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Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job
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Richard Gardner, manager at Costa Rica-based Bodoglife.com, explained why New England's line gets higher every week.
"It's not so much that the bookmakers don't think the Pats can cover lines over 20 as they've proven all season that they can. The bookmakers are trying to set the line so high that it will scare off a lot of bettors," Gardner said. "Unfortunately, the bettors keep betting on the Patriots regardless of the line and the Patriots are doing their part."
Even local bookies, including a few in Eagles-crazed South Philly, are keeping this one around 23 or 24. Normally, they shift it 1½-2 points because the hometown action naturally is on the Eagles.
Not this week.
"They love their Eagles, but they ain't stupid," said a bookie known as Paulie Walnuts because he bears a striking resemblance to the character on The Sopranos with that nickname.
Anthony Traverisi, a die-hard Eagles fan with the team's helmet tattooed on his calf, plans to put a large sum on New England. He claimed betting the Patriots paid his mortgage twice since September.
"I'd feel like a traitor if the number was smaller and I bet against the Eagles," he said. "They ain't winning anything this year, so I'm going where the money's at."
"It's not so much that the bookmakers don't think the Pats can cover lines over 20 as they've proven all season that they can. The bookmakers are trying to set the line so high that it will scare off a lot of bettors," Gardner said. "Unfortunately, the bettors keep betting on the Patriots regardless of the line and the Patriots are doing their part."
Even local bookies, including a few in Eagles-crazed South Philly, are keeping this one around 23 or 24. Normally, they shift it 1½-2 points because the hometown action naturally is on the Eagles.
Not this week.
"They love their Eagles, but they ain't stupid," said a bookie known as Paulie Walnuts because he bears a striking resemblance to the character on The Sopranos with that nickname.
Anthony Traverisi, a die-hard Eagles fan with the team's helmet tattooed on his calf, plans to put a large sum on New England. He claimed betting the Patriots paid his mortgage twice since September.
"I'd feel like a traitor if the number was smaller and I bet against the Eagles," he said. "They ain't winning anything this year, so I'm going where the money's at."
