by Darren Moore
The outcome of the first MNF encounter between the Patriots and the Bills is difficult to predict. Despite the fact that many believed the AFC East would be wrapped up by the beginning of December, the top place is still up for grabs heading into Week 13. Check out this week’s NFL Schedule.
The Patriots will be able to take advantage of this Monday Night Football matchup to get some extra rest. On the Moneyline betting odds though, Bovada Sportsbook has them as small +120 underdogs, which based on several factors could represent value.
New England will come into this game on the heels of six straight victories, all of which came with a cover of the point spread. As a result, the Patriots are the hottest team in the NFL at the moment, but are they destined for a letdown at some point? Maybe.
On Monday, they will face off against a dynasty in the football world. Though they haven’t been flawless and have had a few poor performances, the Buffalo Bills are the best team in the NFL statistically speaking. They are sixth in the NFL in yards per play (5.9) and first in opponent yards per play (5.9), according to NFL statistics. The Patriots, on the other hand, are ranked 14th and third in those categories, respectively.
What happened in Week 12?
The Buffalo Bills defeated the New Orleans Saints 31-6 on Thanksgiving Day, out gaining them by 361-190 yards and controlling the ball for nine additional minutes. Joey Allen rushed for 43 yards and threw four touchdown passes in the game’s final minutes. This excellent team effort was only marred by the fact that the shutout was lost in the last 15 minutes.
New England is also coming off of a convincing victory in Week 12. The Patriots were able to gain over 100 yards on the ground against the Tennessee Titans, but it was Mac Jones who made the biggest impact. The teenage quarterback passed for 310 yards and two touchdowns, good for the second-best quarterback rating of his brief career. In the upcoming game against Buffalo, head coach Bill Belichick will be aiming for a similar performance, but will it be enough?
Despite their overall strength, the Bills do have one weakness: they have trouble stopping the run. This season, running backs such as Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor have performed admirably against the Bills, but Belichick does not have a workhorse in the same league as Taylor and Henry. As a result, the Bills should be favoured on the odds to win. It will, however, be a close race, as seen by the tight betting lines offered by the majority of online sports books.
Darren lives & breathes sports betting and is always sniffing out his next value bet. His favourite sports to bet on are the NFL, horse racing and UFC but he will bet on anything if he thinks the odds are favourable.
