Oddsmakers think Patriots will finish with a losing record again in 2021

Coming off their first losing season in two decades, the New England Patriots decided to make some big investments in both free agency and the draft. As a result, they have a much improved team on paper — one that could very well bounce back from its 7-9 record last year.

However, the oddsmakers are less confident in that happening. According to game-by-game predictions by Westgate Superbook, New England is currently favored in just seven of its games this year:

• Week 1: vs Miami Dolphins (-2 1/2)
• Week 2: at New York Jets (-3)
• Week 3: vs New Orleans Saints (+1)
• Week 4: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3 1/2)
• Week 5: at Houston Texans (-6)
• Week 6: vs Dallas Cowboys (-1)
• Week 7: vs New York Jets (-6)
• Week 8: at Los Angeles Chargers (+2 1/2)
• Week 9: vs Carolina Panthers (PK)
• Week 10: vs Cleveland Browns (+2)
• Week 11: at Atlanta Falcons (+1 1/2)
• Week 12: vs Tennessee Titans (-1)
• Week 13: at Buffalo Bills (+7)
• Week 15: at Indianapolis Colts (+5 1/2)
• Week 16: vs Buffalo Bills (+3 1/2)
• Week 17: vs Jacksonville Jaguars (-5 1/2)
• Week 18: at Miami Dolphins (+2 1/2)

While some of the numbers do seem reasonable at this point in time, others are a bit curious from the current perspective. The Patriots are favored to beat Tennessee, for example, but are expected to lose comparatively convincingly against a Colts team with more questions across its roster. New England also is expected to lose against the post-Drew Brees Saints and the Falcons led by a new coaching staff.

Obviously, all of those predictions could turn out to be accurate — a lot can and will happen between now and when the games are actually played — but for the time being we will refer to the more optimistic projections made by Pats Pulpit’s own Matthew Rewinski.