MVN: Most Valuable Network

Bodoglife.com has the New Orleans Saints as seven point favorites over the Oakland Raiders, with the over/under at 47. The Raider Nation sees those numbers and screams, "Never tell me the odds." Having lived in Las Vegas and played more than my share of football tickets in my time in Sin City, I have to say that the oddsmakers do in fact know what they are doing. (I am still cursing those blasted Niners for going for a field goal in overtime rather than the touchdown when I had them at +3.5 against Atlanta in 2001 and costing me a few hundred bucks.)

Looking at the spread and the over/under, I would be tempted to bet the Raiders and the under. Two of the three Raider losses are to stronger teams than the Saints and the Raiders kept it close in both of those games. This will be close, and probably a low scoring affair. (Just because I just typed that it will probably end up 55-38 or some outrageous score like that, but back on planet Earth..)

Interestingly enough both Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden have the same odds to be the leading rusher in that game at +270. Micahel Bush, who has been the most effective runner in the last two games with Fargas and McFadden hurt is not listed and would be part of a field bet at +350. McFadden's injury seems to be lingering more than Fargas's, so J-Farg gets the smart money on this one.

If your desire is to bet on JaMarcus Russell, the over/under on his passing yardage is a paltry 174.5. Before you put your AIG stocks down on that bet, realize that as of now he is averaging 153 yards per game. OK, betting that Russell will get over 175 yards passing may just be safer than the stock market these days. For that matter betting the Washington Generals will beat the Harlem Globetrotters may be safer than investing in stocks right now.

The Raiders' fifty-five million dollar man Javon Walker has his over under in receiving yardage set at 43.5. After signing his offseason contract, Walker has done a WaMu impersonation and fallen bad. So far for the season, Walker has 4 catches for 52 yards. If you think he is going to finally break out and actually do something, then this would be a safe place to bet the over. Just realize that in doing so, you are betting he will nearly double his single season total in one game.

If you are more partial to the defensive side of the ball and were looking to bet on which team has more quarterback sacks, the Saints are listed at +1 with the Raiders at -1. The Raiders need to get pressure on Drew Brees or he may just do a Jay Cutler impersonation. When the Raiders defense gets pressures on quarterbacks, they look unstopable. When the Raiders aren't getting pressure, well, just look at what happened against Denver. For the sake of the Raiders they need to be the smart money here.

If you would rather bet long term, the over under for Tom Cable wins is 2.5. If you bet the under the odds are even and the over is -130.

If you want to place some bets legally, check out bodoglife.com.