After the season-ending injury to Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots’ odds to win Super Bowl 48 have seen a significant adjustment at the LVH SuperBook in Las Vegas.
New England, 6-to-1 a week ago, was moved to 8-to-1 after narrowly avoiding defeat at home to the Browns on Sunday; and upon confirmation that Gronkowski sustained a torn ACL in the game against Cleveland, the Pats have been knocked down another few notches to 10-to-1.
“The loss of Gronkowski basically gives them little chance to go to the Super Bowl,” LVH oddsmaker Ed Salmons said in an email to The Linemakers on Sporting News.
The sentiment in Vegas reflects that of the NFL community at large.
Writes Sporting News’ Ross Tucker, “Gronk missing (six) games to start the year gives us a pretty good indication of the impact of his absence and it is significant. Without him the Patriots had the 22nd ranked scoring offense in the NFL. With him? Second, right behind the Denver Broncos.
“With Gronk's presence and the impact it had on the entire offense in general and Tom Brady in particular, the Patriots had become a legitimate threat to win the Super Bowl despite all of the adversity they've had to overcome. Without him that would appear to be highly unlikely.”
The Bengals, meanwhile, are just a game behind New England for the No. 2 seed in the AFC and own the tiebreaker over the Pats via their win against them in Week 5. Cincy sits at 12-to-1 to win it all, a jump from 20-to-1 last week.
For our full report on updated Super Bowl odds, visit The Linemakers on Sporting News.