The Pi Brew
This season, the Philly Influencer staff and contributors will be giving you their predictions and best bets!
The Eagles return home this weekend to do battle with the Saints. The Eagles are coming off a big win in Denver. Can they keep the ball rolling this week?
Here are the staff’s predictions and best bets:
Bruce Vail (@BruceJVail):
Lately I’ve been proven wrong and I’m happy to admit that. The Eagles return home where they haven’t won a game all season which is very uncharacteristic. The Saints are returning to the Linc where they lost last year in a game where Jalen Hurts got his first start as an Eagle. Is this a revenge game for the Saints? Definitely. Plus, the Saints have a returning Alvin Kamara which should boost the New Orleans offense. Our Eagles on the other hand should have Miles Sanders back in the lineup but honestly I don’t think either player returning has a huge impact on this game. I personally love the under as my best bet. New Orleans defense is legit and I can see both offenses struggling to score a bit as I have no faith in Trevor Simeon. I’ll say the Eagles escape this one with a W and get their first victory of the year at home.
Prediction: Eagles 17 – Saints 13
Best Bet: Under 43
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Chris Euksuzian(@ChrisEbomb):
The Eagles are flying high after their victory on the road against the Denver Broncos. Now they come back home and get their hardest test for the 2nd half of the season against the New Orleans Saints. The Eagles have relied on their run game and that will be a big problem this week. The Saints have the best rush defense in the league, which will mean that the game will be on Jalen Hurts throwing the ball. This could be troublesome for a new coaching staff relying on the running game. The Saints also remember last year losing to Jalen Hurts and they even found a way to slow him down in that second half. Alvin Kamara could also be coming back for this game as well. The Saints have been a great team to bet as a dog in the past. The Saints are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win and are 10-0 off an ATS win vs an opponent of a double digit straight up win (Eagles won last week 30-13). As for the Eagles they are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite and 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS win. The Eagles have one of the easiest schedules to end the season, but hit this road in the bump this week. I will take the Saints to not only cover, but win the game OUTRIGHT!
Prediction: Saints 24 – Eagles 17
Best Bet: Eagles under 22.5 total points (-115)
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Mark Drumheller (@x_drumheller):
There is a ton of momentum by the Eagles and it’s fantastic to see them show improvement as the season progresses. Sunday is their biggest test to date. This is a very winnable matchup that will likely come down to how Nick Sirianni performs under adversity. The Eagles recent success can be traced directly to a rushing attack that faces the league’s best defense in terms of rushing success rate allowed. If you are going to beat the Saints, you are going to have to do it a different way than running the football.
Considering that Marshon Lattimore had AJ Brown locked up for only one reception for sixteen yards last, it’s very realistic QB Jalen Hurts has to win with the Eagles secondary playmakers. Hurts has shown tremendous growth but this week determines how far he has actually come. Without the support of a strong rushing attack or his No1 WR, the game will lie on Hurts shoulders. I don’t think he will fail, but I do think he has a tougher time than Sean Payton will against Jonathan Gannon’s defense.
Prediction: Saints 27 – Eagles 20
Best Bet: Over 43.5
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Larry Henry Jr. (@lhenry019):
The Eagles have a great chance to put themselves in the thick of the Wild Card race with a win at home on Sunday and I back the offense to show up. Jalen Hurts and Co. did well to deliver a balanced attack in Denver last weekend and with the home crowd behind them, I expect similar success. DeVonta Smith remains the top option to get in the endzone and I think will have a positive game against the Saints defense.
The Eagles are slight favorites coming into Sunday’s showdown and I expect the Birds to get a win. Defensively, they should find success against the up-and-down Saints offense, led by Darius Slay and Fletcher Cox. Offensively, Jalen Hurts and Co. have been doing better and with the Wild Card within reach, confidence will be at an all-time high.
Prediction: Eagles 27 – Saints 17
Best Bet: Eagles O 2.5 touchdowns (+110)
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The PI Brew (@thepibrew):
Don’t look now, but the Eagles are playing good football. They are coming off a game where they pretty much dominated the Broncos from start to finish. This week the Saints come to town. The Birds continue to have a balanced attack on offense, and they’ve proven in recent weeks that they’ll be able to control the clock and keep their defense off of the field as much as possible if they continue with this trend. The Birds have played better on the road this year than at home, so I expect this one to be a close. Look for Jalen Hurts to continue making positive strides and the Birds to pull out the W.
Prediction: Eagles 23 – Saints 20
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Sean Brace (@Sean_Brace):
Who am I to stop anyone from believing, but the whole “p______” talk is funny to me. However, if the Eagles do win on Sunday vs the Saints, I will say the word and at the very least, acknowledge there is a possibility. Last Sunday’s dismantling of the Broncos was impressive to me & it was the type of victory that should influence offensive game plans moving forward. Run the damn ball! Allow Hurts to make plays, but don’t put it all on his shoulders! I like the Eagles to win in an ugly, low scoring game at the Linc. Go Birds!
Prediction: Eagles 22 – Saints 19
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