Sunday’s AFC Championship goes a mile high as the Denver Broncos host the New England Patriots.
Here’s my Patriots vs. Broncos weather report and what it could mean for the NFL odds today.
Patriots vs Broncos weather forecast
Today’s forecast calls for cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-20s. Those temperatures could “feel like” the low teens based on the wind strength in Colorado.
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Sustained winds at 6 mph will pick up as the game goes on, climbing to 13 mph with gusts up to 15 mph blowing North corner to corner at Empower Field..
There’s a chance of snow showers late into the second half of the AFC Championship with weather models showing a 55% chance of snow starting around 2:30 p.m. ET and continuing through to the final whistle.
How Patriots vs Broncos weather impacts the odds
The forecast is much colder than expected earlier in the week, when temperatures were supposed to be in the mid-40s. NFL games do see a 8% decrease in passing production in games played at temperatures of 25 degrees or below.
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Winds aren’t strong enough to have an adjustment on the odds but if those gusts get stronger in the second half, coupled with potential snow showers, downfield visibility could be an issue on top of slippery footballs and a slick footing. The grass at Empower Field does have a heating system underneath the Kentucky bluegrass surface.
The thin air at Mile High is always a built-in edge for the Denver Broncos, sapping the energy of visiting teams. Those impacts are felt more in the second half and can have greater effects on certain roster units that are running thin on bodies.
When it comes to any prep for the altitude, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel says the team isn’t doing anything different than its regular road routine, which has helped the Pats go 8-0 SU (7-1 ATS) as a visitor.
Patriots vs Broncos bets to watch
The Broncos’ run to the No. 1 seed in the AFC was built on big second halves, rallying from halftime holes at a historic rate.
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Denver owns an average margin of +3.1 points in the final 30 minutes, and if the effects of the thinner air are working against New England in the second half, perhaps the Broncos will have more push in the championship rounds.
It’s something to keep in mind for the live in-game markets should Denver follow the game script and trail in the final two frames.
That said, New England was equally as strong in the second half this season. It allowed only 8.7 2H points per game while scoring 11.1 2H points in return.
If snow does show up in the second half, it could impact downfield visibility on deeper throws and make for tougher conditions for catching the ball.
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Monitor gametime conditions with our live NFL weather info and learn how weather impacts NFL betting.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Read the full article here
