The Patriots dynasty began with a 20-17 win over the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. Now the two teams will meet again 18 years later in Super Bowl LIII with the Patriots a small favorite over Los Angeles.

When the teams faced off in 2002, New England was a 14-point underdog. As the third-largest underdogs in Super Bowl history, the Patriots joined Joe Namath’s Jets as the only teams to win outright when getting two touchdowns or more.

This time, it’s New England that will likely be favored at kickoff. The Super Bowl line originally opened Rams -1/-1.5 but early money came pouring in on New England, moving the Patriots to a small favorite in less than an hour. New England is up to -2.5 at some books, while the total is 58 after opening at as high as 59.

The Patriots defeated the Chiefs 37-31 in overtime in a thrilling AFC Championship as 3-point underdogs. It was the first time in 69 games the Patriots closed as an underdog. The Rams also won in overtime on the road by defeating the Saints 26-23. It was the first time in NFL history both Conference Championship Games ended in overtime. Los Angeles wasn’t an underdog once during the regular season but will close the year catching points in back-to-back games.

Here are the opening and current Super Bowl betting odds at some of the major sportsbooks in New Jersey and Las Vegas:

FanDuel

Opening Line: Rams -1, 59
Current Line: Patriots -1.5, 58

DraftKings

Opening Line: Rams -1, 59
Current Line: Patriots -2, 57.5

SugarHouse

Opening Line: Rams -1
Current Line: Patriots -2, 57.5

Westgate LV SuperBook

Opening Line: Rams -1, 58
Current Line: Patriots -1.5, 58

William Hill

Opening Line: Pick, 58.5
Current Line: Patriots -2.5, 58

South Point

Opening Line: Pick, 58
Current Line: Patriots -2, 58.5

Golden Nugget

Opening Line: Patriots -1, 59
Current Line: Patriots -2.5, 58.5

CG Technology

Opening Line: Patriots -1, 58
Current Line: Patriots -1.5, 58.5

Sportsbooks come out ahead in Championship Games

For the most part, sportsbooks made out on Sunday with the Rams-Saints game going under and the Patriots winning outright. It was almost a bonanza for the books when it appeared the Patriots-Chiefs game would also go under the total of 56. New England led just 17-7 after three quarters. Then the two teams exploded for 44 points in a wild fourth quarter/overtime to put the game over.

Nick Bogdanovich, Director of Trading at William Hill, told RotoGrinders on Friday, ” The only thing I know for sure is we’ll need both unders this weekend. The public will be very involved in these games and they tend to bet over. Most parlays will have overs. We’ll definitely be rooting for the under in both games.”

While action is different at each book, places like the South Point, Westgate LV SuperBook and Golden Nugget had more liability on the Chiefs money line, not to mention parlays and teasers. While the ticket count was split on the spread, many sportsbooks made out with the Patriots winning outright.

“The public is all over the Chiefs as far as parlays and teasers,” Tony Miller, Sportsbook Director at the Golden Nugget Las Vegas, said on Sunday. “Overall ticket count is way higher on the Chiefs but straight bets are pretty even.”

Dogs have been barking in the Super Bowl

The Patriots opened the season with +750 odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Rams were +1200 back in August. New England loves embracing the underdog role but it’s the Rams who will have recent history on their side if they close catching points as expected. Underdogs are 6-1 SU and ATS in the last seven Super Bowls.

The general public may have Patriots fatigue with New England appearing in its ninth Super Bowl in 18 years, but it’s not translating over to the betting market. Last season, Nevada produced a record Super Bowl handle of $158 million in the Eagles’ upset over the Patriots. Many are predicting that record will be broken for the second straight year.

“I think we’ll see a huge handle for the Super Bowl no matter who is there,” Bogdanovich said before Sunday’s Championship Games. “Record betting numbers.”