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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
John Sigler

Week 1 picks: Who the experts are taking in Saints vs. Titans

The New Orleans Saints are seeking to win their fifth consecutive Week 1 kickoff game, but the Tennessee Titans aren’t about to make it easy for them despite having lost several season-opening matchups of their own.

Both teams have a lot to prove after going 7-10 last season with defensive-minded head coaches and veteran quarterbacks at the helm. The Saints worked around the clock to surround Derek Carr with talent, but it remains to be seen if he can get them to the playoffs.

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New Orleans is favored (narrowly, by BetMGM) to win at home on Sunday. But what are the experts predicting? Let’s take a look at 50 of them:

USA TODAY

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

USA TODAY’s Week 1 picks

Chris Bumbaca: Titans

Jarrett Bell: Saints

Lorenzo Reyes: Titans

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Saints

Nate Davis: Titans

Safid Deen: Saints

Tyler Dragon: Saints

Victoria Davis: Saints

NFL.com

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

NFL.com’s Week 1 picks

Ali Bhanpuri: Saints

Brooke Cersosimo: Saints

Dan Parr: Titans

Gennaro Filice: Saints

Tom Blair: Saints

ESPN

Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

ESPN’s Week 1 picks

Stephania Bell: No pick

Matt Bowen: Saints

Mike Clay: Saints

Jeremy Fowler: Saints

Dan Graziano: Saints

Kimberley Martin: Saints

Eric Moody: Saints

Jason Reid: Titans

Lindsey Thiry: Titans

Sam Wickersham: Titans

CBS Sports

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

CBS Sports’ Week 1 picks

Pete Prisco: Saints

Will Brinson: Titans

Jared Dubin: Titans

Ryan Wilson: Saints

John Breech: Titans

Tyler Sullivan: Saints

Dave Richard: Saints

Jamey Eisenberg: Saints

MMQB

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

MMQB’s Week 1 picks

Albert Breer: Saints

Mitch Goldich: Titans

Claire Kuwana: Titans

Gilberto Manzano: Saints

Conor Orr: Titans

John Pluym: Saints

Matt Verderame: Saints

Sporting News

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Bill Bender: Saints 30, Titans 27

The Saints are at home for Derek Carr’s debut, and that should make a difference for an offense that averaged 19.4 points per game last season. New Orleans also made some key additions on defense through a draft that added depth with Bryan Bresee and Isaiah Foskey. That helps against the Titans and Derrick Henry. Carr earns high marks for a solid debut.

Athlon Sports

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Athlon Sports’ Week 1 picks

Alek Arend: Saints

Matt Audilet: Titans

Cameron Flynn: Saints

Bleacher Report

 

Bleacher Report’s Week 1 picks

Gary Davenport: Titans

Brad Gagnon: Saints

Ian Hanford: Saints

Kris Knox: Saints

Maurice Moton: Saints

Wes O’Donnell: Titans

Brent Sobleski: Titans

Bottom line

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Nearly two-thirds of the experts like the Saints to open their 2023 season with a win, but this team has a lot to prove. A large 36% minority sees an upset brewing as the Titans look to win their first Week 1 game since 2020.

Saints: 32

Titans: 18

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