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posted October 6, 2007 at 18:13 in NFL Free Picks

The New Orleans Saints have been a major disappointment to NFL bettors - that is, unless you were betting against them. New Orleans will look for its first win of the season - and its backers will look for their first covering effort - when they host the Carolina Panthers on the FieldTurf at the Superdome on Sunday in a game scheduled for 1 PM (Eastern time). In the NFL betting odds at BetUS, the Saints are listed at -3 (laying -120), with the over/under figure posted at 44.5.

New Orleans carries an SU (straight-up) record of 0-3 into the game, and has also dropped all three games ATS (against the spread). Last week the Saints had a bye, which perhaps gave them time to regroup after being decimated by a 31-14 count as a 4.5-point home favorite against Tennessee two Mondays ago. In that game New Orleans gained just 34 yards on the ground.

Carolina has been a disappointment to its fans and betting backers as well. The Panthers are 2-2, both SU and ATS, but more was expected out of this bunch. Last week Carolina was a three-point favorite, but dropped a 20-7 decision to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD football betting trends.......

* Carolina has won seven of the last nine meetings SU

* Carolina has covered on its last six trips to New Orleans, winning five of those games outright

* Four of the last six meetings in New Orleans have gone over the total

New Orleans has been a big loser in the stat department. Drew Brees, last year's hero, has thrown just one TD pass and seven interceptions. the only regular starter he is rated ahead of in the NFL is the since-benched Rex Grossman of Chicago. The Saints are averaging just 12.7 points a game, while giving up 34.3. They have gained just under 80 yards a game on the ground, and now have to play without the injured Deuce McAllister. The defense has allowed 239 passing yards a game and ten yards an attempt, with just one interception and no sacks. New Orleans has gained 23.4 yards per point, and surrendered just 10.3 yards per point - both very poor figures. Also...

* New Orleans has failed to cover its last five games

* New Orleans is 1-6 ATS in its last seven at home

* New Orleans has gone under the total in four of its last six at home

* New Orleans is 1-9 ATS at home following a double-digit loss

* New Orleans, under coach Sean Payton, is 1-6 ATS as a home favorite

* Within its division, New Orleans is 1-13 ATS as a home favorite coming off a SU & ATS loss

* New Orleans is 7-1 ATS with a week of rest coming off a straight-up loss

* In the month of October, New Orleans is 0-8 ATS as a home favorite against an opponent coming off a SU & ATS loss

Carolina relies on the running game, and may have to do so even more now that Jake Delhomme is wrestling with an elbow injury. Delhomme may have to sit out Sunday's game, leaving former Houston QB David Carr to start again this week. Carr was 19 of 41 for just 155 yards against Tampa Bay. The Panthers have rushed for 131.5 yards a game, which is more than 50 yards a game more than the Saints. On the season, Carolina has scored 20.5 points per game and given up 21.8 ppg.

* Carolina is 4-2 ATS in its last six games

* Carolina has covered four of its last five on the road

* Carolina is on an 18-4-1 ATS run as a road dog

* Carolina has gone over the total in six of its last nine games

* In the month of October, Carolina is 9-0 ATS as a dog against an opponent off a SU & ATS loss

The technical edges would seem to sharply favor the Panthers, the three-point underdog on the betting line at BetUS.com. Of course, David Carr will have to produce a little more for Carolina to come away with the win.

The 2007 NFL betting season is here in full force! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. The BetUS sportsbook has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well. Join BetUS today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLII and beyond!

(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com is a member of the NFL too – which means "not for long" if you don't get results. He is now a regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room)