The New England Patriots might be the No. 2 seed and be on the road for the AFC Championship Game, but they're certainly the favorites of the oddsmakers and the betting public coming into Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos.
Check the best odds and predictions for the AFC Championship Game here at Bookmaker.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
New England Patriots -3.5
Denver Broncos +3.5
Over/Under 44
ODDS ANALYSIS
Considering the fact that New England was always the favorite to win the AFC, it's understandable that it is laying 3.5 in this game. We suspect Denver will end up being relatively sharp by the time Sunday rolls around, particularly if this line holds with the Pats plus odds at -3.5 or at something like -3 and -130 vig.
The total is the lower of the two games at 44, a number which feels just about right.
WHEN THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL
This is the side of the ball which is probably going to win or lose this game for live bettors. The Broncos allowed a bunch of yards to the Steelers last week, but when push came to shove in the red zone, Pittsburgh had to settle for field goals instead of going for touchdowns.
It's worth remembering that the Broncos have the best defense in the NFL, especially at the cornerback spot, and that could give some issues to the undersized New England receivers who tend to have trouble getting off of the line of scrimmage.
Live bettors need to keep an eye on how quickly Tom Brady is getting the ball out of his hands. If he's forced to stand in the pocket for more than two seconds or so, Demarcus Ware and his mates are sure to be right on his back. Sebastian Vollmer might be back, but that isn't changing the fact that this line is still awfully patchwork at the moment. Without even trying the ground game, New England is going to be reliant on its passing attack for sure to win this one.
WHEN THE DENVER BRONCOS HAVE THE BALL
Peyton Manning deserved better final stats than what he had on Sunday against Pittsburgh, but no one will suggest that he had a good game. His arm is still resembling that of a wet noodle, and he isn't able to take those big shots down the field like he used to.
That said, the Patriots can really keep everything in front of them and take some chances, knowing that Manning can't uncork a ball 40 yards on a rope like the good old days.
Live bettors know that the key for Denver is the ground game. The Broncos are going to try to shorten this game as much as possible, and they'll almost certainly win the time of possession battle. For the most part, C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman were plugged up by the Pittsburgh defense, and if that happens again in this one, we doubt that Manning will be able to go another game where he puts the ball in the air darn near 40 times without throwing a pick. Just one turnover could be a disaster, especially for a team which went 24 consecutive postseason drives without a touchdown before scoring in the fourth quarter last week against the Steelers.
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos is scheduled for Sunday, January 24, 2016, at 3:05 p.m. ET at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The game will be broadcast on CBS.
