NFL football betting - Patriots vs Bills odds
Bet sports online: Patriots must win to stay alive
- WHO: New England Patriots (-6) at Buffalo Bills
- WHAT: NFL football betting
- WHEN: Sunday, December 28 at 1:00 p.m. ET
- WHERE: Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY
- KEY STATS: Patriots are 6-1 against the spread as a favorite of 3.5 to seven points this season; Patriots have won last five meetings and covered the spread in four of the five contests
- PICK: Patriots
Patriots vs Bills betting presents an exciting Week 17 matchup between two teams at opposite ends of the spectrum. Online sports betting observers have seen both teams lose countless players to injury, but each team has responded most differently.
The Bills lost key linebacker Angelo Crowell for the season, have missed Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Schobel for all but five games and missed starting quarterback Trent Edwards for a couple of games.
Meanwhile, the Patriots lost superstar quarterback Tom Brady for the season in Week 1, lost starting running back Laurence Maroney and have been playing without starting linebackers Adalius Thomas and Tedy Bruschi for most of the season.
While the Patriots have surprised online sports betting players and miraculously still won 10 games with the potential to win 11 and make the playoffs, the Bills are a lousy 7-8 after starting the season with five wins in their first six games.
But those who bet online know the Bills are still capable of being a spoiler, which they proved last weekend. The Bills were a six-point underdog against the Denver Broncos, who needed a win to clinch the division. But the Bills, who had won just once in their previous eight games, shocked the Broncos with a 30-23 victory.
Because of that win, the Patriots are not likely to take the Bills lightly in the Patriots vs Bills line. This is still a division rivalry between two teams who are very familiar with each other.
Online sports betting sharps might recall that the Bills lost the first meeting this season on Nov. 9. Now, they’ll be facing a much-improved Patriots offense.
Back then, it was the coming out party for BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who notched his first career 100-yard rushing game. At that time, Matt Cassel had thrown for just seven touchdowns and six interceptions on the season.
That contest against the Bills was somewhat of a turning point for Cassel, who has really blossomed and rewarded those clever enough to bet online on New England. He’s thrown for 14 touchdowns and four interceptions since that game and has led the Pats to wins in five of their last seven games overall.
Sportsbook bettors know the Patriots need a win to stay alive in the postseason race. Believe it or not, they could conceivably finish with 11 wins on the season and not make the playoffs. The Patriots need someone in front of them – either the Miami Dolphins or the Baltimore Ravens – to lose while they have to take care of business themselves.
Buffalo is finally back at home for the first time since Nov. 30 and really doesn’t have much on the line aside from pride in the Patriots vs Bills line.
The Pats are rolling and, while the Bills may have circled the wagons last week, they are still circling the drain. In this Patriots vs Bills betting matchup, stick with the team who has more momentum and more on the line.
STAN’S PICK: Bet on the Patriots to notch their 11th win of the season.
For more Patriots vs Bills betting, NFL Week 17 picks and NFL spreads, visit the betonline.com offshore sportsbook.
Stan Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or questions? .
