Patriots spreads adjusted again after Tom Brady sacked by suspension
As soon as New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was sacked Monday by the legal system, with a federal appeals court reinstating his four-game suspension by the NFL, Las Vegas oddsmakers scrambled to adjust numbers.
But there was no sense of widespread panic. Everyone went through this drill last summer, and oddsmakers were aware it could happen again.
“It’s nice to have Deflate-gate back in our lives,” said Jason Simbal, vice president of CG Technology sports books. “It never ends.”
CG Technology moved New England’s Super Bowl odds from 6-1 to 8-1, making the Patriots co-favorites with Seattle.
Brady could appeal the ruling and drag out the issue. But if he does sit out the season’s first four games, New England still will be favored in three of those games with backup Jimmy Garoppolo in Brady’s shoes. The Patriots were posted as 1-point underdogs at Arizona in Week 1, and the line was adjusted to 4½.
“We have Brady’s value anywhere from 3½ to 4½ points based on the moves,” Simbal said.
In Week 2, New England is now a 6-point home favorite over Miami, after the line opened at 9½ last week. The Patriots’ next two home games against Houston and Buffalo each were adjusted from minus-7 to minus-3.
Oddsmakers regard Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers as the quarterback most valuable to the point spread mainly because of his weaker supporting cast.
New England’s regular-season win total was dropped from 10½ (Over minus-155) to 10 (Under minus-125).
The Westgate sports book took down the Patriots-Cardinals game but did not adjust any futures odds at this time.
Contact sports betting reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow on Twitter: @mattyoumans247
