Here’s How Tom Brady’s Suspension Affects Patriots’ Betting Odds To Open Season
The latest Deflategate news surrounding Tom Brady sent ripples through the football world — and Las Vegas.
The Vegas wise guys scrambled to adjust betting lines after news broke Monday that the U.S. Court of Appeals reinstated Brady’s four-game suspension. Unless the New England Patriots quarterback appeals, Brady will miss the first four games of the 2016 season.
The Patriots, according to OddsShark and BetOnline, went from being a pick ’em in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals to 5.5-point underdogs after the court ruling was announced.
Luckily for the Patriots, they have a relatively favorable slate after their season opener in the desert. In Weeks 2 through 4, New England will square off against Miami, Houston and Buffalo, with all three of those coming at the friendly confines of Gillette Stadium. The Patriots remain favorites in all three games, but the lines were adjusted under the assumption Brady will sit out.
According to OddsShark and Bovada, the Patriots’ over/under win total for the four games without Brady is set at 1.5. The Patriots’ regular-season over/under wins total also took a minor hit.
The Brady news also affects the Patriots’ long-term Super Bowl odds. According to OddsShark, New England was the early favorite to win it all, with +600 odds as recently as April 5. With Monday’s news, that figure also changed, with some sportsbooks dropping the Patriots to +800 or +900, according to OddsShark.
Thumbnail photo via Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports Images
