New Orleans at Denver

While their defense is suspect, Denver's offense looks like they can't be stopped. They've hung 80 on their first two opponents and Jay Cutler looks very comfortable. New Orleans' offense is beginning to look like the one from '06. So now we have an early season total in the 50+ range. Must go OVER, right? Not so fast. These games seldom live up the billing and the oddsmakers know that. But the public demands a high total and the oddsmakers accomodate them. I won't make the Saints defense out to be special, but in fairness they were without their top three defensive backs last week, giving up 24 to the Skins. The reality is, this early in the season, very few games deserve to have totals set this high. Last year we saw three high totals in the first three weeks, and they all went UNDER. This year we saw the high total on Dallas and Cleveland go UNDER. Why does this happen? When two teams off big scoring games clash, the bulk of the gameplan consists of keeping the other team off the field through more of a ball control offense. With the totals are forced high by public demand, but these games often fail to live up to their billing. I'll grab the UNDER here.