American Football: Saints a super bet in Dome.

Byline: Phil Agius

NEW ORLEANS Saints look a

heaven-sent bet giving up just 1.5 points at home to the

suffering Steelers in Sunday's first live NFL game on Sky.

Jim Haslett's side ended last season at rock-bottom

after downing tools amid player unrest, but opened up the 2002 campaign in real style.

Tampa Bay, Green Bay and Chicago were dispatched in the first three weeks before a shock upset against Detroit on Sunday.

But opponents Pittsburgh arrive in the Superdome at

crisis point.

The Steelers, pre-season second favourites for the

Super Bowl, were picked apart by New Orleans and Oakland, and rode their luck to beat Cleveland in overtime last week, despite having had a bye week to sort out their defensive problems.

Quarterback Kordell Stewart was benched in that game and a late rally against a

secondary shredded by injuries was left by former XFL QB Tommy Maddox, who gets the start this week.

Maddox will feel the heat from the Saints' pass rush,

although receivers Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress are still capable targets.

Stewart is upset at being made scapegoat, and has every right to be after he led the team to a 13-3 record in 2001.

The Steelers' running game needs resuscitation, though.

Main man Jerome `The Bus' Bettis has looked out of petrol, gaining just 100 yards in three games, while back-up Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala is injured and the speedy Amos Zereoue is hardly an all-round solution.

New Orleans, by contrast, have a balanced attack, with second-season running back Deuce McAllister proving a worthy successor to Ricky Williams and the nimble Aaron Brooks having a pair of tasty receivers in Joe Horn and Jerome Pathon.

In a noisy Superdome, the venue for last year's Super Bowl, the Saints should get back on track.

Recommendation

New Orleans -1.5

8pts 8-11 (Ladbrokes)