There is no question that the public loves the Patriots. The Patriots are beginning to be considered a modern dynasty in the National Football League. Coupled with the fact that everyone considers the Jaguars to be a joke, it gives us a huge point spread.

There are plenty of reasons to like the Patriots at home after a regular-season loss to the Miami Dolphins. Whether they threw that game or not, there’s no way these Patriots are going to go down easy, but their motivation will see them win beyond 8 points. At home, in the harsh reaches of Foxboro, it is possible.

There are plenty of reasons to like the Jaguars, too. They are 12-4 this season, but their losses have come against Indianapolis, Denver and on the road to St. Louis. The largest margin of loss for any of their losses was exactly 8 points for the Indianapolis Colts. With the weather conditions in Foxboro in January, we expect a tight low score game.

Jacksonville is traditionally known as a defensive team, but if you go back to the game they finished the season with, they scored 40. They really got their offense going in their 16th game like they had for most of the season. They are trying to get into the playoffs with a lot of momentum, but going up against the Patriots’ confident veteran squad, they should struggle and it will be surprising if they win this game outright.

We suggest taking the Under 37 and Jacksonville Jaguars +8 in this game as our free soccer picks on January 7, 2006.