posted June 16, 2008 at 14:36 EST in NFL Betting Trends

BetUS NFL betting odds: New England -15.5

NOTABLE STAT: New England scored 36.8 ppg last year

KEY NFL FOOTBALL BETTING TREND: Patriots are 23-2 SU in last 25, but 0-6 ATS last six

(For more useful stats and trends, visit our special Matchup Tool)

The Kansas City Chiefs (4-12 SU, 7-8-1 ATS in 2007) appear to be a team in transition. In the first week of the NFL season, their new players will get a true baptism under fire, as they visit Foxboro to take on the New England Patriots (18-1 SU, 10-9 ATS) on the Field Turf of Gillette Stadium. The scheduled game time is 1 PM ET.

In the BetUS NFL football betting odds, New England is the 15.5-point road favorite.

Here are some NFL football gambling trends as they relate to this matchup:

* NE has lost its last six games ATS

* NE has won 23 of its last 25 games SU

* NE has played six of its last seven games UNDER the total

* NE has covered one of its last six home games ATS

* NE has played its last five home games UNDER the total

* KC has lost its last nine games SU

* KC has covered three of its last nine games

* KC has lost its last four road games SU

* KC has covered six of its last seven road games

* KC has played four of its last five road games UNDER the total

* NE has won four of the last six meetings SU

* NE has covered six of the last eight meetings

* Six of the last nine meetings have gone OVER the total

New England lost Donta Stallworth to free agency, but is obviously going to retain much of its offensive potency. Tom Brady (69% completions, 50 TD's) still has Randy Moss and Wes Welker at his disposal, and Jabar Gaffney is ready to step into that third receiver role. The Pats might be grounded a little more this year, with Lawrence Maroney presumably starting this season healthy and coming off some big performances toward the end of the season. Asante Samuel, who may have been the team's top defensive player, signed with Philadelphia, which leaves a hole at corner. But can the Chiefs exploit it? Brodie Croyle gets another chance to prove he is worthy of being the starting quarterback, and he may take the Chiefs through some more rough spots while he is exercising that opportunity. Larry Johnson is naturally a major threat on the ground, and Tony Gonzalez is going to cause some havoc for New England's safeties, but Kansas City needs to have another wide receiver besides Dwayne Bowe that opponents have to game-plan for.

They lack that. And the offensive line is in the kind of transition period that could force Croyle into hasty decisions. With Kansas City inserting some new players into the defense - talented Glenn Dorsey and cornerback Brandon Flowers, not to mention second-year players Turk McBride and Tank Tyler - they will have their hands full. Too full.

These teams have gone on odd and opposite directions - New England of course won 18 of 19 games last year, but has failed to cover its last six and eight of its last nine, while Kansas City lost its last nine games but has covered six of its last seven on the road. And there is an interesting "X-Factor" here, and that is, how will Bill Belichick and the Pats respond to the re-emergence of the Spygate scandal? If you recall, after this subject originally came up early last season, New England went on to steamroll one opponent after another, as if to make a statement. I think there is a distinct possibility the same thing happens here.

So yes, we will lay the 15.5 points with the New England Patriots, as it is posted in the BetUS Sportsbook NFL odds.

JAY'S PLAY: NEW ENGLAND (-15.5) **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

The 2008 NFL betting season is coming, and if you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. The BetUS sportsbook has NFL odds up on a ton of games, totals and propositions, and you will also find NFL future lines up for the Super Bowl as well. Join BetUS today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLII and beyond!

(Charles Jay of eBookies.com is a member of the NFL too - that is, "not for long" if you don't get results. He is now a regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room)