The New Orleans Saints take on the NFC East leading New York Giants in a Week 6 NFL football game. The contest will be played at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, August 18 with kickoff slated for 1 p.m. ET with television coverage provided by FOX. Despite their 1-4 record the Saints are a slight 1.5-point favorite on the NFL odds at Prime Sportsbook. The game total surfaced at 45.5 points.
NFL Games Today and Tonight
With four NFL teams having a bye in Week 6 the slate of football games on Sunday is limited to 12. Once again the day starts in London with Jacksonville and Houston hooking up. The Saints and Giants are one of seven games in the early Sunday window. Dallas and Green Bay are the teams who play football tonight.
Who Plays Football Tonight?
- The Sunday Night Football matchup features iconic franchises Dallas and Green Bay in a key NFC game.
- The week concludes on Monday night with the undefeated San Francisco 49ers hosting the Giants previous week opponent Washington.
Top NFL Matchups to Watch Today
- There are several big football games on the schedule, including six divisional matchups, but this game has playoff implications for both clubs.
- The Saints have only one win, but they compete in the NFC South which doesn’t have a team over .500. They are just one win behind division leader Carolina.
NFL Odds for Today’s Games
Early NFL odds at Prime have the Saints positioned as a slight 1.5-point favorite. The number shifted dramatically after the Giants opened -2.5. The Saints are 0-2 straight up and ATS when laying points on the closing NFL lines while the Giants have payouts in all three home games.
NFL Moneyline and Point Spread Odds
- The Giants are getting 1.5-points at a heavily juiced -117 on the NFL lines. They are unbeaten in their last three after a tie with Washington last week and the spread will likely move before kickoff.
- Despite the teams going in opposite directions, oddsmakers foresee a close battle with both teams at negative odds on the moneyline. The Saints are at -109 while Giants are priced at -104.
NFL Totals and Over/Under Lines
- The total surfaced at 45.5 points with the OVER juiced at -113. The UNDER is priced at -103.
- Both clubs are 3-2 against the OVER with New York’s offense trending up. They averaged 31.5 points in the last two games. The teams cashed the UNDER in their last three meetings.
NFL Matchup Previews
Following three straight home losses, ownership turned up the pressure on the Saints. The good news is that they are just a few wins away from taking first place in the NFC South. The running needs to be more of a factor since opposing defenses have keyed on Tyler Shough and the passing game.
Offense vs. Defense Matchups
- After a slow start when taking over for Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston has rallied the Giants offense and faces a struggling Saints stop group that has allowed the most touchdowns this season.
- The lack of a run game has made the Saints one-dimensional which isn’t good against the 7th-ranked pass defense that has the second-most INTs in the league.
Key Matchup Advantages
- Led by Abdul Carter the Giants rank 5th in the NFL in pass-rush win rate and have an edge in the trenches against the Saints O-line that ranks 26th in pass-block win rate.
- Valuing the football has been difficult for the Saints, who have the second-most giveaways in the NFL. The Giants boast a plus-1 turnover margin.
NFL Players to Watch Today
Production in the running game will help the Saints offense and QB Tyler Shough. While Shough has solid numbers, he’s been rattled by pressure due to the lack of a consistent ground attack. That puts Alvin Kamara in the cross hairs as one of the NFL players to watch.
Quarterbacks and Offensive Playmakers
- New York’s offense started slow under Jameis Winston but has picked up recently. Winston tossed three TD passes in each of the last two games and the Giants totaled 63 points.
- Look for the Saints to target Chris Olave more in the passing game. With season lows of four catches and 46 yards last week, the Saints had their lowest scoring game of the year.
Defensive Players Who Could Impact the Game
- Abdul Carter ranks 4th in the NFL in pass-rush win rate and could be a disruptor if the Saints continue to have difficulty running the football.
- New York’s Jevon Holland had an interception in three straight games and is tied for the NFL lead with three picks.
NFL Stats to Know Before Today’s Games
I don’t think the Saints want to throw the football as often as they do since the line has trouble in protection and Tyler Shough is prone to mistakes. However, the lack of a reliable run game has New Orleans throwing on 65.3 percent of their offensive plays.
Offensive and Defensive NFL Stats
- The Saints have turned the ball over 11 times, the second-highest total in the NFL, and boast the worst turnover margin at minus-6.
- New York ranks 24th in run defense allowing nearly 128 yards per game. Conversely, the Saints are near the bottom of the rankings averaging only 81.8 rushing yards per game.
- Getting off the field has been a problem for the Saints defense, which ranks 29th on third downs and allows more than 30 points a game.
Recent Team and Player Trends
- Jameis Winston had a sluggish start when inserted into the lineup, but the offense has made strides. Winston threw three TD passes in each of the last two games.
- The Saints have lost three games in a row and are 0-3 against the NFL betting line in those games.
NFL Lines and Betting Movement
Ahead of their Week 6 matchup with the Giants, New Orleans is a slight road favorite laying 1.5-points. Different sportsbooks identified distinct market perspectives that have caused notable movement on the NFL lines heading into the weekend.
Opening Lines vs. Current NFL Lines
- Look-ahead NFL lines initially pegged the Giants as a 1.5-point home favorite. However, early week public tracking caused the line to jump the fence with the Saints now the slight favorite.
- Buoyed by the Saints efficient passing game and a defense that surrenders more than 30 points a game, the total spiked a point to 45.5.
What Can Move NFL Odds Before Kickoff?
- Several factors can lead to NFL lines moving before kickoff. Key injuries are a big reason, but weather conditions for outdoor games and betting volume can also play a role.
NFL Predictions for Today’s Games
After being scolded by the owner earlier in the week, the Saints are poised to make a statement and respond in a positive way. However, expert predictions are split on the winner of this football game, mirroring the line movement and tight NFL odds point spread.
Predictions for Today’s Top NFL Games
- Desperate teams tend to pull out all the stops, and the Saints are desperate at 1-4 with pressure from ownership. The Saints will jumpstart their run game against the 24th ranked run defense opening up the field for Tyler Shough to find Chris Olave.
Potential Upsets to Watch
- With such tight NFL odds it wouldn’t be considered an upset if the Giants win. Jameis Winston has been consistent and the Giants are 3-0 ATS at home making them an attractive home underdog.
NFL Betting Angles for Today
From a pure NFL stats perspective the wrong team is favored in this game. Unbeaten in three straight and at home, the Giants are getting some pushback in the markets.
Spread and Moneyline Betting Angles
- Public backing is likely inflating the line in favor of the Saints. They were a missed 2-point PAT and questionable call away from being 3-0. But they’ve regressed recently with the lack of a running game hobbling the offense. Most of the data points to an outright Giants win.
Player Prop Betting Angles
- Malik Nabers was targeted 20 times last week and is the focal point of the Giants offense. His high target numbers make the OVER on his receptions and receiving yards attractive.
Final NFL Games Today Outlook
The Saints are desperate for a win yet they remain in the thick of the NFC South race since no team has a winning record. And the Saints need to discover a running game to complement Tyler Shough and keep the defense off the field. Their points allowed NFL stat is inflated due to the high number of turnovers and correcting those issues will help New Orleans get a crucial win and cover on the NFL odds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Plays Football Tonight in the NFL?
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A key NFC matchup takes place in the early Sunday window at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 18 when the East Division leading New York Giants host the New Orleans Saints. Another NFC duel between Dallas and Green Bay closes the schedule on Sunday Night Football.
Where Can I Find NFL Odds for Today’s Games?
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Major online sportsbooks like Prime Sportsbook have complete NFL betting lines for every game, including the Saints at Giants. At the time of this writing the Saints were positioned as a slight 1.5-point road favorite.
What NFL Stats Are Most Important Before Betting?
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One of the biggest NFL stats to key on for this game is the minus-6 NFL worst turnover margin for the Saints. Tyler Shough has made mistakes when pressured and the Giants have the second most interceptions in the NFL.
Why Do NFL Lines Change Before a Game?
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Several factors can force movement in NFL betting lines, including injuries and roster updates, weather conditions and betting volume.
Which NFL Players Should I Watch in Today’s Games?
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Pay attention to the connection between Jameis Winston and Malik Nabers. In last week’s game Nabers was targeted 20 times with 11 receptions going over 100 receiving yards for the second straight game.
