The Saints are the best team in the league, in my opinion, but even so, asking to take them at -9 over the Eagles was a lot. So I patiently waited for a line to explode on and now minutes before kickoff we're at a touchdown spread. New Orleans should cover this game easily as it is better in each phase of the game and playing at home. Philadelphia does not have a running game that will sustain it for four quarters, and Drew Brees -- the most accurate QB in the NFL -- should pick apart the Eagles secondary. It may get close before halftime, but I expect New Orleans to pull away over the final 15 minutes. This was a free pick provided on Twitter.

Two very offensive teams clash in the Eagles and Saints. The Eagles' highest-scoring game this year has been 48 in a 27-21 loss at Tampa but the schedule the Eagles have played is filled with offensively challenged teams with good defenses. Carson Wentz has quietly been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL over the last five weeks, completing 73 percent of his passes for 8.5 yards per pass and a 12/2 TD/INT ratio. The other guy is Drew Brees. Points, points and more points.

The spread has jumped partly on the news that the loss of CB Ron Darby (knee) leaves Philly without possibly three contributing DBs. Blazing Saints QB Drew Brees could feast on the inexperienced secondary. Yet the thought of snaring the defending Super Bowl champions and a nearly double-digit line is tantalizing. The Eagles rank midpack for offensive and defensive efficiency, according to Football Outsiders, and QB Carson Wentz is capable of big things. A tighter game than the number suggests looms.

The Saints at home should provide another track meet like three of their four home games have gone with a 37-30 average score. Philly has gone Over in all three true road games and I look for the Super Bowl champs' offense to rise up and take a stand on their season. Over is the top play.

This should be an entertaining game. The thing about the Saints team this year, especially against good teams, is that they'll explode right out of the gate on both sides of the ball. Then as the middle of the second quarter, into the third starts to roll along, the opponents find a way to come back and make it a game. With the depleted secondary of the Eagles, and the Saints propensity to give up the big play. I can see the Saints and Eagles going back-and-forth, with the Saints getting a stop late to maintain a 10 point lead. It'll be close, but the Saints can definitely cover here.

The Saints have been playing great but the Eagles, when they lose, they don't lose by much. Their five losses have come by a total of 22 points. Philly's defense will keep this close. The Saints win but don't cover.

In a battle of the defending champs against a team that might win it all this year, the defending champions are being undervalued. The Eagles -- particularly their defense -- are better than their 4-5 record suggests and the Saints are getting a little too much credit here.

This could be a name-your-score game for the Saints with the Eagles losing Ronald Darby from the secondary this past week. New Orleans has scored at least 40 points in five of their nine games this year, and they'll be primed to do it again against this beat-up secondary. Carson Wentz has gotten better and better each week, and the Eagles set a season high in pass yards last week. They'll do their part to get this game Over the total.

The Eagles put their ninth player on IR when starting corner Ronald Darby tore his ACL in the loss to the Cowboys. Now they have to visit a Saints team that's put up 96 points the past two weeks. Philly has forced seven turnovers all season. And the Eagles won't get any gifts from Drew Brees, who's accounted for 24 TDs and one turnover. No way am I bucking a Saints team playing with urgency to get homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Lay it.