The first week of the suicide pool is always the trickiest to pick. It has featured some epic upsets—Chargers vs. Panthers last year—and because of this, we usually try and shy away from the heavy favorites or top tier teams.

This year we’re bucking the trend…at least from the heavy favorite standpoint. For Week one of our suicide pool, we’re selecting the New Orleans Saints. This game just has easy win written all over it.

Offensively, it’ll be business as usual; the Saints will use the passing game to set up the running game.  And after Drew Brees and Co. have struck early on and taken a large lead, watch for New Orleans to feed the ball to their running backs (Bell, Bush) to run out the clock.

Defensively, look for the Saints to key on RB Kevin Smith and put the game into QB Matt Stafford’s hands. The Saints defense, while not formidable, will be much improved under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and once they jump out to a double-digit lead you can bet he’ll bring the house and force Stafford into mistakes and turnovers.

When all is said and done, you’ll be moving onto week two of your suicide pool while the Lions will have suffered their 18th straight loss dating back to 2007.