Football lines at the online sportsbook are going to favor the New England Patriots a lot this season but the Patriots did suffer a major loss as linebacker Jerod Mayo was hurt in the opening win over Buffalo. Mayo sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee on Monday night against the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots are favored in NFL betting lines on the road in Week 2 at the New York Jets.
Football lines on the Patriots are usually popular as New England has a powerful offense. What is sometimes forgotten in NFL betting lines is the defense and there is no question the Patriots are not as good defensively as in the past. The loss of Mayo is huge in football lines as he was their best defensive player. He could be out anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks in football lines. Head coach Bill Belichick didn’t believe the injury was one that will keep Mayo out for a long period of time. Mayo was hurt in the first quarter of New England’s 25-24 sports betting win over Buffalo. The Patriots defense did not play that well without Mayo as they gave up 24 points and New England did not cover the football lines.
Mayo was the 2008 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year so his absence is not one to ignore when you wager on football lines. Mayo was one of the team’s two defensive captains as NFL betting lines info indicated.
Another star player that impacts football lines is Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu. He will be out for a while in football lines but he doesn’t need surgery on his left knee and should return within a month. He was hurt in the Steelers’ 13-10 overtime sports betting win over Tennessee last Thursday as football lines had it. Polamalu has a sprained medial collateral ligament as football lines notes. “Regarding an injury to the knee,” Polamalu said, “this is the best-case scenario. There’s no question I’m very blessed that this scenario has come about rather than any worse scenario.” Polamalu had six tackles and an interception in the Pittsburgh win. Tyrone Carter will start at strong safety for now as NFL betting lines show. The Steelers will be favored in football lines on a weekly basis but Polamalu will be missed. “He confuses the offense, so that’s what we’re definitely going to miss about him,” starting outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley said. “Hopefully, we’ll continue to do what we’ve been doing. It’s kind of hard to change up everything because then we’re not that same, physical defense that we’ve always been.”