Super Bowl 2017 Odds: Tom Brady Suspension Changes Patriots' Championship Chances

With the news of Tom Brady’s four-game suspension comes a change in the Super Bowl LI odds. The New England Patriots had been the sole favorites to win next year’s championship, but that is no longer the case now that the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the quarterback must serve his initial "Deflategate” suspension.

New England stood alone with 6/1 Super Bowl odds at CG Technology in Las Vegas, but their odds moved to 8/1 on Monday, via ESPN.com. The Patriots now have the same title odds as the Seattle Seahawks, who lost to the Patriots in the 2015 Super Bowl just two weeks after the “Deflategate” scandal began.

Trailing the Patriots and Seahawks are the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers at 9/1. The Carolina Panthers have 10/1 odds after losing to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

Other sports books kept New England’s Super Bowl odds the same. At Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, the Patriots are still the leading favorites to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2017.

The biggest change in odds comes in the season opener. Both CG Technology and Westgate have made New England a 4.5-point underdog in their Week 1 game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Patriots had previously been one-point road underdogs.

The online betting website Sportsbook.ag has made New England a 5.5-point underdog. New England is still favored in their next three games, but the loss of Brady will cost them 3.5 to four points in the betting lines.

CG Technology has the Patriots favored by six points against the visiting Miami Dolphins. In home games against the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills, New England is favored by a field goal, having previously been favored by a touchdown.

Without Brady, the Patriots will turn to Jimmy Garoppolo. The 24-year-old was drafted in the second round in 2014, but he’s never made an NFL start. He’s appeared in 11 games, throwing for 188 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and a 91.9 passer rating. His most extensive playing time came in a blowout loss against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014 when he completed 6-7 pass attempts for 70 yards and a score.

After winning Super Bowl 50, the Denver Broncos are not among the favorites to repeat as champions. The Broncos are listed sixth at 12/1, according to vegasinsider.com.