New York mobile sports betting fans have a state favorite to root for as the third-seeded and AFC East champion Buffalo Bills (11-6) will host the sixth-seeded and AFC East nemesis New England Patriots (10-7) in an AFC wild-card matchup Saturday night in Orchard Park at (CBS, 8:15 p.m.).
This will be the third matchup of the two teams and, according to two mobile sports betting platforms that launched live last weekend in the Empire State, it figures to be a close one.
As of early Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings New York listed the Bills as a 3.5-point and -190 moneyline favorite, with the Patriots at +160 on the moneyline. The over/under total points number stands at 42.5.
Caesars Sportsbook NY has the Bills as a 4-point and -200 moneyline favorite, with the Patriots listed as a +170 moneyline underdog. The over/under total points is 43.
If you are leaning toward betting on the game, take a look at our NewYorkBets.com guide on how to bet on sports.
In this matchup, the underdog is 5-1-1 against the spread in the past seven meetings.
Buffalo Can Have Frozen Tundra, Too
The Patriots return to upstate New York, where they won, 14-10, on Dec. 6 in brutal cold and windy weather conditions. Quarterback Mac Jones threw just three passes as New England used a dominant rush attack with 46 carries for 221 yards and one touchdown.
Saturday’s weather is expected to be even colder: Partly cloudy skies, winds of 5-10 mph and the temperature at 1 degree, with wind chills much worse. No snow is expected.
The Bills bounced back against the Pats on the road with a 33-21 victory on Dec. 26. Quarterback Josh Allen threw for three TDs and took control back in the AFC East for Buffalo. The Bills outgained the Pats in yards, 428-288.
The Patriots enter Saturday coming off a 33-24 loss at Miami to end the regular season. The Pats have allowed 24 points or more in three of their past four games, going 1-3 during that span.
Bills Seek 5th Straight Win
The Bills are on a four-game win streak, all by double digits. They captured their second consecutive AFC East title last Sunday with a 27-10 home win over their down-state neighbor and AFC East foe New York Jets to move to the No. 3 seed.
Allen completed 24 of 45 passes for two touchdowns and also ran for 63 yards against the Jets. Devin Singletary had 19 carries for 88 yards with one score. Buffalo has the league’s No. 1 defense in points allowed per game (17), just ahead of New England (17.8 ppg).
NewYorkBets.com prediction: The Bills enter the playoffs on a high note as the Patriots are looking to find their way again under rookie quarterback Mac Jones. The Bills would like to redeem themselves at home to make up for their weak effort in Week 13 and just seem to looking ahead to bigger and better things. Look for the defense to step up against the Pats’ run game and Allen to throw two TDs as the Bills advance to the divisional round next week. Bills 27, Patriots 17.
