2014 New England Predictions
New England has been the model franchise in the NFL for consistency and success under head coach Bill Belichick after posting 13 winning seasons following a 5-11 record in his first year at the helm.
2013 Record: 12-4
ATS: 8-8
Patriots Odds to win the AFC East: -250
Patriots Odds to win the AFC Conference: +300
Patriots Odds to win Super Bowl XLIX: +900
This incredible run boasts three Super Bowl titles including back-to-back victories in 2003 and 2004, but the Patriots have lost their last two trips to the big game and they are riding a two-game losing streak in the AFC Championship after losing to Denver 26-16 in last year’s showdown.
Let’s take a look at the numbers
There is little doubt that New England is still one of the top two or three teams in the NFL after finishing last season ranked third in the NFL scoring with 27.8 points a game and 10th on defense in points allowed (21.1).
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With veteran quarterback Tom Brady still leading the way, the offense remained extremely balanced in 2013 with a passing game that averaged 255.4 yards a game complementing a rushing attack that racked-up 129.1 yards a game.
There will be a few new faces on offense to help keep the Patriots ranked near the top of the league, but the biggest offseason move could be the resigning of wide receiver Julian Edelman.
He led the Patriots last season in receptions (105) and total yards (1,056) in the regular season and he came up big in the playoffs with 16 catches for 173 yards in two games. New England’s running game took a hit with the loss of LaGarrette Blount, but it still has Stevan Ridley and it did add running back James White in the fourth round of the draft.
As usual, New England’s defense on paper appeared to struggle against both the pass and the run after finishing the year ranked 26th in the league in total yards allowed.
That has been this unit’s MO for the past few seasons, but in the end, opposing teams are still the ones left struggling to score points after finishing the year ranked 10th in points allowed.
Things should only get better with the addition of defensive tackle Dominique Easley with the 29th overall pick in this year’s draft as well as free agent cornerback Darrelle Revis after he was released by Tampa Bay.
Patriots Betting Outlook
The Patriots will come into this season as fourth-favorites to win the Super Bowl and second favorites to win the AFC, so it is pretty much a given that they will coast to another AFC East title.
Miami might be able to keep things interesting into December, but in the end this is still New England’s division to lose.
Its projected win total for the 2014 regular has been set at 10.5 with the moneyline favoring the OVER at -175. This team has won more than 10 games in its last four seasons and remains a solid bet to eclipse that total again.
With training camps next up for the NFL betting offseason Cappers Picks NFL Football handicappers have been hard at work putting out the team by team Football Predictions and NFL Season Previews for those of us who can’t wait.
Bet on the Super Bowl XLIX winner, plus 2014/15 Conference and Divisional winners today.
