2011 NFL Preseason Schedule: New Orleans Saints at Oakland Raiders on NBC

The New Orleans Saints (1-1) and Oakland Raiders (0-2) meet up in Week 3 of the 2011 NFL preseason Sunday night at the O.co Coliseum. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 EST and will be nationally-televised on NBC.

New Orleans is hoping a return trip to the Bay Area will deliver similar results to its 2009 campaign, as the team captured a 45-7 win over Oakland on Aug. 29—on its way to winning Super Bowl XLIV over the Indianapolis Colts.

The Saints will be on the road for a second consecutive week and were handed a 27-14 loss to the Houston Texans as 2.5-point favorites. 

It was an ugly performance by the defense—giving up 436 total yards—including 323 yards and 19 first downs in the first half. 

Offensively, quarterback Drew Brees completed 7-of-14 passes for 109 yards in just over a quarter of play. He led a final 12-play, 70-yard drive that was finished off by rookie running back Mark Ingram scoring from a yard out. 

Ingram, Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas combined for 16 carries 82 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. New Orleans has ran for 251 yards on the ground in its first two preseason contests.

Professional handicappers are quick to point out that the Saints will not be traveling for this game due to holding camp in Oxnard, California, this week. 

The first line released offshore certainly didn't take this into account by listing New Orleans as a 1.5-point road underdog, which has now moved to laying 4.5 to 5 points in most spots.

Oakland has dropped both of their games against the spread and will be looking to rebound off a 17-3 road loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The Raiders were out-gained by 188 yards in the contest and only managed a 46-yard field goal from placekicker Sebastian Janikowski.

First-year head coach Hue Jackson told Raiders.com that time is running out for him to get a good gauge on his roster:

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"I think the team has to get ready," said Coach Jackson. "A lot of teams don't play their starters very much. I think we haven't played a ton of plays and to get ready for a big Monday night game in Denver."

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The team did manage to make some noise this week by selecting former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor in the third round of Monday's supplemental draft. He will not participate in Sunday's game due to being 17 days behind others in camp.

Bettors will certainly be interested in playing the Saints due to their 5-2 ATS mark when favored during preseason action, while the Raiders are 1-7 ATS in their last eight chances as a home underdog.

The six-point line move has this handicapper sitting on the sidelines.