MIAMI GARDENS (AP) — The spread between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins kept growing this week, just as it has been doing for years, and just as it is expected to do Sunday.
New England began the week as a 14-point favorite Sunday, and the number steadily rose to 18½, pushed higher partly by the prospect of Patriots newcomer Antonio Brown running free through a hapless Dolphins secondary. The signal sent by bettors: They expect a rout.
And no wonder. The defending Super Bowl champions drubbed Pittsburgh 33-3 in last week’s season opener, while the perennial also-ran Dolphins were humiliated by Baltimore 59-10.