Action looks like it is going to be split heading into the Chargers at Saints week 5 betting matchup. New Orleans is 2-2 on the season, but playing at home on Monday Night Football where they’ve been so iconic in the past. Los Angeles is just 1-3, but all there losses have been within a TD on the year.
The Saints are -7 point favorites on Monday night, but they’ve been a tough team to gauge through the first month of the season. WR Michael Thomas remains out, which doesn’t help New Orleans, but Los Angeles comes in on a 3-game losing streak even though all those defeats have been a one-possession game.
Chargers In for Another Close Game?
Los Angeles started off the season on a great note, beating Cincinnati 16-13 as -2.5 favorites. It’s been a rocky slide since then though with a 20-23 OT loss to the Chiefs (+8.5), going down 16-21 at home against Carolina (-6), and falling 38-31 at Tampa Bay last week (+7.5).
Despite the three straight losses, there is hope for Anthony Lynn’s team coming into Chargers at Saints week 5 betting. Los Angeles had a 24-7 lead on the road last week at Tampa Bay before falling 31-38 and the Chiefs needed OT to beat the Chargers in week two.
Defense has held Los Angeles in the last two games, as they held Carolina to 81 yards rushing on 21 carries and just 221 yards passing from Teddy Bridgewater. The Chargers need to ramp up that side of the ball after last week though. Tom Brady was 30/46 for 369 yards and 5/1 and Ronald Jones added 20 carries for 111 yards vs. L.A. in week 4. That’s not good heading into a meeting with Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara.
Can Saints Find Consistency in Primetime?
New Orleans needs a win in Chargers at Saints betting to pull back even in the win column with Tampa Bay and Carolina in the South. Sean Payton’s team has their offense on track this season, posting 30+ points in 3 of 4 games so far in 2020. Because of that, the public likes the ‘over’ of 50 on Monday, but L.A. has been held to 20 points or less in three of their four games.
Brees was his usual great self last week, leading the Saints on five unanswered TD drives to upend the Lions 35-29 as -3 point road favorites. Brees threw for just 246 over Detroit, but the veteran has been extremely accurate going 19/25 last week and 29/36 with 3 TD the week before in a 37-30 home loss to the Packers the week before.
The Saints are 6th in the NFL in scoring this season but are still just 2-2 on the year. That’s a testament to defensive struggles as New Orleans is giving up 30.8 per game which is 28th in the league. The Saints did hold Matthew Stafford to 17/31 last week for 206 yards, but have a challenge against L.A. quarterback Justin Herbert on Monday. The rookie has thrown for 311, 330, and 290 yards the last three weeks with 5 TD and 3 INT.
Chargers at Saints Week 5 Betting Free Pick
The Chargers are a popular underdog pick on Monday not just for the cover, but the outright win. 54% of the betting public still likes the Saints at home though. New Orleans has shown the propensity to put up offensive numbers week in and week out, but the Chargers offense has stalled at times. After another high scoring slate in the NFL, go the contrarian way and look for a lower scoring game here.
Saints 27-Chargers 17
Free Pick: Under 50
