Football Betting – Will Miami Hand New England First Home Loss in 2 Years?

The Miami Dolphins will attempt to do something that no other team in the Football Betting world has been able to do in two years – beat the Patriots at Foxboro.

What gives the Fins a fighting chance is the fact that Bill Belichek, with Wes Welkers`s season ending injury in the last regular season game last season fresh in his mind, may opt to rest a few of his Studs for at least a part of this game.

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MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-8) vs. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (13-2)

Sunday, January 2, 1:00 PM ET

Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts

Broadcast: CBS

Football Betting Lines:

Miami: +4 (-110)

New England: -4 (-110)

Moneyline: Miami +165: New England -200

Total: 44 points

The Miami Dolphins Football Betting results may have been different if they could have played every game of the season on the road. The Fins enter Sunday`s action with as league best 6-1 road record. Unfortunately for them, they are 1-7 at home with losses to Cleveland, Buffalo and Detroit on home turf.

Miami`s offense has been completely underwhelming this season. While the 14th ranked passing game (221.40 yards per game) was supposed to take off with Chad Henne under center and Brandon Marshall coming to town, it has struggled and may be worse than their middle of the road ranking indicates.

The running game has been the biggest head scratcher of the season thus far. Anchored by Ronnie Brown and Rickie Williams, the 20th ranked rushing offense (106.60 yards per game) was supposed to be the corner stone of the team. Instead, they have remained in the bottom third of the NFL all season.

Miami’s defense is Top 10 in almost every statistical defensive category. They are 7th against the pass, 6th versus the run and are the 9th best scoring defense in the league. If the New England starters rest – advantage Miami!

The New England Patriots are once again NFL Betting Gold. But what would a Bill Belichek team be without a little mystery ahead of a game? Belichek has not said one way or another whether he will have his full lineup on the field on Sunday. I expect Belichek to do the prudent thing – with first place in the AFC and home field throughout the playoffs locked up, he will opt to sit a few of his Studs for part of the game at least.

New England’ 12th ranked passing game may take a backseat to the NFL’s surprising 11th ranked running game. Although Tom Brady has an outside shot at 4000 yards (3701 at present) and he has tosses 34 touchdowns with just four interceptions this season, the Pats are likely to take an uber-conservative approach. Look for a lot of BenJarvus Green-Ellis in this one.

Defensively, the Patriots continue to struggle against the pass and are middle of the pack when it comes to stopping the run. A few of the defensive starter may sit, but Miami’s offense isn’t likely to melt the score board anyway.

Football Betting Outlook:

The Miami Dolphins are 2-4 SU and ATS in their last six games and are 6-1 SU in their last seven on the road. The Fins are 2-5 SU against New England and 2-7 SU in their last nine trips to Gillette Stadium.

The New England Patriots are 5-0 SU overall, are 7-0 SU in their last seven games at home but are just 2-3-1 ATS in their last six on home soil. The Pats are 5-2 SU in their last seven games against Miami but are just 2-4 ATS in their last six versus the Dolphins.

The outcome of this game is completely up to Bill Belichek and what he decides to do with his regulars. I think that he learned his lesson from last season with the “Welker incident“ and maybe plays his Studs for one half. Miami is a good road team and with the Patriots “B team” in the game for a good portion, I expect the Fins to at least cover the Spread in this one. New England has quite a home winning streak going at the moment but I think that they will sacrifice it in order to give themselves a better chance in the playoffs.

Football Betting Pick: Miami Dolphins +4 

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