The Belichick Factor

Just saw this online about the point spread for the Pats vs. Eagles game this Sunday. The Pats offense is good, but daaaaamn ...

Las Vegas has set the betting line for Sunday's game between the Patriots and Eagles, and New England is a 23.5-point favorite.

ESPN's Sal Paolantonio writes on ESPN.com that this is the largest point spread in NFL history for a game that does not involve an expansion team.

"Nowadays, you don't see too many spreads over 16 or 17 points," Sean Van Patten, an oddsmaker at Sports Consultants in Las Vegas, told Paolantonio. "That's because most teams take their starters out in the fourth quarter of a lopsided game. The Patriots don't. I call this phenomenon The [Bill] Belichick Factor."

Wowzers ...