Super Bowl 2018: Vegas Betting Odds, Updated Money Line for Eagles vs. Patriots

The New England Patriots have won five Super Bowls with the combination of head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady at the helm. 

They have also been to two other Super Bowls, and that experience in the big game could prove to be decisive when they line up at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis February 4 at 6:30 p.m. ET against the Philadelphia Eagles. 

The Eagles have not been to the Super Bowl since they dropped a 24-21 decision to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX to conclude the 2004 season.

In the end, New England's edge in Super Bowl experience and Brady's ability to come through in the late stages of the most crucial games will be difficult to overcome.

The Patriots are five-point favorites in the game, according to OddsShark. They are minus-180 (bet $180 for $100 payout) to win the game straight up, while the Eagles are plus-188 to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the game's conclusion.

New England has been able to move the ball with relative ease throughout the season, and while Brady is obviously a large part of it, the versatility of the second-ranked Patriots offense may be the biggest factor.

The Pats have been able to run the ball quite well, as Dion Lewis gained 896 yards during the regular season and averaged 5.0 yards per carry. While he has received some assistance from Mike Gillislee, Rex Burkhead and James White, Lewis has been the most consistent factor in the running game.

Whenever the Pats are getting some production from the running game, it makes the passing game that much more dangerous.

Brady threw for 4,577 yards during the regular season with 32 touchdown passes and eight interceptions, and he has a crew of dangerous receivers who can all make life difficult for opposing defensive backs. Danny Amendola stepped up with two fourth-quarter TD catches in the AFC title game, and he caught 62 passes for 659 yards and two touchdowns during the regular season.

Brandin Cooks has game-breaking speed and is New England's best deep threat. Chris Hogan was injured throughout much of the season, but he is healthy now and is a sharp route runner with excellent hands. He may play a big role in Belichick's offense.

The X-factor is likely to be the health of tight end Rob Gronkowski, who went out of the AFC Championship Game after absorbing a hard hit to the head late in the first half.

He is in the concussion protocol, and his status for the Super Bowl has not been determined. He did not practice Thursday, but that does not mean he won't be able to participate in the game. There are still nine days to go before kickoff.

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

While the Pats are solid on offense—they ranked 28th in yards allowed—Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles should be able to move the ball against the New England defense.

Foles is coming off a 352-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game. His confidence should be surging, as he has had two good games in the postseason after closing the regular season with two poor games.

Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor and tight end Zach Ertz are all capable of hurting the New England defense with big plays.

While New England has improved on defense since the start of the year, it may not be able to hold up against a balanced unit that ranked seventh in yards gained.

This should be a high-scoring, back-and-forth type of game. Look for Brady and the Patriots to assert themselves in the late stages of the fourth quarter and win their sixth Super Bowl title.