NFL Week 9 picks and predictions: Eagles vs. Saints

The Philadelphia Eagles travel to New Orleans to face the Saints on Monday night, and it appears that NFL pundits cannot agree on who will take the battle of two teams desperate for a win. The spread indicates that the matchup will be close, as the Saints are just three-point favorites at home.

Joel Thorman of SB Nation thinks the Eagles will fall to the Saints in his Week 9 NFL picks. Thorman predicts New Orleans to win easily, but says this game has lost much of its luster since the preseason:

I remember a time when the Eagles and Saints were both popular picks to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. That seems like a long, long time ago. Now, the Eagles are in a quarterback controversy, and the Saints are recovering from an 0-4 start. New Orleans misses Sean Payton, but they won't need him when the Eagles turn it over four times.

The pick: 35-21, Saints

The panel of experts at CBS Sports are split on the game straight-up and against the spread. Eight of 14 pick the Saints on ESPN, while Yahoo! gives two picks to each team. Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News is going with New Orleans, and believes Philadelphia's defense will be an issue:

The Eagles are sticking with Michael Vick as their starting quarterback, sensing his arms, legs and speedy weapons—namely LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson—are what they need to burn a bad all-around Saints defense in a must-win game on a fast track. But Philadelphia's defense is the bigger concern here against Drew Brees, who is loaded with a better arsenal and can pick the Eagles’ back seven apart. The equally desperate Saints will deliver the more efficient performance. Saints 34, Eagles 27

ESPN will televise the game at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday.