It was looking like this was headed for -6 before kickoff, but money is bouncing back the Saints' way and for good reason -- New Orleans should probably be favored by a bit more in this game. Not only does it benefit from a short turnaround and being home on a holiday week, Drew Brees got to shake the rust off and should now be feeling himself a bit better in this game. As I've said all season, the only thing that scares me about the Vikings is Dalvin Cook, which is why I think this game could be close through halftime. But the Saints should be able to lean on Alvin Kamara and possibly win by double digits.

Patience is a virtue! To newbie bettors: If a spread is sitting on 3 or 7, either wait until it moves a half point or buy it up/down to avoid a push. This had been sitting on 7 for a while and I wasn't interested, but now that it has dipped below 7 temporarily we are on the Saints. Yes, New Orleans is incredibly thin at wideout, but an awful Minnesota defense will be down a handful of starters, led by Pro Bowl linebacker Eric Kendricks. Minnesota is on an NFL-high five-game ATS losing streak, while New Orleans has covered nine of its past 11 vs. teams with a losing record. Per usual, the short turnaround benefits the home side as well.

The Saints should be in a nasty mood when this game kicks off. They are out to avenge last season's home playoff loss to the Vikings. If that wasn't enough motivation, they've lost two straight. Yet, they can clinch the NFC South with a win, and keep their hopes alive for NFC's top seed. The Saints sacked Patrick Mahomes four times, giving them 40 sacks, and they'll pressure Kirk Cousins (18 turnovers) into mistakes. Lay it.

The Saints defense has been gashed by the run in each of the last two weeks, but does that matter more than the fact they rank second in yards per rush on the year? I would say it doesn't -- Kirk Cousins is no Jalen Hurts, after all, and the Saints don't have to go all out to slow down the best QB in the land like they did last week against the Chiefs. Motivation is in question for the Vikings here after getting bounced from the playoff race last week and now having to hit the road on Christmas. With Eric Kendricks still not practicing, I don't know that the Vikings defense has success, even with Drew Brees not at his best last week.

The Vikings are terrible defensively. Drew Brees worked the rust off last week vs. Kansas City. He doesn't have Michael Thomas, but he still has Emmanuel Sanders, Alvin Kamara and Jared Cook. The Saints need the game and they'll take care of business.