When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, November 9, 2014
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Saints –4.5. O/U: 49.
PREDICTION: Saints 26, 49ers 24
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Oddsmakers currently have the Saints listed as 4-point favorites versus the 49ers, while the game’s total is sitting at 49½.

It’s no surprise that New Orleans has played better defense since outside linebacker Junior Galette picked up his play with four sacks over the last four games. “We always believed in ourselves,” said Galette, who has six sacks this season after having 12 in 2013. “We didn’t listen to the white noise, and just kept working as a unit and didn’t point any fingers.” Running back Mark Ingram (431 yards, six TDs) is looking for his third consecutive 100-yard game while tight end Jimmy Graham (46 receptions for 518 yards and five scores) continues to be the primary target for Brees (2,524 yards, 15 TDs, eight interceptions).

New Orleans won its last outing, a 28-10 result against the Panthers on October 30. The Saints covered in that game as a -3-point favorite, while the 38 combined points took the game UNDER the total.

Team record: 4-4 SU,4-4 ATS
New Orleans is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
New Orleans is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans’s last 5 games
New Orleans is 9-1-1 ATS in its last 11 games at home

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick lost a fumble at the goal line as San Francisco fell to the Rams and has experienced an inconsistent season despite throwing for 1,956 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is aware the 49ers have scored just one total touchdown in the second halves of their four losses but offers no explanation. “No, can’t put our finger on it,” Kaepernick told reporters. “We just have to go out and execute better.” The defense ranks second in the NFL in total defense (291.9) with cornerback Perrish Cox (NFC-leading four interceptions) and strong safety Antoine Bethea (two interceptions, team-leading 43 tackles) playing well.

San Francisco was a 13-10 loser in its last match at home against the Rams. They failed to cover the -10.5-point spread as favorites, while the total score of 23 sent UNDER bettors to the payout window.

Team record: 4-4 SU,3-5 ATS
San Francisco is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
San Francisco is 17-7 SU in its last 24 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of San Francisco’s last 11 games
San Francisco is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games on the road

The post 49ers vs. Saints Matchup appeared first on IdealCapper.

“I’m never angry. I’m too blessed to be stressed,” the Baltimore Ravens linebacker said when told that he seemed angry. “You can use a different word. You can use the word agitated because I’m here to win the Super Bowl. I’m not here to entertain somebody that doesn’t affect that one way or another. The word agitated is probably better.”

On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated reported that Lewis sought help from Sports with Alternatives to Steroids (SWATS) — a company that makes the unorthodox deer-antler spray, which is supposed to be sprayed under the tongue — to speed his recovery from a torn right triceps. Lewis missed 10 games with the injury.

“Our world is a very secret society. We try to protect our world as much as we can,” Lewis said. “When you let cowards come in and do things like that, to try to disturb something. I’ve said it before and I’ve said a million times, the reason why I’m smiling is because it’s so funny of a story.

“I’ve never, ever took what he says I was supposed to do. It’s just sad that someone can have this much attention on a stage this big where the dreams are really real. I don’t need it, my teammates don’t need it, the 49ers don’t need it. Nobody needs it because it just really shows you that people really plan things and try to attack people from the outside. It’s just very foolish. The guy has no credibility. He’s been sued four or five times over this same BS. I just truly believe he doesn’t have the privilege for me to speak about it ever again.”

Ravens team president Dick Cass told ESPN that the Ravens’ top brass met with Lewis on Tuesday night and urged him to issue a strong denial on Wednesday, to repeat what he told the organization on Tuesday: that he never used any of the substances he was accused of using in the SI report.

“We wanted him to issue a strong denial at media day; he didn’t do that. He was very strong with us yesterday, and last night. We met with him last night and talked about issuing a strong denial today,” Cass told ESPN.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday morning that he spoke with Lewis, and the linebacker “knows there is nothing to it. He understands it’s something he’s never been involved in.”

“He laughed about it,” Harbaugh said, referring to Lewis. “He told me there’s nothing to it. He’s told us in the past and now that he has never taken any of it.”

Lewis said the Ravens aren’t distracted due to the report.

“I’ve been in this game for 17-plus good years, and I have a heck of relationship and too much respect for the business and my body to ever violate like that. For me and my teammates, I promise you that we have a strong group of men that don’t bend too much and we keep pushing forward. So it’s not a distraction for us,” he said.

The NFL Players Association said the league does test for IGF-1, the banned substance found in deer-antler extract, but the NFL said it is not detectable with the league’s current testing methods.

SWATS co-owner Mitch Ross detailed his interaction with Lewis in an interview Tuesday with ESPN Radio’s “SVP and Russillo Show,” saying he texted Lewis shortly after the linebacker was injured against the Cowboys on Oct. 14.

He told ESPN Radio that Lewis “used every product that I had.”

“I even developed an armband that I developed to strengthen his triceps, and some liquid wraps that would help him heal as well,” he said.

When asked why Lewis is denying using his products, Ross told ESPN Radio: “I guess [Lewis] is scared of Roger Goodell.”

However, a professor at Johns Hopkins University told the Baltimore Sun that, despite SWATS’ claims, there isn’t an acceptable scientific way that IGF-1 can be delivered orally.

“If there were, a lot of people would be happy that they don’t need to get shots anymore,” Dr. Roberto Salvatori told the newspaper. “It’s just simply not possible for it to come from a spray.”

The post Ray Lewis denies using antler spray appeared first on IdealCapper.

After examining information submitted by police, district attorney George Gascon said his office determined that no charges would be filed “at this time.”

“The San Francisco Police Department — Special Victims Unit completed and submitted a thorough investigation of the allegations against Michael Crabtree,” Gascon said.

Crabtree’s attorney, Joshua Bentley, didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.

San Francisco police said Crabtree was never detained or arrested in the matter, and that he cooperated fully with their investigation.

The 49ers are preparing to meet the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl on Feb. 3 in New Orleans.

49ers general manager Trent Baalke said the team was pleased that the district attorney decided to not file charges after reviewing the matter.

“Michael and the team can now put this behind us and move forward,” Baalke said in a statement.

During the regular season, Crabtree became the first San Francisco wide receiver with more than 1,000 yards in a season since Terrell Owens in 2003.

The post Michael Crabtree avoids charges appeared first on IdealCapper.

“It’s probably the last time I’m going to wear that uniform,” Gonzalez said after the Falcons’ 28-24 loss. “I didn’t want to take it off, to tell you the truth. All good things come to an end, and like I said all season long, this is probably my last one. What an unbelievable ride.”

Gonzalez had eight catches for 72 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown reception with 25 seconds remaining in the first half. The Falcons didn’t score again.

The 36-year-old tight end was voted to his third straight Pro Bowl in four seasons with the Falcons, but said Sunday he’s unlikely to play in the game. His 2012 selection was the 13th time he’s been voted to the league’s all-star game.

Gonzalez Set TE Standard

Tony Gonzalez has helped set a new standard for tight ends in his 16-year career. He ranks as the best tight end in a number of different statistical categories.

He said he will discuss his plans with his family before making his final decision on retirement.

“I’m not going to cry about it,” Gonzalez said after the conclusion of his 16th season. “I walk away with the satisfaction I left everything, absolutely everything, every time I was on the field.

“I wish it would have culminated with the Super Bowl, but it didn’t.”

Drafted 13th overall by the Chiefs in 1997, Gonzalez is second on the career receptions list with 1,242 and is the most decorated tight end in NFL history, ranking first at the position and sixth overall with 103 touchdown catches. At 14,268 yards, he’s seventh on the career receiving list.

The post Tony Gonzalez ‘probably’ will retire appeared first on IdealCapper.