Packers vs. Saints Week 1 NFL spread, odds: Not expected to be played in New Orleans, likely Dallas; Green Bay without David Bakhtiari

Have you already wagered on the Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints Week 1 game? Well, that's almost surely going to be voided by your sportsbook because the Saints are apparently not going to be able to host Green Bay in New Orleans due to Hurricane Ida damage in the city. Saints coach Sean Payton told reporters Tuesday that the team will be away from New Orleans through September as the city recovers. The Saints are currently 3-point underdogs at Caesars Sportsbook, but that might be taken down until a location is made official.

It's policy of most sportsbooks to void any bets when the location changes – just like they did for the Tulane at Oklahoma matchup this Saturday that had to be moved from New Orleans to Norman. "If there is a change of venue for an event, for any reason, bets placed on this event prior to the location change announcement will be void," according to a Caesars spokesperson.

New Orleans is scheduled for two home games in the first four weeks: Green Bay on Sept. 12 and the New York Giants on Oct. 3. As of this writing, it's not clear where the Saints might be playing, although AT&T Stadium in Dallas is by far the leading candidate as the Saints are practicing in Big D currently. 

The Cowboys are scheduled to open their season in Tampa against the Buccaneers on Sept. 9, so Week 1 wouldn't be an issue. "We think that'd be something that's very realistic," Payton said of playing at AT&T Stadium.

What will not happen is the NFL moving Saints-Packers to Lambeau Field in Green Bay because the league will not give the Packers home-field advantage.

The Packers will be down a very important player for the first six weeks as All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari will open on the PUP list due to a knee injury, the club announced Tuesday. Bakhtiari suffered a torn ACL in late December. His absence was very noticeable in the NFC Championship Game loss to Tampa Bay. Elgton Jenkins is likely to play left tackle. Pro Bowl linebacker Za'Darius Smith is in question for Week 1 with a back injury. He led the team with 12.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss in 2020.

New Orleans won't have All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas, kicker Will Lutz, defensive tackle David Onyemata or perhaps Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore as he awaits word on a possible suspension. Jameis Winston beat out Taysom Hill for the New Orleans starting QB job. 

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