Saints vs Raiders pick against the spread and predictions

After dismantling the Buccaneers in week one, the suddenly injury riddles Saints head to Las Vegas to battle the Raiders. When you make your week 2 picks against the spread, it has to include this prime-time game. Although the Raiders will not have a strong fan base, it will be great to see this massive stadium unveiled under the Monday night lights.

Missing Mike

The Saints will be without the services of All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas who is missing the game due to a high ankle sprain. The Saints need him as 40 percent of the passing yardage goes through Thomas. The Saints are doing the right thing by making Mike sit, but this will be a big problem for this team on Monday Night. Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara are offensive weapons, but if the Saints cannot stretch the field with deep threats or receivers that need to be double-teamed, it will allow the Raiders defense to cheat and mix coverages.

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NFL odds observations

The absence of Michael Thomas is not hurting the Saints at the betting window. The Saints opened at -4.5 and the number is moving up as they are now -5.5 at many of the top-rated sports betting sites. Over 68 percent of the wagers are on New Orleans to win and cover under the Monday night spotlight.

Overlooked Raiders

The Raiders defeated the Panthers a week ago, but since many believed they should beat Carolina, it is overlooked as a victory. The offense was balanced in that game (30 1 runs/31 passes) and Josh Jacobs proves that he can carry this team on offense. The Saints thrive off turnovers and the Raiders are very good at protecting the ball.

Looking at the letdown

The Saints beat the Buccaneers and they waited for that game all offseason to get a shot at Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. This is a big win for many reasons. They silence the critics and they beat a team in the division. This may not be a sign they could stumble in the second week, where they historically struggle with a 1-7 record against the spread (ATS). They have also failed to pay backers under the Monday night lights in five of the last seven games.