New Orleans Saints

2010 Finish: Super Bowl XLIV Champion

Conference Standing: 1st in NFC

Division Standing: 1st in NFC South

Record: 13-3

Odds To Win Super Bowl XLV: 8 to 1

The online betting world was turned upside down by the New Orleans Saints in the 2009 season. The Saints finished the season 13-3, but they were 8-8 against the spread. Their NFL point spread picks were split right down the middle with a 4-4 record against the spread at home, and a 4-4 record against the spread on the road.

The Saints scored 510 points in 2009, which was far and away more than any other team in the league. They were 7-1 on the road, and have one of the best leaders in all of football in Drew Brees. The Drew Brees pre-game ritual became one to rival a Ray Lewis entrance, and it helped the Saints put together a memorable season.

As strong as the Saints looked in 2009, they had a couple of holes in their roster that they need to address before training camp opens for the 2010 season. A re-cap of the Saints 2010 draft class can give some insight into where the team is headed:

Round 1 - Patrick Robinson, CB

Round 2 - Charles Brown, OT

Round 3 - Jimmy Graham, TE

Round 4 - Al Woods, DT

Round 5 - Matt Tennant, C

Round 7 - Sean Canfield, QB

With a draft like this, the Saints may have made themselves NFL Vegas picks favorites for the next several seasons. The only pick that is a head-scratcher is QB Sean Canfield in the seventh round. The last thing the Saints need is a seventh round draft pick at QB. But what the Saints did need was depth on the offensive line, a corner back, a line backer and a full back. What they got was the makings of a very deep, and very good, offensive line for many years to come.

First round pick Patrick Robinson will start in 2010, and he will develop into a solid cover corner. He may not get the primary assignments in his rookie season, but he can make an impact.

The one glaring need the Saints have not addressed is full back. Reggie Bush is an explosive runner, but he really prospered when he had the likes of Deuce McAllister leading the way. Look for Bush to split running time with maybe someone like Carlos Brown or Christian Ducre. Hoepfully the Saints have some options at full back to get some of the pressure off of Bush when the season starts.

Did the Saints get better with the draft? It may be some time before we really see how good their draft class is, but you would not be doing yourself any disservice by making the Saints a regular part of your football picks in 2010.