Smiley Anders for August 7, 2008

• By SMILEY ANDERS
• Advocate columnist
• Published: Aug 7, 2008 - Page: 1B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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I have to admit that my Fearless Football Forecast for the New Orleans Saints has been a bit off lately.

For years I could be fairly certain that an 8-8 prediction would be accurate, since the team seemed to be mired in mediocrity for all time.

But then came their incredible run to the NFC Championship Game in 2006, which led me to go out on a limb and put them in the Super Bowl the next year — a big mistake, since the lads in black and gold went 7-9.

This season, I’m not so optimistic, but I still see a winning record and a playoff spot for the New Orleans guys.

The Saints launch their ’08 season with a home win over division rival Tampa Bay, then drop a road game to the Redskins.

Victories over the Broncos in Denver and the 49ers in the Dome have the Saints feeling good about themselves, before the Vikings cream them at home.

A win over the struggling Oakland Raiders is followed by a loss on the road to Carolina.

But the Saints upset the Chargers to enter the bye week at  5-3.

They thrash the woeful Atlanta Falcons, but drop a heartbreaker to the Kansas City Chiefs.

But this loss is followed by three wins in a row — over the disorganized Green Bay Packers, the up-and-down Buccaneers and the always down Falcons.

Even two December road losses, to Chicago and Detroit, can’t dampen the Saints’ enthusiasm, which peaks when the New Orleans crew clinches the NFC South crown with a home victory over the Panthers.

But, alas, that’s the high point of the season. The Philadelphia Eagles come to town and soundly defeat the Saints in the Dome in the first round of the playoffs.

But the 10 wins give the Saints hope for the future and the probability of sold-out Superdomes for years to come.