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.
Buy Saints TicketsNew 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 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
Ali Bhanpuri: Saints
Brooke Cersosimo: Saints
Dan Parr: Titans
Gennaro Filice: Saints
Tom Blair: Saints
ESPN
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
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
Albert Breer: Saints
Mitch Goldich: Titans
Claire Kuwana: Titans
Gilberto Manzano: Saints
Conor Orr: Titans
John Pluym: Saints
Matt Verderame: Saints
Sporting News
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
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
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
