San Diego Chargers v. New Orleans Saints NFL Week 8 Picks & Odds

Their were high expectation surrounding both the Chargers and the Saints heading into this season with both teams favored to win their respective divisions, but thus far, both teams are playing sub-.500 football at 3-4 heading into this contest. One team will take a step toward turning things around with a win this week while the other digs themselves an even bigger hole. Odds makers feel it will be San Diego prevailing and have listed the Chargers as 3-point favorites with the total set at 45.

The Saints appear to be the team that will have the tougher time getting things turned around as they have given up a home date to play in this Sunday’s matchup in London, England and they are going to have to do some without star running back Reggie Bush.

New Orleans was able to catch fire in the second half of last season but it turned out to be too little too late for them. The Saints are yet to find any rhythm in 2008 and were blown out 30-7 by Carolina last week while Bush sustained cartilage damage in his knee.

Bush has been an integral part of the offense thus far with 650 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. He went in for surgery on his knee instead of making the trip to London. That leaves Aaron Stecker or Pierre Thomas to get some carries alongside Deuce McAllister.

The favorites to win the NFC South currently sit in last and have not won outside the Superdome this season.

The Saints were held to a season-low in points last week and Drew Brees was a mediocre 21 of 39 for 231 yards and no touchdowns. Brees was drafted by the Chargers in 2001 and led them to an AFC West title in 2004 before signing as a free agent with the Saints prior to the 2006 season. Since then, Brees has thrown for a NFL-high 11,065 yards and is fourth during that stretch with 66 touchdowns. Brees is also currently tops in the league with 2,224 passing yards this season and wants nothing more than to bury his former team this week. If you think Brees can lead New Orleans to a big win this week over his former team, bet the Saints at +3 at BetUS and receive up to a 50% signup bonus.

After Brees departed, Philip Rivers became the next in line in San Diego and so far it has worked out nicely with Rivers leading the Bolts to the AFC title game a season ago. But things have not all come out smelling like roses this season.

Rivers fumbled twice and threw an interception in last week’s 23-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Rivers does lead the NFL with 16 touchdown strikes.

The Chargers are waiting impatiently for former league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson to get healthy. He has been running with a little bit more caution this season while nursing a toe injury.

L.T. looked like he might come out of it after rushing for 106 yards and two scores in a 38-18 win over the Raiders back on September 28th, but he has only managed a total of 150 yards a no touchdowns in three games since.

This matchup marks the NFL’s second ever regular season game in London. Last season the New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins overseas. The Giants, like San Diego this season, started the 2007 season 0-2 before going on to win the Super Bowl. Hopefully Europe will have the same effect on the Chargers.

I’m not sure the Chargers are a Super Bowl team this season with all of the injuries, but with as badly as the Saints have been on the road, I like San Diego’s chances this week. We’ll bet the Chargers -3 at BetUS to win this game.

Beating the NFL odds is a cinch with Jimmy Boyd’s NFL expert picks. Leave your NFL betting up to Jimmy and rest easy knowing you’re playing with a world champ!

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