NFL Betting: New Look Patriots Debut at Home Against Jaguars

The New England Patriots enter the 2011-12 sports betting season with an outlook that is completely unprecedented in the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era. Despite an NFL-best 14 regular season wins which included victories over every division winner in their conference, the Patriots couldn’t get the job done in the postseason for a second consecutive year and were left with a feeling of disappointment. Belichick has made an effort to do what it takes to get back to the level of success that the franchise experienced when the Patriots won three Super Bowls in four years, and it will be a long road that begins this Thursday as they open their preseason schedule against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ New England Patriots
Thursday August 11, 2011 – 7:30 PM ET
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
NFL Betting Lines: New England Patriots – 3

While the Patriots have constantly been in the media, the Jaguars have flown under the radar this preseason and that is exactly the way that head coach Jack Del Rio likes it. The pressure will be on Del Rio and several veterans to prove that they are capable of getting Jacksonville back into the postseason, and development as a team throughout the exhibition schedule will be crucial to their success.

NFL Betting Preview: Jacksonville Jaguars

The biggest question mark that the Jaguars need to answer this preseason is at wide receiver, where the team will need a couple of legitimate targets to step up and be more consistent. There is little doubt that running back Maurice Jones-Drew will provide consistency out of the backfield, but the rest of the offense is very suspect. Jacksonville could turn to rookie first round pick quarterback Blaine Gabbert in the opener with incumbent starter David Garrard trying to get past a minor injury, and the defense will need to be solid while the offense figures things out.

NFL Betting Preview: New England Patriots

Belichick was so desperate for improved play in the postseason that he went out and landed two of the biggest personalities in the NFL, which also happened to be two of the best talents that were available. The Patriots traded for wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, and both are expected to make their debuts on Thursday. While Ocho Cinco offers a veteran presence with good speed on the outside, Haynesworth is a mauler that can do everything on the line. New England also added defensive end Shaun Ellis this past week.

NFL Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

The Patriots won’t reveal all of their weapons and strategies in the first game of the preseason, but you can bet that they will want to put on a show for their sports betting bonus fans. The consensus Super Bowl favorites have a lot to sort out before the regular season gets underway, and the Jaguars could be the first casualty along the way.

BSN Sports Pick: New England Patriots - 3