While the New England Patriots came up one game short in their quest to win Super Bowl 53, the perennially powerful Pats had another fantastic campaign and will enter the 2018 regular season looking to win their third Super Bowl title in the last five years.
Whether they can pull off the feat or not under the ageless Tom Brady and incomparable Bill Belichick, one thing is certain. The Patriots have a bunch of must-see, must-bet matchups that no football betting aficionado should miss out on. Here’s my betting take on those contests!
New England Patriots 2018 NFL Betting Guide
Who will lead the Patriots in receptions in 2018?@SamsoniteUSA Make Your Case: https://t.co/EwfKAnDHSi pic.twitter.com/vQFTdD8Buw
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) June 29, 2018
Week 1: Sunday Sept. 9, vs. Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET
I kept saying that Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson should have been the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft and he showed everyone just that as he nearly pulled off a huge upset of the Pats in Week 3 before falling to a late Tom Brady TD strike with less than 30 seconds remaining. I’m expecting another thriller and a virtually identical outcome in this Week 1 rematch of that ‘Instant Classic’
NFL Betting Pick: Patriots 35 Texans 31
Week 2: Sunday Sept. 16, at Jacksonville Jaguars, 4:25 p.m. ET
Dare I say it, but the Jaguars will get some revenge in their 2018 home opener after falling to the Pats 24-20 in a thriller in the AFC Championship game last season.
NFL Betting Pick: Jaguars 27 Patriots 24
Week 4: Sunday Sept. 30, vs. Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET
If the Patriots don’t blow the Dolphins off the field in this Week 4 matchup, I’ll be completely stunned. I say back New England despite the fact that they’ll likely be a double-digit home favorite in this Week 4 matchup against their longtime AFC East divisional rivals.
NFL Betting Pick: Patriots 31 Dolphins 21
Week 5: Thursday Oct. 4, vs. Indianapolis Colts, 8:20 p.m. ET
The Colts might have franchise quarterback Andrew Luck back on the field in 2018, but they’ve also got a ton of questions marks on both sides of the ball. New England wins this one going away to cover the chalk as another double-digit home fave!
NFL Betting Pick: Patriots 35 Colts 21
Week 6: Sunday Oct. 14, vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. ET
Despite the fact that Tom Brady and company will have a 10-day break between their Week 5 and 6 contests, I smell a home loss brewing in this one against Andy Reid’s Chiefs, who soundly beat the Pats 42-27 in Week 1 last year, although K.C. will now be led by second-year signal-caller Patrick Mahomes and not veteran Alex Smith.
NFL Betting Pick: Chiefs 28 Patriots 27
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, vs. Green Bay Packers, 8:20 p.m. ET
You know it’s a must-see and must-bet matchup when the best two quarterbacks in the game go at it. Unfortunately for Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, New England is the better team in all three phases.
NFL Betting Pick: Patriots 31 Packers 27
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET
Bill Belichick will be going up against one of his former players and protégées in new Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and that doesn’t bode well for a Tennessee team that will be playing this Week 10 contest on a short week after taking on Dallas the previous Monday.
NFL Betting Pick: Patriots 30 Titans 20
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, vs. Minnesota Vikings, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Vikings are now led by Mr. “You like that!” Kirk Cousins, but it doesn’t matter who’s under center. Minnesota’s defense is super powerful and I like them to hand the Pats their second home loss of the season in this one as they go all-out to stop Tom Brady.
NFL Betting Pick: Vikings 27 Patriots 21
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, at Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:25 p.m. ET
Believe it or not, the Steelers have lost five straight to the Patriots, including last season’s 27-24 home loss in Week 15. Oh well, what the hell, just back the Pats who will be on a mission by the time this Week 15 affair rolls around.
NFL Betting Pick: Patriots 28 Steelers 24
New England will close out their 2018 regular season with a pair of double-digit wins at home over the Bills in Week 16 and the Jets in their regular season finale – unless they rest their starters in Week 17!
