Pats big favorites in clash of titans
October 29, 2007 - 9:00 pm
Looking ahead to one of the most hyped regular-season games in NFL history was no problem for either Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. Both quarterbacks took care of business in typical style Sunday.
Brady accounted for five touchdowns as the New England Patriots remained perfect — 8-0 straight up and against the spread — by embarrassing the Washington Redskins 52-7.
Manning passed for two touchdowns to lead the unbeaten Indianapolis Colts to an easy 31-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
The Colts, 7-0 straight up and 5-2 against the spread, hardly fit the profile of a home underdog, but the defending Super Bowl champions are forced into that role this week.
When opening lines for Week 9 were posted, the Patriots were made 5-point favorites over the Colts.
“It’s a strange number to see, but it’s the number you have to hang,” Wynn Las Vegas sports book director John Avello said. “The Colts have done nothing wrong.
“This Patriots team is just unbelievable. I don’t remember seeing a football team like this. I’ve pretty much had it with this team. The result is pretty much the same every week.”
New England closed as a 15-point home favorite over Redskins. Professional bettors jumped on Washington getting 161/2 points and drove the line down, but the public stuck with the Patriots.
“Sharp money is the only money we see against the Patriots,” Avello said. “I think the feeling was, even with myself and some of the sharp guys, that Washington’s defense could keep them in the game.
“If the sharp guys start getting on (New England’s) side, then we’re in trouble.”
The Patriots have been favored by a total of 861/2 points in their eight games and have won those games by a total of 204 points. They have scored at least 34 points in every game and won every game by at least 17 points.
At the Las Vegas Hilton, separate propositions are posted on the Colts and Patriots finishing the regular season 16-0. Betting “No” is minus-200 on New England and minus-1500 on Indianapolis.
Oddly enough, as 5-point favorites, the Patriots will be about minus-200 on the money line against the Colts this week.
Indianapolis closed as a 7-point favorite at Carolina on Sunday and received the support of the public while professional bettors sided with the underdog.
The Colts are 3-0 against the spread at home, winning by an average margin of 22.7 points. So if the Patriots flatten a team that powerful at its home, oddsmakers could face a unique challenge in New England’s remaining games.
“There will be some of the highest NFL lines ever posted,” Avello said, predicting potential spreads of 20 points or more in favor of the Patriots. “We’ll see how next week’s game goes.”
With the Colts and Patriots covering in Week 8, favorites went 7-5.
Avello said the betting public also cashed tickets on New Orleans, San Diego and Pittsburgh.
The Saints, who closed as 21/2-point road favorites, whipped the San Francisco 49ers 31-10 as Drew Brees passed for 336 yards and four touchdowns.
The Chargers closed as 10-point home favorites and crushed the Houston Texans 35-10.
The Steelers, laying four points on the road, beat the Cincinnati Bengals 24-13 as Ben Roethlisberger passed for two touchdowns and Willie Parker rushed for 126 yards and one score.
Two favorites that failed to cover, Chicago and the New York Giants, helped the books.
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 387-2907.