Sports books adjust odds on Patriots after Brady suspension
As soon as the NFL sacked New England quarterback Tom Brady with a four-game suspension Monday, Las Vegas oddsmakers deflated the betting lines on the Patriots.
“We’ve had some people betting against the Patriots,” said Westgate sports book manager Ed Salmons, who called the length of Brady’s suspension a “joke” because he figured it would be one or two games.
New England’s regular-season win total, which opened at 10½ (over minus-130) on May 3, has been adjusted to 10 (under minus-150). The price on the Patriots to win the AFC East dropped from minus-230 to minus-160.
The line on the Pittsburgh-New England season opener Sept. 10 was taken off the board last week, pending the league’s announcement on discipline. The Patriots opened as 6-point favorites, and the line was reposted at minus-2. The total dropped from 53½ to 49.
“After this, the Patriots are going to be so motivated to beat the Steelers,” Salmons said.
Second-year backup Jimmy Garoppolo is in line to start in place of Brady against the Steelers.
Brady was suspended after an investigation into his role in the deflation of footballs used in the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots beat the Colts 45-7 in January, and Brady won his fourth Super Bowl two weeks later.
If the harsh suspension is upheld, Brady would return Oct. 18 to face the Colts — the team that triggered the league’s investigation — in Indianapolis.
Brady would miss games against Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Jacksonville and Dallas.
Brady will appeal his suspension, his agent said late Monday, and Salmons said he’s counting on a “strong rebuttal” from the Patriots, so the Deflate-gate saga could continue well into the summer.
Las Vegas Review-Journal sports betting columnist Matt Youmans can be reached at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. He co-hosts “The Las Vegas Sportsline” weekdays at 2 p.m. on ESPN Radio (1100 AM). Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.
