With Tom Brady no longer under center and numerous contributors from last year’s first-rate defense no longer in the mix, the betting public believes 2020 is the first time in 18 years that Bill Belichick fails to coach the New England Patriots to at least 10 wins. Armed with questions under center and the public’s belief that the talent simply just isn’t as good as it once was due to a murky salary cap situation, the Pats certainly look ripe for the taking. Linemakers at Bookmaker.eu seem to hold the same belief with New England’s season win total odds a full 1.5-games lower than its 2019 offering. Currently, the Patriots are owners of a 9-game season win total with heavy -140 juice attached to the under. So are we really to believe this is going to be the year the Pats dynasty is halted? Those hitting the win total odds early on certainly think so!
New England Patriots Season Win Total: 9 Over +116
Last year’s team went on to win 12 games and surpass their 11-game season win total odds. It wasn’t easy to get there either with the team going on to lose three of its final five games which included a devastating 27-24 home loss to the Miami Dolphins as 17.5-point favorites. The defeat cost them a first round bye and forced them to run up against the Tennessee Titans team in the Wild Card Round that simply proved to be too much. Derrick Henry’s punishing style was darn near close to impossible for the Pats fatigued and injured defense to stop evidenced by the 182 yards and 1 TD surrendered to No. 22. Tom Brady’s final pass as a Patriot ended up being the only points scored of the second half after Logan Ryan pick-sixed his offering and allowed Tennessee to put the finishing touches on the 20-13 outright win and cover. It was a bitter end to a bitter end of season for New England which many believed signified the end of the championship run of the franchise.
New England Patriots Football Schedule
Week 1: Dolphins at Patriots, Sunday, September 13, 1 p.m. ET
Week 2: Patriots at Seahawks, Sunday, September 20, 8:20 p.m. ET
Week 3: Raiders at Patriots, Sunday, September 27, 1 p.m. ET
Week 4: Patriots at Chiefs, Sunday, October 4, 4:25 p.m. ET
Week 5: Broncos at Patriots, Sunday, October 11, 1 p.m. ET
Week 6: Bye Week
Week 7: 49ers at Patriots, Sunday, October 25, 4:25 p.m. ET
Week 8: Patriots at Bills, Sunday, November 1, 1 p.m. ET
Week 9: Patriots at Jets, Monday, November 9, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 10: Ravens at Patriots, Sunday, November 15, 8:20 p.m. ET
Week 11: Patriots at Texans, Sunday, November 22, 1 p.m. ET
Week 12: Cardinals at Patriots, Sunday, November 29, 1 p.m. ET
Week 13: Patriots at Chargers, Sunday, December 6, 4:25 p.m. ET
Week 14: Patriots at Rams, Sunday, December 10, 8:20 p.m. ET
Week 15: Patriots at Dolphins, Sunday, December 20, 1 p.m. ET
Week 16: Bills at Patriots, Saturday, December 28, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 17: Jets at Patriots, Sunday, January 3, 1 p.m. ET
New England Patriots Schedule Analysis
So what have the Pats brought in to offer their fan base some relief? Truthfully, not much. The offense sorely needed a fantastic WR to pair with Julian Edelman, but failed to snag one in a draft rich on receiving talent. It is however possible the team snagged that pass catching playmaker last season with the first round selection of ASU WR N’Keal Harry who missed all of last season. Damiere Byrd and Matthew Slater are also expected to play prominent roles in the passing game. Even so, it could end up meaning next to nothing as tough a schedule New England is faced with in 2020. With the defense basically losing its entire LB corps, it’s pretty safe to assume the Patriots won’t be nearly as tough as they were on opposing running games a season ago. Tua Tagovailoa and the Fins enhanced backfield will likely look to take advantage right out of the chute in Week 1. If not, you can bet Pete Carroll and Brian Schottenheimer will do exactly just that the following week in front of the 12th Man. The new-look Raiders pay Foxboro a visit the following week, and then it’s off to KC for a run-in with Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champs. They’ll then head into their bye in Week 6 off a likely tougher than expected home matchup against the upstart Denver Broncos. Anything less than a 3-2 record at this juncture would make it almost impossible for the team to surpass its season win total.
While everyone looks to be eager to throw their hard earned money down against “The Hoodie,” I have no reservations whatsoever in seeing what he can do with this bunch without the presence of his safety valve around to bail him out. Finally, NFL bettors and fans finally get to see if it’s the philosophy or the personnel that made New England one of the most successful dynasties in the history of the league. The Pats are favored in nine of their first 15 games with the Week 17 tilt against the Jets undecided due to the unknown scenarios the final week of the season normally brings with it. Regardless, six of their games currently have betting lines of less than 3-points meaning each is considered to be a toss-up. I personally believe there’s some decent talent remaining on this roster that should be good enough to compete in the up and coming AFC East. Miami is still in its infancy of turning it around. The Jets are still the Jets, while the Bills are without a doubt the Pats biggest obstacle that could end its 11-year reign as division champs. Even so, you got to beat the champ to become the champ and I need to see Buffalo pull it off before I buy in; Jarrett Stidham or no Stidham!
New England Patriots Season Win Total Prediction: Over 9 +116
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