NFL Betting: New Orleans Saints vs. Green Bay Packers Odds and Stats

The Pack is back to defend its Super Bowl championship and they’re exactly right where you would expect to see them – on prime time television Thursday night to kick off the 2011 NFL betting season.

Good news surrounds both sides of this contest and since it’s our job to report the news, these are the facts.

Defending Super Bowl champion have feasted in season openers the last 10 years, going 10-0 SU and 7-2-1 ATS.

The Saints, on the other hand, are 4-1-1 ATS in lid-lifters while QB Drew Brees is 32-17-3 ATS in his NFL career as a starter when getting more than 2 points.

The bottom line is we love the fact that Brees had his team working together during the lockout (at his expense) and we love motivated teams that are on the same page early in the season.

Packers leap to 0-7 ATS against the NFC South in this Lambeau scare.

The current line for betting is Packers listed as -4½ point favorites versus the Saints and the total is 47.

Betting trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New Orleans's last 5 games when playing Green Bay
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans's last 5 games on the road
New Orleans is 15-4 SU in its last 19 games on the road
New Orleans is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
Green Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Green Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Green Bay's last 5 games when playing New Orleans
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Green Bay's last 6 games at home