Harvard began playing football in 1873.
Phillips first played Exeter in 1878.
The Wellesley-Needham high school rivalry dates back to 1882.
The NFL expanded to Boston 91 years ago.
George Marshall and his three partners were awarded an expansion NFL franchise. The team, composed of leftovers from the Cleveland Tornadoes, were incarnated as the Boston Braves for the 1932 season. The Braves became the Redskins in 1935 because of “so much confusion” caused by them sharing the same name as Boston’s National League baseball team.
The team’s coach, Lone Star Dietz, was “an Indian” and the team had “several Indian players,” so Marshall said the upgraded moniker was a natural.
The 1933 Boston Redskins finished 5-5-2. The 2023 Patriots would do well to match that mediocrity.
The Boston Redskins reached the NFL Championship Game in 1936. Marshall shifted the game from Fenway Park to the Polo Grounds in New York due to poor home attendance. The Redskins bolted to Washington, D.C., in 1937.
A full season of pro football would not return to Boston until the Patriots arrived with the AFL in 1960.
Every game played by every team mentioned above had one thing in common:
Gambling.
Gambling on football has existed since football has existed.
If you cannot accept that historic reality, you might not be emotionally equipped to handle the truth about the Tooth Fairy, Hogwarts, or anything on the Disney Channel.
What is new in 2023 is that anyone over 21 is able to legally bet on the NFL in Massachusetts for the first time.
Thousands of legal NFL wagers have already been made at the eight mobile and three retail sports books in Massachusetts.
Team futures. Player futures. Playoff futures.
There are betting lines available on each of the Patriots 17 regular-season games this season, depending on where you chose to invest, er wager, your money.
Here is the rundown, via DraftKings. And our pick for each game against the spread.
In my other life (shameless plug alert), I am a Senior Betting Analyst with bookies.com. That doesn’t necessarily mean I have any idea I know what I am doing when I pick games. But it does sound pretty cool to someone who used to bet parlay cards when he was 11 years old and spent his teen years at Wonderland and Raynham Park.
Our only guarantee here is … fun.
Week 1
Sept. 10 – Gillette Stadium
Eagles at Patriots (+4.5)
Pick: Patriots +4.5
Buzz: Tom Brady Day – Take 1. Bill Belichick can’t take another “L” with Brady watching in Foxboro. He’ll have his defense ready for Philly. Think Super Bowl 36.
Week 2
Sept. 17 – Gillette Stadium
Dolphins at Patriots (+2.5)
Pick: Patriots +2.5
Buzz: Heartburn. Profanity. Angina. It’s all here.
Week 3
Sept. 24 – MetLife Stadium
Patriots (+4.5) at Jets
Pick: Jets -4.5
Buzz: The Patriots have won 13 in a row (straight up) against the Jets. But Aaron Rodgers is 128-88 ATS since 2009. He’ll get the cover here.
Week 4
Oct. 1 – Jerry World
Patriots (+4.5) at Cowboys
Pick: Cowboys -4.5
Buzz: If Dak & Co. can hold on to the ball, this will be an easy home cover for the ‘Boys.
Week 5
Oct. 8 – Gillette Stadium
Saints at Patriots (-2.5)
Pick: Patriots -2.5
Buzz: Derek Carr and the Saints are just one of three teams that are underdogs to the Patriots this season. After a brutal first four weeks, the Patriots should win and cover at home, especially at this number.
Week 6
Oct. 15 – Allegiant Stadium
Patriots (+1) at Raiders
Pick: Patriots +1
Buzz: All the Ghosts of Hoodie Past are on the marquee in Sin City this week. Coach Josh McDaniels. QB Jimmy Garoppolo. DE Chandler Jones. Part-owner Tom Brady. Redemption for 2022.
Week 7
Oct. 22 – Gillette Stadium
Bills at Patriots (+3.5)
Pick: Bills -3.5
Buzz: This line could balloon between now and kickoff. If you’re in the mood to back Buffalo here, wager now and beat the rush.
Week 8
Oct. 29 – SunLife/Jimmy Buffet/Publix/Hard Rock Stadium
Patriots (+4) at Dolphins
Pick: Dolphins -4
Buzz: The Patriots haven’t been the same in South Florida since they tore down the Orange Bowl.
Week 9
Nov. 5 – Gillette Stadium
Commanders at Patriots (-3.5)
Pick: Patriots -3.5
Buzz: No happy homecoming for the Redskins, er, Commanders this week.
Week 10
Nov. 12 – Frankfurt Stadium
Patriots (-4) vs Colts
Pick: Patriots -4
Buzz: Bill Belichick’s defense vs. a 21-year-old, rookie quarterback who played just 24 games at Florida? Anthony Richardson ist kaputt.
Week 11
BYE WEEK
Buzz: No days off. Rake those leaves.
Week 12
Nov. 26 – MetLife Stadium
Patriots (+1.5) at NY Giants
Pick: Giants -1.5
Buzz: Two feeble offenses serve up a leftover turkey on Thanksgiving Day weekend.
Week 13
Dec. 3 – Gillette Stadium
LA Chargers at Patriots (+1.5)
Pick: Chargers -1.5
Buzz: The Bolts and their high-voltage offense have their phasers set on “cover.”
Week 14
Dec. 7 – Heinz Field
Patriots (+2) at Steelers
Pick: Patriots +2
Buzz: The Steelers have gone from “Terrible Towels” to “Just Terrible.” A Thursday night game that could well be flexed back to Sunday, or 2025.
Week 15
Dec. 18 – Gillette Stadium
Chiefs at Patriots (+4)
Pick: Chiefs -4
Buzz: We’re being asked to believe – factoring in the 3 points automatically given to the home team – that the Patriots would be just a 1-point underdog to the Chiefs on a neutral field this Monday night. Perhaps oddsmakers believe Patrick Mahomes II will have homefield clinched.
Week 16
Dec. 24 – Empower Field at Mile High
Patriots (+2) at Broncos
Pick: Broncos -2
Buzz: Who can think of a better way to spend Christmas Eve than watching Sean Payton and Russell Wilson tear up the Patriots defense? “Ho! Ho! Ho! Now I have a real coach.”
Week 17
Dec. 31 – Highmark Stadium
Patriots (+6.5) at Bills
Pick: Bills -6.5
Buzz: The Patriots end a year to forget by getting blown out in Buffalo.
Week 18
Jan. 7 – Gillette Stadium
Jets at Patriots (+1)
Pick: Patriots +1
Buzz: The Jets may need a win here to reach the playoffs. All the more reason they’ll find an inconceivable way to lose.
Bill Speros (@RealOBF and @BillSperos) can be reached at bsperos1@gmail.com.