Pats are the early favorites!

[MarieM]

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Be careful betting against the New England Patriots.

For the second year in a row, the Patriots are Las Vegas oddsmakers' pick to win the Super Bowl.

The Patriots, who beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 41-27 on Sunday in the AFC title game, are favored by nearly a touchdown over Philadelphia by four major Las Vegas sports books.

Bob Scucci, Stardust sports book director, posted a 6 1/2-point line with more than a quarter left in the AFC game. Other books had New England as a 6-point pick.

Scucci said bettors will most likely put their money on the Patriots, one of the most consistent NFL teams when it comes to covering the spread. Most, he said, will be influenced by the record of New England coach Bill Belichick.

"Belichick comes up with a game plan to defeat anyone," Scucci said. "People know that. They love to bet on that. People love to go with a proven winner."

John Avello, director of Race & Sports Book operations at Bally's Las Vegas, and the Las Vegas Sports Consultants had the Patriots as 6-point favorites.

"The Patriots are the dominant team in football," he said. "Philly was going to be a dog no matter who was on the end."

The initial odds often change as bettors put money on one team and the bookmakers try to balance their ledgers by moving the point spread.

Oddsmakers put up a 46 to 48-point over-under line, meaning bettors can put money on whether the teams combine to score more or less than that amount.

Robert Walker, sports book director at MGM Mirage casinos, made the Patriots a 6-point favorite.

"The AFC will be favored because the AFC is perceived to be better," Walker said.

Last year, the Patriots were 7-point favorites against the Carolina Panthers and won 32-29. In 2002, the Patriots were 14-point underdogs to St. Louis, but upset the Rams 20-17.

[wanderer7453]

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Be careful betting against the New England Patriots.

For the second year in a row, the Patriots are Las Vegas oddsmakers' pick to win the Super Bowl.

The Patriots, who beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 41-27 on Sunday in the AFC title game, are favored by nearly a touchdown over Philadelphia by four major Las Vegas sports books.

Bob Scucci, Stardust sports book director, posted a 6 1/2-point line with more than a quarter left in the AFC game. Other books had New England as a 6-point pick.

Scucci said bettors will most likely put their money on the Patriots, one of the most consistent NFL teams when it comes to covering the spread. Most, he said, will be influenced by the record of New England coach Bill Belichick.

"Belichick comes up with a game plan to defeat anyone," Scucci said. "People know that. They love to bet on that. People love to go with a proven winner."

John Avello, director of Race & Sports Book operations at Bally's Las Vegas, and the Las Vegas Sports Consultants had the Patriots as 6-point favorites.

"The Patriots are the dominant team in football," he said. "Philly was going to be a dog no matter who was on the end."

The initial odds often change as bettors put money on one team and the bookmakers try to balance their ledgers by moving the point spread.

Oddsmakers put up a 46 to 48-point over-under line, meaning bettors can put money on whether the teams combine to score more or less than that amount.

Robert Walker, sports book director at MGM Mirage casinos, made the Patriots a 6-point favorite.

"The AFC will be favored because the AFC is perceived to be better," Walker said.

Last year, the Patriots were 7-point favorites against the Carolina Panthers and won 32-29. In 2002, the Patriots were 14-point underdogs to St. Louis, but upset the Rams 20-17.

And explain why we shouldn't bet against the Pats. They didn't cover last year. And Reid and the Eagle' are 9-0 after a bye week.

[Cityskier]

And explain why we shouldn't bet against the Pats. They didn't cover last year. And Reid and the Eagle' are 9-0 after a bye week.

Because they've shut down two teams that are better than the Eagles. 9-0 after a bye week? Are you saying that Andy Reid is going to out gameplan Bill Belichick? I'm laughing so hard I'm crying!

Enjoy these next two weeks. You'll be sad on Feb. 6.

[wanderer7453]

And explain why we shouldn't bet against the Pats. They didn't cover last year. And Reid and the Eagle' are 9-0 after a bye week.

Because they've shut down two teams that are better than the Eagles. 9-0 after a bye week? Are you saying that Andy Reid is going to out gameplan Bill Belichick? I'm laughing so hard I'm crying!

Enjoy these next two weeks. You'll be sad on Feb. 6.

Let's see who has the most wins over the last 4 years. I hope the Pats are as confident as the media and the Pats fans. Eagle sdefense is better than anything the Pats have seen this year. Maybe Bill will have a retro couple weeks and remember when he was at Cleveland. Didn't he get fired there.

[kickstand]

Let's see who has the most wins over the last 4 years.

they're dead even over the last 4 years:

Pats:
2004 - 14
2003 - 14
2002 - 9
2001 - 11
total: 48

Eagles:
2004 - 13
2003 - 12
2002 - 12
2001 - 11
total: 48

of course, if you throw in playoff wins, it slants a little more in the Pats favor.

[Cityskier]

Let's see who has the most wins over the last 4 years. I hope the Pats are as confident as the media and the Pats fans. Eagle sdefense is better than anything the Pats have seen this year. Maybe Bill will have a retro couple weeks and remember when he was at Cleveland. Didn't he get fired there.

There are only 4 Ws over the last 4 years that matter and the Pats lead that category 2-0.

Belichick hasn't been in Cleveland in a long time. Nice to see you're desperate enough to bring that up already. You can go back in time, but I simply say that I'll take Tom Brady over Vinny Testaverde and/or Bernie Kosar.

Belichick will have the gameplan done before Andy Reed can wash all that Gatorade out of his snowsuit. All the Pats do is win when it matters. Can't really say the same for the Eagles.

[wanderer7453]

Let's see who has the most wins over the last 4 years. I hope the Pats are as confident as the media and the Pats fans. Eagle sdefense is better than anything the Pats have seen this year. Maybe Bill will have a retro couple weeks and remember when he was at Cleveland. Didn't he get fired there.

There are only 4 Ws over the last 4 years that matter and the Pats lead that category 2-0.

Belichick hasn't been in Cleveland in a long time. Nice to see you're desperate enough to bring that up already. You can go back in time, but I simply say that I'll take Tom Brady over Vinny Testaverde and/or Bernie Kosar.

Belichick will have the gameplan done before Andy Reed can wash all that Gatorade out of his snowsuit. All the Pats do is win when it matters. Can't really say the same for the Eagles.

I guess yesterday didn't matter. And really my point on this thread really was the fact that the poster said "Don't bet against the Pats" and they lost to the point spread in last years bowl.

I am not trying to take anything away from a great team like the Pats. All I am saying is if your team had your attitude the Eagles would destroy them. But I know that the Pats coaching staff will not allow that to happen. We look forward to getting no respect. There is an ESPN commentator that picked the Eagle's to lose every game this year. Maybe you can room with him in Jacksonville.

[Cityskier]

I missed the point spread aspect of this thread. My apologies. I don't bet often of football, so the line to me is irrelevant.

Yesterday did matter, but you need to do better than 1 for 4 in conference championship games. I believe after yesterday that the Pats are either 5-1 or 6-1 all time in the conference championship. The relevance is different for Philly because the team showing up in Jacksonville is primarily the same team that couldn't get it done the three previous years. Are they going to be relieved just to be there? Maybe.

I have tremendous respect for what Andy Reed has done. He's one of the good guys in sports and I don't think anyone in their right mind is going to knock Donovan McNabb. He's a great QB.

That said I think Brady and Belichick are better, proven, and will again get the job done. I think my attitude is simply that the Pats are the better team from the stronger conference with the experience to win the game.

I don't want to stay with anyone stupid enough to pick the Eagles to lose every game. I just don't think they are going to win this one.

[wanderer7453]

I missed the point spread aspect of this thread. My apologies. I don't bet often of football, so the line to me is irrelevant.

Yesterday did matter, but you need to do better than 1 for 4 in conference championship games. I believe after yesterday that the Pats are either 5-1 or 6-1 all time in the conference championship. The relevance is different for Philly because the team showing up in Jacksonville is primarily the same team that couldn't get it done the three previous years. Are they going to be relieved just to be there? Maybe.

I have tremendous respect for what Andy Reed has done. He's one of the good guys in sports and I don't think anyone in their right mind is going to knock Donovan McNabb. He's a great QB.

That said I think Brady and Belichick are better, proven, and will again get the job done. I think my attitude is simply that the Pats are the better team from the stronger conference with the experience to win the game.

I don't want to stay with anyone stupid enough to pick the Eagles to lose every game. I just don't think they are going to win this one.

I agree with everything you say including that Brady and Bellichick have accomplished a ton more than McNabb and Reid. But I disagree that this is the same team that lost the last three NFC championship games. The corners are new and faster, and Burgess was hurt the last two years, did you see him yesterday he was awesome, we did not have Trotter the last two years and he has been dominating in the playoffs and made all pro this year, the d-line was decimated with injuries last year, Westbrook was hurt last year, if not you may have seen us instead of Carolina, Kearse was added, and who knows TO may be there by Superbowl time. if he was healthy I would like are chances even more, Keith Adams has added strength to the linebackers, 2 years ago McNabb was coming back from a broken ankle, so this is far from the same team that lost those thre NFC games. And remember weren't the Pats 12 point underdogs when they beat St. Louis.

[Cityskier]

I was working on a nice response, but my computer crashed! I don't have the energy to do it again.

It has the making of a great game. I just like the Pats chances. I know Philly has a much improved defense, especially in the secondary. But I think Corey Dillon is going to beat you. And I think the return of Richard Seymour is going to be a big factor on our D-line. Even if TO plays I don't he'll play like TO.

I mean no disrespect, I'm just confident in my team.

[wanderer7453]

I was working on a nice response, but my computer crashed! I don't have the energy to do it again.

It has the making of a great game. I just like the Pats chances. I know Philly has a much improved defense, especially in the secondary. But I think Corey Dillon is going to beat you. And I think the return of Richard Seymour is going to be a big factor on our D-line. Even if TO plays I don't he'll play like TO.

I mean no disrespect, I'm just confident in my team.

As you should be. I was just letting you know now that the Eagles finally made it by that NFC game we are feeling pretty confident in them as well. Your confidence is based on more solid ground than mine butthen so was the Yankees when they were up 3-0. If you are up to K next wekend I'll buy you a beer and we can have some fun talking aboutthe SuperBowl.

[Outta Bounds Rider]

And explain why we shouldn't bet against the Pats. They didn't cover last year. And Reid and the Eagle' are 9-0 after a bye week.

Because they've shut down two teams that are better than the Eagles. 9-0 after a bye week? Are you saying that Andy Reid is going to out gameplan Bill Belichick? I'm laughing so hard I'm crying!

Enjoy these next two weeks. You'll be sad on Feb. 6.

I'm not so sure the two teams that the Pats beat were better than the eagles. When Pittsburgh beat them philadelphia was a totally different team. Also, who knows how well the Pats would have done against the Falcons. I think the eagles win this weekend was more impressive than the pats' win, because they shut down the most explosive man in football, all new england did was shut down a rookie quaterback.

[SkiDork]

And explain why we shouldn't bet against the Pats. They didn't cover last year. And Reid and the Eagle' are 9-0 after a bye week.

Because they've shut down two teams that are better than the Eagles. 9-0 after a bye week? Are you saying that Andy Reid is going to out gameplan Bill Belichick? I'm laughing so hard I'm crying!

Enjoy these next two weeks. You'll be sad on Feb. 6.

I'm not so sure the two teams that the Pats beat were better than the eagles. When Pittsburgh beat them philadelphia was a totally different team. Also, who knows how well the Pats would have done against the Falcons. I think the eagles win this weekend was more impressive than the pats' win, because they shut down the most explosive man in football, all new england did was shut down a rookie quaterback.

The biggest factor here is Belichick - he's on the verge of being another Lombardi (if not there already) and I'm bummed he couldn't have stayed with the Jets. He's an amazing magician with his game plans. There's really no reason to bet against him.

[Geoff]

As a Pats fan, I hope they'll win the Super Bowl but it really doesn't matter. What does matter is that my team is competitive and in the mix every year. For the last 4 years, it's been great to be a Pats fan or an Eagles fan. Enjoy the moment because both teams will completely suck at some point in the future.

I think a lot of points will be scored in the game. New England finally has a running game and are balanced enough that they'll score their points. On a warm, dry playing surface, the Pats secondary is going to be at a disadvantage so Philly will also score their points. If there aren't a lot of turnovers, it should be a close game.

[Outta Bounds Rider]

As a Pats fan, I hope they'll win the Super Bowl but it really doesn't matter. What does matter is that my team is competitive and in the mix every year. For the last 4 years, it's been great to be a Pats fan or an Eagles fan. Enjoy the moment because both teams will completely suck at some point in the future.

I think a lot of points will be scored in the game. New England finally has a running game and are balanced enough that they'll score their points. On a warm, dry playing surface, the Pats secondary is going to be at a disadvantage so Philly will also score their points. If there aren't a lot of turnovers, it should be a close game.

Yea turnovers are key. The pats blew last week's game out with the two ints in the first half that were turned directly into points