Riding Patriots on money line is losing wager

With the New England Patriots' stunning fall now a certainty without Tom Brady at quarterback, the NFL's hierarchy is being redefined.

The Dallas Cowboys, behind Tony Romo and an explosive offense, are taking over at the top as the team oddsmakers respect the most.

But it was the Patriots who made the biggest mark Sunday, and they did it by getting embarrassed by one of the league's worst teams.

There were three double-digit favorites in Week 3 -- Buffalo, New England and the New York Giants -- and none covered the spread. The Pats were the only one to lose outright, falling 38-13 to the disrespected Miami Dolphins.

"We were kind of worried about this week's games," Las Vegas Hilton sports book director Jay Kornegay said. "The schedule was basically a recipe for disaster because all the home teams were favored except for Dallas.

"Most people, obviously, were going to bet the favorites. We were definitely going to need some underdogs to not only cover but also win some games."

The Dolphins, who were 1-17 the past two seasons, ended the Patriots' league-record 21-game winning streak in the regular season.

"The big upset was New England going down, and that really helped us," Kornegay said. "There was a large amount of money-line bets on the Patriots."

Miami, which was outscored 51-24 in its first two losses, dominated as Ronnie Brown rushed for four touchdowns and passed for one.

Favorites went 12-3 straight up and 9-6 against the spread Sunday.

Chicago and Indianapolis were the other favorites to lose outright. The Bears, 3-point favorites, fell to Tampa Bay 27-24 in overtime. The Colts, 5-point favorites, lost to Jacksonville 23-21 on a field goal with four seconds to play.

Buffalo closed as a 10-point favorite in a 24-23 victory over Oakland, and the Giants were 13-point favorites in a 26-23 overtime victory over Cincinnati.

Kornegay said his book split its four major decisions Sunday. The public backed Atlanta and San Francisco, two small favorites that won big. The books needed Minnesota and Tampa Bay. The Vikings were 3-point favorites in a 20-10 victory over Carolina.

New England's loss blew up enough money-line parlays, Kornegay said, to help make the day a winner for the books.

"I'm not saying it was a great day. But this was the first week that went our way," Kornegay said. "The first two weeks of the NFL went in the bettors' favor."

Denver improved to 3-0 with a 34-32 victory over New Orleans. Drew Brees passed for 421 yards and one touchdown to help the Saints cover as 51/2-point underdogs. The game flew over the total of 51.

The Cowboys, the only road favorite of the week, covered a 3-point spread by beating Green Bay, 27-16. Romo passed for 260 yards and a touchdown and Marion Barber rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown.

San Diego, 0-2 and desperate, is an 81/2-point favorite over Brett Favre and the New York Jets tonight. The total is 44.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.