NFL opening line report for week 8

After watching the Saints put up just three points through three quarters before coming back to make the game a little more respectable, many Saints bettors have to be just about ready to throw in the towel. New Orleans couldn’t get anything going most of the day and ended up dropping a 30-17 decision as 12.5-point favorites.

This week they’re set as 1-point underdogs against the Pittsburgh Steelers after New Orleans opened -2.5 in Las Vegas.

“As the defending champs, they will always attract public action,” says Greg Sindall, an oddsmaker for Sportsinteraction.com. “It buys a team quite a bit more time before people give up on them compared to a normal team.”

Especially when the Saints are finally getting healthy. Reggie Bush is scheduled to start this week, which could give the offense a big lift if he’s 100 percent.

“I don’t think you can rule the Saints out yet,” Sindall adds. “Being without both Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas for an extended period has hurt the Saints significantly. The Saints’ offense has become one dimensional so they have been a much easier team to play against – even with Drew Brees at the helm. Bush is probable this Sunday and his return couldn’t come at a better time as they are hosting the Steelers.”

Veteran Las Vegas oddsmaker Chuck Esposito agrees. Esposito points out that while these definitely don’t look like last year’s Saints, they’re still only a game back in their division

“Things can change quickly in this league and they are still 4-3 in a very weak NFC through 7 weeks,” Esposito says. “The three teams that were supposed to challenge them are all below .500 except the Packers who also sit at 4-3. I think it's way too early to give them up for dead and I believe they can clearly bounce back.”

Biggest spread of the week: Jacksonville at Dallas (-11)

Esposito says this lined opened at Dallas -11 in Vegas, but expected it to move after the injury suffered to Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo against the New York Giants Monday night. Romo will be out for an extended period of time while he recovers from a broken left clavicle.

Most books have kept this game off the board. Dallas backup QB Jon Kitna seemed to settle in after a rough start in relief of Romo Monday, but the Cowboys aren’t the only team with health issues under center. Jacksonville pivot David Garrard has been recovering from a concussion but is optimistic about starting in Week 8.

Smallest spread of the week: Washington at Detroit (-1), Seattle at Oakland (-1), Pittsburgh at New Orleans (+1)

There are a lot of small lines on the board this week, but the one that is causing the books the most grief is the Steelers-Saints game. With Pittsburgh touted by many as the best team in the league at this point and the Saints’ public following, this is going to be a big one.

Outside of these 1-point lines, there are currently four other games hovering around the field-goal mark, so moneyline underdogs could weigh in heavily on the week’s handle.

Biggest total of the week: Houston at Indianapolis (-5, 49.5)

No big surprise here. Indy owns the league’s second-best total offense, producing 409 yards per game while Houston has the No. 4 total offense.

If you like the over here, you’d better get it now because Esposito figures this total is going up with a lot of public bets.

Smallest total of the week: Carolina at St. Louis (-3, 37)

This has more to do with Carolina’s terrible offense than anything else. The Panthers have played under in four of their six games this year and are 31st in total offense.

Trickiest line: Denver vs. San Francisco (pick ‘em, 41 1/2), Minnesota at New England (-5.5, 44)

Jay Kornegay, Executive Director of the Las Vegas Hilton sportsbook, is all over the Broncos-49ers game being played in London this week.

“From what I understand, each team, players, coaches, etc. all have to make plans for their family members for the trip over to London. It could be a distraction leading up to the games before the trip,” notes Kornegay. “Another thing about this game will be the total. This game is usually played in sloppy, rainy conditions. This could be the trickiest line since the Broncos looked so bad against the Raiders. Are they really that bad or was it an aberration?”

Meanwhile, Esposito is worrying about Brett Favre’s ankle and any discipline he may face from his sexting habits heading into this week’s game against the Pats. The line has already moved up from its opening number of -4 and Esposito says it will move a lot more if Favre is out.

Other early lines:

Tennessee at San Diego (-3.5, 44)
Tampa Bay at Arizona (-3, 39.5)
Green Bay at New York Jets (-6, 42.5)
Buffalo at Kansas City (-7.5, 44.5)