Orleans Saints attempted 34 field goals last season and made 28, which was 13th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 82.4%. New Orleans Saints kickers made 98% of their extra points, going 49 for 50 last year. Their punters totaled 2,752 yards on 57 punts, averaging 23 yards per punt. That placed them 4th in the NFL in punting average. New Orleans was ranked 27th in the league in punt returns last season with 23. They accumulated 221 punt return yards and averaged 9.6 yards per return, which was 9th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 59 yards. They returned 28 kicks for 462 yards on special teams, ranking 31st in kick return yardage. The Saints averaged 16.5 yards per kick return and had a long of 31 yards last year. They were 1st in the league in all-purpose yards with 7,683.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Minnesota Vikings were 23rd in the National Football League in points scored with 327 last year. They ran 1,006 plays for 5,041 yards, which ranked them 28th in the NFL in total offense. The Vikings averaged 5 yards per play, which was 29th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 303 1st downs last season, ranking them 25th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Minnesota ran for 1,205 yards as a unit, which ranked 32nd in the league. They ran 380 times, averaging 3.2 yards per rush as a unit. The Vikings were penalized on offense 103 times for 882 yards last year, which had them 22nd in the NFL in penalties. Sam Bradford passed for 3,877 yards last year. He completed 395 throws while attempting 552 passes for a completion percentage of 71.6%. His quarterback rating last season was 99.3 and his QBR was 59.0. He averaged 9.8 yards per completion and 7.0 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Minnesota was 6th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 307. They gave up a total of 5,038 yards on D, which was 3rd in the league. The Vikings were 7th in yards per play allowed with 5.1. Their pass defense allowed 5.6 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 2nd in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 332 throws on 548 attempts against the Minnesota defense last season, ranking them 7th and 10th in the league. The Minnesota Vikings pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,327 yards in the air, which was 3rd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 404 attempts for 1,711 yards last season, putting them in 20th place in the NFL against the run. The Vikings had 99 penalties for 825 yards on defense last year. That placed them 5th in the league. They allowed a score on 33.3% of possessions on defense, which was 10th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Minnesota was 12th in the NFL in punt returns with 34 last year. They totaled 354 punt return yards and averaged 10.4 yards per return, which was 8th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 79 yards. They returned 33 kicks for 902 yards on special teams, placing them 6th in kick return yardage. The Vikings averaged 27.3 yards per kick return and had a long of 104 yards last season. They were 24th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,580. The Minnesota Vikings tried 31 field goals last season and made 27, which was 19th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 87.1%. Minnesota kickers made 79% of their extra points, going 26 for 33 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,155 yards on 74 punts, averaging 34 yards per punt. That ranked them 30th in the NFL in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Saints/Vikings NFL game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Saints +3.5

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