LAS VEGAS - The New England Patriots' record-setting pace includes the betting odds, too.
The undefeated Patriots were made 27-point favorites over the New York Jets in the opening line for Sunday's game in Foxborough, Mass.
The line dropped to 24 yesterday, which would match San Francisco's record opening-line point spread over Cincinnati Dec. 5, 1993, according to Keith Glantz, coauthor of the Glantz-Culver betting line. The 49ers won that game, 21-8.
New England was a 22-point opening-line pick over the Eagles. The point spread grew to 24 by game day Nov. 25, but the Patriots struggled to beat the visiting Eagles, 31-28.
New England is 13-0 after routing Pittsburgh on Sunday, while the Jets are 3-10.
"When the Patriots are not playing the elite, they tend to run up the score," Glantz said. "The opponent just can't seem to stop them."
He said the point spread dropped because of the possibility of poor playing conditions. "If the weather is bad - ice, sleet or rain - it will affect the game," Glantz said.