Sunday, February 03, 2019 New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Rams (NFL) 6:30 PM EST Los Angeles Rams Premium Pick Play Title: Mike's Super Bowl Hot Points ATS Play Play Selected: Point Spread: 2.5/100 Rating: 9* (LOSS??) Analysis: Do the Patriots have the better QB with more experience? Sure! Does New England have the best HC with that same experience advantage intangible? Absolutely! Do I think that's going to matter in the end? Hell no! Here's my hot points. This team from Foxborough THRIVES on taking advantage of errors! I don't think we'll see a miraculous off-sides penalty or a reversal on a Hogan reception here that will be game-changing like they were in the AFC Championship. How improbable is NE going back to the Super Bowl after losing it the previous season? Super Bowl 53 represents the 1st time in 26 YEARS a team lost then made it back the Big One the next season. The difference between the KC & LA defenses happen to be versatility. The 71-year-old DC Wade Phillips KNOWS how to play MAN! The Chiefs' "D" could not stop the run & struggled on 3rd down. Just like the New York Giants in their previous SB wins over NE, the Rams will emulate a fierce pass rush up the middle to suffocate the pocket in relevance to time & space. Those are 2 key components for Tom Brady to establish a rhythm & control the football for 10+ minutes of possession time. Brady is a different QB when flushed & not allowed to get planted before firing downfield. I feel Talib on Gronkowski, Peters on Hogan & Robey-Coleman on Edelman is where Phillips is aiming to limit Brady's success. IF the Patriots throw traps & draws @ DT Aaron Donald, Phillips should counter with tighter coverages to limit screen pass successes (a BIG part of NE's offense). Controlling run actions are VITAL since their success opens up Brady's play-action designs. Look for OL Dante Scarnecchia to have early success. However, the depth & strength of Donald as well as Suh will take its toll. I will be shocked if NE has its usual sluggish 1st half followed by a lights-out 2nd again. I'm looking for a more balanced attack throughout. Why? Because I feel the athleticism & team depth of L.A. (a city that hasn't seen the Super bowl in 39 years) will handcuff the schemes of the Tea Men. As far as the Rams' offense is concerned, they will be READY but patient. Nobody talks too much about how KC put up 31 points on the Pats' "D" while barely being on the field for 20 minutes. What if the time of possession was even? HC Sean McVay is crafty & innovative. He's a head coach that makes chances pay off by going against the grain. They weren't 8-0 SU through October by chance. He wanted Gurley (256 carries) FRESH for this. It wasn't injury that led to more C.J. Anderson carries against New Orleans. It was planned & designed whether McVay admits it or not. Numbers ALSO show (Brady should have had 3 TO's versus KC) the team with the most turnovers has won less than 19% of SB's. In addition, 13 of the last 17 have been covered by the underdog with 10 OUTRIGHT upsets! It's very possible to ALSO see NE's run @ Super Bowl's END against the Rams which is ironically the same team it started with in Bradys' 1st back in 2002. Let's go to Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium to play the LOS ANGELES RAMS as my Super Bowl Hot Points ATS Play (buying to + 3 1/2) for 75% of play while sprinkling some 25% of the pasta on the ML! Mike Handzelek's 2018-19 Final NFL (Reg. Season & Playoffs) Overall Record: 31-18 for 63%--Finished Season #1 in NFL Winning Percentage Mike Handzelek's 2018-19 NFL Overall Record Since December 2nd: 10-5 for 67% Mike Handzelek's 2018-19 Current CBB Overall Record: 3-1 for 75% Super Bowl Review: FORTHCOMING
 

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