The New England Patriots are gearing up to hit the field for the first time in seven months as their preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers approaches on Thursday night. Although it’s just an exhibition game, some Vegas oddsmakers have already set expectations for the matchup.
DraftKings Sportsbook is the latest to release their odds for the Patriots’ first preseason game, and the early projections favor New England. According to DraftKings, the Patriots are listed with a -7 spread and a strong money line advantage at -305. The over/under for the game is set at 33.5 points.
The surge for the Patriots likely stems from Carolina’s decision to rest starting QB Bryce Young for the preseason opener, along with veteran Andy Dalton dealing with a calf injury, leaving rookie Jack Plummer to start as QB1 for the night.
For the Patriots, the outlook is more favorable. Jerod Mayo mentioned that all healthy players on the roster are expected to play, including third-overall pick Drake Maye, who is set to see significant action.
In addition to Maye, Mayo indicated that each of the Patriots’ four quarterbacks will get playing time. This includes Jacoby Brissett, Bailey Zappe, and rookie Joe Milton III, all securing valuable snaps early in the year.
Despite New England’s plans to rotate heavily at the QB position, they are favored by a touchdown at home. This game could serve as a strong momentum builder as the team heads toward a highly-anticipated regular season in Foxboro. Expect the Patriots’ defense to capitalize on facing an inexperienced QB and potentially secure a big win to kick off their 2024 campaign.
The Patriots and Panthers will kick off their seasons Thursday night at 7:00 PM ET on NFL Network.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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