LAS VEGAS (AP) -The New England Patriots' record-setting pace includes the betting odds, too.
The undefeated Patriots were made a 27-point favorite over the New York Jets in the opening line for Sunday's game at Foxborough, Mass. The line dropped to 24 on Monday, which would match San Francisco's record point spread over Cincinnati on Dec. 5, 1993, according to Keith Glantz, co-author of the Glantz-Culver Line. The 49ers won that game 21-8.
On Dec. 3, New England was a 20-point favorite at Baltimore, a record for a road team. But the Patriots barely won, 27-24.
New England is 13-0 after routing Pittsburgh on Sunday, while the Jets are 3-10.
There's much built-up animosity between the teams. Patriots coach Bill Belichick did not want Eric Mangini, then his defensive coordinator, to take the Jets' heading coach job in 2006. And New England was caught using video to spy on Jets assistant coaches during the season opener in September.
``On the Patriots side, the Jets are the team that turned them in, and they're going for an undefeated season,'' Glantz said of the spying incident that cost Belichick a $500,000 fine, and cost the team $250,000 and a 2008 first-round draft pick. ``So they're not going to let up. When the Patriots are not playing the elite, they tend to run up the score. The opponent just can't seem to stop them.''
Still, the spread opened at 27 and went down three points.
``Part of the reason for the drop is the possibility of poor playing conditions,'' Glantz said. ``If the weather is bad - ice, sleet or rain - it will affect the game. Cold won't affect the game, it goes more with the field conditions.
``It is very difficult to make a line for this team; I have never seen a team get such high lines. The public has not gotten off the Patriots bandwagon.''
