Sport: NFLPick Selection: Pittsburgh Steelers -2.5 -110
New Orleans Saints vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 8:00 PM ET
Pittsburgh Steelers -2.5 -110
There are some things different the Steelers are doing on the practice field under new head coach Mike Tomlin. That's to be expected as he's a new coach trying to make a bold first impression. The Steelers have a new offensive coordinator who's trying to make a bold first impression. The Steelers have no less than six new assistant coaches trying to make names for themselves as well. There is word in camp that the defense is hitting hard and that the defense is ready to crush.
Najeh Davenport and Kevan Barlow are certainly proven running backs and the absence of Willie Parker will not be felt especially considering he would have gotten a limited number of touches anyway. This is a big edge for the Steelers. Also is the fact that backup quarterbacks Charlie Batch, Brian St. Pierre and Byron Randal have a combined 16 years of experience. The Saints only have two quarterbacks after Drew Brees and one of those, Jason Fife, has just one year of experience.
The Saints are coming off a great 2006 season and with most everyone back and intact, there is not a whole to improve upon, especially from the starters who will see very limited action. There are a lot of spot open on this roster for backup spots and that is what New Orleans is more concerned about at this point. The Saints won their first preseason game under Sean Payton last season and then lost the final three by a combined 67-30 score. It shows that winning these games is not a priority.
One of the best preseason systems in the NFL is featured right out of the gate in this one. First year head coaches are more concerned than veteran coaches when it comes to winning and losing in the exhibition season. This especially holds true in the first ever preseason game where they want to hit the ground running and bring in a winning attitude right away. Add to the fact that Canton is only a 90 minute drive from Pittsburgh so expect to see plenty of the black and gold in the stands Sunday night.
There is also a solid system based on teams making it to the playoffs opposed to teams that don?t. When those two scenarios matchup, it makes for a strong situation. Play against underdogs in its opening preseason game that won a playoff game the previous year going up against a team that is also playing in its opening preseason game and failed to make the playoffs from the previous year. This situation is 21-6 ATS (77.8 percent) since 1990 with the average point differential being +7.7 ppg. Play Pittsburgh Steelers 2.5 Units
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