How Sportsbooks Reacted To Patriots’ Shocking Week 1 Win

The Patriots defied the odds in their Week 1 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, but the view from Vegas regarding New England’s 2024 outlook hasn’t changed much.

The Pats upended Cincinnati at Paycor Stadium despite closing as 8.5-point underdogs, the largest spread of Week 1. New England took advantage of a disjointed and shorthanded Bengals offense while running all over the Cincinnati front seven.

Not everyone is convinced this Patriots team is what we’ll see all season, though. Sportsbooks and bettors alike aren’t sold, as evidenced by New England’s Week 2 betting line when it welcomes the Seattle Seahawks to Gillette Stadium on Sunday.

The Patriots opened as consensus 3-point underdogs at home against the Seahawks despite their Week 1 win. Seattle also won its debut, making relatively easy work of the Broncos. A late Denver touchdown made the final score closer than it should have been, as the Seahawks had their way with Bo Nix despite winning by just a touchdown.

According to WagerTalk.com, most of the early tickets and money are on the Seahawks laying three points on the road. DraftKings Sportsbook and Circa have already moved the number to 3.5, and with heavy juice on Seattle at other books, the consensus could have the hook in no time.

Not only did the Patriots’ win do nothing to sway oddsmakers or bettors alike, they seem to feel even stronger about the position. When the schedule was released in the spring, the Seahawks opened as a 2.5-point favorite, meaning the number could jump by at least a point — despite the Patriots winning their opener in rather impressive fashion.

One early-season win shouldn’t change the season-long narrative, and that’s the case for New England in the long-term betting market, too. It’s still as high as 28-1 to win the AFC East, though it’s down to 25-1 at BetMGM from 28-1 earlier in the month.

If Week 1 was any indication, though, the Patriots might have their eyes on the point spreads ahead of Week 2, too.