New England Pats Betting Odds – NFL Football Future Lines
Let’s take a look at the numbers:
betED NFL Football Betting Odds – New England Patriots Odds To Win AFC East – 450
Season Over/Under Win Total Betting Odds From beted.com – 11.5
The Patriots have been so good for so long that it’s hard to believe that it’s been four years since their last Super Bowl victory.
There were minor and major slips in those four years – a dropped pass in the end zone in a playoff loss at Indianapolis, an egg laid in Denver, David Tyree’s catch-of-the-century in the Super Bowl vs. the Giants, and then Tom Brady’s injury last season plus the statistical quirk that kept the 11-5 Pats out of the playoffs and allowed the 8-8 Chargers in.
But in New England it’s all about moving forward, and with Brady’s return there’s no talk about the past. As training camp opens in Massachusetts, opponents realize that NE having a healthy Brady is comparable to playing Texas Hold ‘em against Bill Belichick and smiling Bill starting with pocket aces.
No. 2 wide receivers who make key drops don’t last long in New England, and Jabar Gaffney sealed his fate when couldn’t hang on to a sure TD pass and cost the Pats a victory (and, in turned out, the AFC East and a playoff berth) in Indianapolis. Gaffney is replaced by veterans Joey Galloway and Greg Lewis, but NE might not keep both. Randy Moss and Wes Welker will still get most of Brady’s passes their way.
Without a blocking back on the roster, the Pats have loaded down with tight ends (Chris Baker, Tyson Devree, Alex Smith and returner Ben Watson) to protect Brady.
The Pats managed 11 wins despite an underachieving front 3, a linebacking group that was average only because rookie Jerrod Mayo was great, and a secondary that gave up a ton of big plays and made few of their own.
NE will roll the dice again with Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren up front, and hope that Mayo and a healthy Adalius Thomas can energize a thin linebacker corps that lost Mike Vrabel in the Matt Cassell deal and wasn’t very good last season. Tedy Bruschi appears to have hung on a few years too long.
The Pats have always tried to get by on the cheap in the secondary and haven’t batted an eye as the Ty Laws, Lawyer Milloys and Asante Samuels have chased big bucks elsewhere. This year’s group includes veteran newcomers Leigh Bodden and Shawn Spring, and high draft choices Patrick Chung and Darius Butler, as Belichick again throws a ton of bodies at the position and see which survive camp. If these guys are decent, expect a lot more blitzing than the Pats showed last season.
Surprising stat: The Patriots have not lost to an NFC team since Sept. 18, 2005 (27-17, at Carolina).
Team strengths: Has a coach/player combination ever had such an advantage over the rest of the league than Brady and Belichick? Maybe Bradshaw and Noll?
Team Weakness: Unless the secondary is better than it appears, the defense overall is just a little above average. Also, can you name the backup quarterback?
Patriots 2009 Season Win Total Prediction – 14
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Lawrence Paul is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog, and is a free-lance gambling and travel writer from Massachusetts.
One reply on “New England Patriots 2009 NFL Football Future Lines”
They’ll be very good, but not as great as in 2007. There are issues with the defense, and who knows what to expect from Tom Brady. They have weapons at wide receiver with Randy Moss and Wes Welker and running backs are plentiful with Sammy Morris, Fred Taylor, Lawrence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, and Benjarvis Green-Ellis. The offensive line is solid enough to provide a few holes per game. The Patriots defense is lacking. The secondary is nothing special, but the defensive line is excellent at stuffing the run.