3* Monday Night Football SMASH on Patriots -3

Houston vs. New England, 12/10/2012 20:30 EDT, Score: 14 - 42

Point Spread: -3/-120 New England

Sportsbook: BookMaker

Result: Win

3* Monday Night Football SMASH on Patriots -3
The Patriots are in a groove. They have won their last six games with these wins coming by an average of 18.2 points. Each of their last five wins have come by six points or more.

The Texans, meanwhile, have had a couple close calls in recent weeks. They were fortunate to record wins against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions – both teams took them to overtime.

It is significant that New England enters off a win over division rival Miami. That’s because it is 10-2 against the spread the last three seasons when checking in off a victory over an AFC East opponent. The Patriots have won by an average score of 35.7 to 15.4 in this situation.

In addition, plays on Monday Night Football favorites that are coming off a win against a division rival are 54-22 ATS since 1983. Teams fitting into this system have won by an average of 10.7 points.

It is also worth mentioning how good of an investment the Patriots have been late in the season. They are 48-28 against the spread in games played in the last four weeks of the regular season over the last two decades and 30-15 against the number in such games under coach Bill Belichick.

New England is 4-0 against the spread in its last four Monday Night Football contests while Houston is 0-4 against the spread in its last four Monday nighters. Bet New England.