Not so sure as yet Railbird, congrats by the way, as I know from previous threads you & I loved Carolina SU over Philly, but I will need to think about this one.
Yes NE plays down to competition at times, yes they like all good teams in the NFL had an easy route(as the NFL had a mediocre middle-tier & putrid bottom-feeders this fall), NE's romp thru the AFC East is misleading for sure looking back on the usual December Miami collapse, Indy's Defense, KC's D, and Denver being a fake with a late rush to get in, hell even a beat-up/limited arsenal Tennessee was damn near the best team in the NFL this fall(& the playoff scores/stats will bear it out), and though I loved Carolina over Philly, I still must ponder this game before deciding a side, yes Carolina was great all year versus the NFC South, and yes they played playoff-styled ball all year in tight wars, but they beat a suspect Rams squad that was handled by the Lions the week before in 30 unanswered form, and best a limping-to-finish/happy-to-show-up Dallas team that was 2-3 the last 5 weeks, then sat on a Philly team that Favre & Co waited on for the last 3 quarters to catch-up such a small margin at home.
Carolina I do believe in, as I like the way they have won easier than the score in all 3 playoff tilts thus far, but they have had a relatively easy ticket, whereas the Patriots beat two teams that I would make small favorites over the Panthers on a neutral field in a money-game.
This Pats team isn't the upstart squad of two years ago(even though I believe BB holds them back at times Offensively), they can play all styles of ball if need be, and Belichik can take away more of Carolina's bread-and-butter with two weeks to prep than can Fox do to the Pats..imho..tougher call than appears?
Yes NE plays down to competition at times, yes they like all good teams in the NFL had an easy route(as the NFL had a mediocre middle-tier & putrid bottom-feeders this fall), NE's romp thru the AFC East is misleading for sure looking back on the usual December Miami collapse, Indy's Defense, KC's D, and Denver being a fake with a late rush to get in, hell even a beat-up/limited arsenal Tennessee was damn near the best team in the NFL this fall(& the playoff scores/stats will bear it out), and though I loved Carolina over Philly, I still must ponder this game before deciding a side, yes Carolina was great all year versus the NFC South, and yes they played playoff-styled ball all year in tight wars, but they beat a suspect Rams squad that was handled by the Lions the week before in 30 unanswered form, and best a limping-to-finish/happy-to-show-up Dallas team that was 2-3 the last 5 weeks, then sat on a Philly team that Favre & Co waited on for the last 3 quarters to catch-up such a small margin at home.
Carolina I do believe in, as I like the way they have won easier than the score in all 3 playoff tilts thus far, but they have had a relatively easy ticket, whereas the Patriots beat two teams that I would make small favorites over the Panthers on a neutral field in a money-game.
This Pats team isn't the upstart squad of two years ago(even though I believe BB holds them back at times Offensively), they can play all styles of ball if need be, and Belichik can take away more of Carolina's bread-and-butter with two weeks to prep than can Fox do to the Pats..imho..tougher call than appears?
The New England Patriots, 24-14 winners over Indianapolis on Sunday in the AFC title game, were made a seven-point favorite over the Carolina Panthers by four of the biggest Las Vegas sports books.
The Panthers earned a spot in the Super Bowl in Houston with a 14-3 victory over Philadelphia in the NFC championship game Sunday night.
Bob Scucci, Stardust sports book director, said he posted a seven-point line with eight minutes left in the NFC game.
He said bettors will most likely put their money on the Patriots, the most consistent NFL team this season in covering the spread.
"Right now the Patriots look like the best team,'' Scucci said. "I think we'll see a lot of money on them in the Super Bowl. I don't think anybody beats them this year.''
John Avello, director of Race & Sports Book operations at Bally's Las Vegas, and the Las Vegas Sports Consultants also had the Patriots as seven-point favorites.
The initial odds put out by bookmakers 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 37- to 38-point over-under line, meaning bettors can put money on whether the teams combine to score more or less than that amount. The oddsmakers said they expect that number to rise.
Robert Walker, sports book director at The Mirage hotel-casino, said he also tapped the Patriots as seven-point favorites.
Walker added that professional gamblers had bet on Carolina throughout the playoffs, and he didn't expect that to change.
"I think Carolina will give New England a better game,'' Walker said. "I do like New England in the game, but seven is a lot of points.''
Charlie
The Panthers earned a spot in the Super Bowl in Houston with a 14-3 victory over Philadelphia in the NFC championship game Sunday night.
Bob Scucci, Stardust sports book director, said he posted a seven-point line with eight minutes left in the NFC game.
He said bettors will most likely put their money on the Patriots, the most consistent NFL team this season in covering the spread.
"Right now the Patriots look like the best team,'' Scucci said. "I think we'll see a lot of money on them in the Super Bowl. I don't think anybody beats them this year.''
John Avello, director of Race & Sports Book operations at Bally's Las Vegas, and the Las Vegas Sports Consultants also had the Patriots as seven-point favorites.
The initial odds put out by bookmakers 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 37- to 38-point over-under line, meaning bettors can put money on whether the teams combine to score more or less than that amount. The oddsmakers said they expect that number to rise.
Robert Walker, sports book director at The Mirage hotel-casino, said he also tapped the Patriots as seven-point favorites.
Walker added that professional gamblers had bet on Carolina throughout the playoffs, and he didn't expect that to change.
"I think Carolina will give New England a better game,'' Walker said. "I do like New England in the game, but seven is a lot of points.''
Charlie
Wil, it should be an entertaining few weeks around here @Rx debating this game.
Does anyone have both squads Indoor or Intra-league numbers handy?
Reliant has a nice enmeshed surface of locking grids, and should be a comfy temp, H-town often has mild winters(sometimes downright warm & humid) which should make both teams practices run smoothly(barring rain).
For those going to the game, that haven't been to Houston ever or of late, you will be amused at the dwarfing of the Astrodome by the Reliant Center..8th Wonder Of The World..my @ss!
Does anyone have both squads Indoor or Intra-league numbers handy?
Reliant has a nice enmeshed surface of locking grids, and should be a comfy temp, H-town often has mild winters(sometimes downright warm & humid) which should make both teams practices run smoothly(barring rain).
For those going to the game, that haven't been to Houston ever or of late, you will be amused at the dwarfing of the Astrodome by the Reliant Center..8th Wonder Of The World..my @ss!
