Mike Seba has been doing NFL power ratings for more than 20 years. The senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants has never made a higher rating on a team than he has on New England this season.

It’s easy to understand why.

The Patriots have won and covered all seven of their games. Their average victory margin is 22 points. The closest any opponent has come to New England is 17 points.

New England opened -16 hosting Washington. The Redskins are 4-2, allowing less than 15 points a game and ranked No. 4 defensively prior to the Monday night game.

“As good as the Redskins have been playing, they won’t have a prayer if the Patriots are playing well,” Seba said.

The public keeps backing the Patriots. Some money showed up against New England this past Sunday, though, as wise guys took the big number with Miami. The Dolphins trailed 42-7 before eventually losing, 48-28.

Seba wouldn’t be surprised if the line reaches -17. Even at that high number, he cautions against trying to fade New England. Maybe it’s “Spygate” or his own warped ego, but Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn’t letting up. He even put Tom Brady back into the Miami game to throw a sixth touchdown pass.

“These professional bettors have to think about that,” Seba said. “The way Belichick plays is all out. There’s no letting up with this guy.”

How strong are the Patriots right now from a pointspread standpoint? Seba said if you took a middle-of-the-road type team – say the Detroit Lions – and had them play at Foxboro, the Patriots would be 20-point favorites.

The New Orleans Saints still don’t look very good. But they’ve won two in a row beating Seattle and Atlanta. San Francisco can’t score and is off a miserable performance against the New York Giants. So the Saints opened as 3-point road favorites against the 49ers.

Alex Smith is expected to have recovered enough from his shoulder injury to start for San Francisco. Frank Gore is banged-up, but is also expected to play. If either one can’t play, Seba said the line would go up to 3 ½ or 4.

“I would take three with San Francisco as long as Smith and Gore are playing,” Seba said. “The value with the Saints is slowly disappearing as they keep winning. I think you’re getting value at +3 with San Francisco.”

The 49ers have managed more than 200 yards of offense only twice this season. Their defense is improved, but not enough to carry a struggling offense.

Before Sunday, Pittsburgh might have been a 6-point road favorite against Cincinnati. But after the Steelers lost to the Broncos and the Bengals defeated the Jets, LVSC opened Pittsburgh at -3 ½. At some books on Monday the line was at -3.

“The Bengals look reinvigorated after their bye week in beating the Jets,” Seba said. “They could be back in rhythm. If I wanted to back the Steelers, I sure wouldn’t be laying more than three.”

Chad Pennington has thrown seven interceptions in the last four games. Unfair or not, Pennington is taking a lot of blame for the Jets’ disappointing 1-6 start. The Jets opened at -3 hosting Buffalo. If Pennington is benched for promising second-year signal-caller Kellen Clemens, there probably would be a line adjustment, according to Seba.

“If they (the Jets) make the quarterback switch the line could go down to 2 ½,” Seba said. “Clemens may be the better quarterback, but if the Jets make that switch they’re indicating that they are playing for the long-term rather than the short-term.

“The public may perceive it as a good thing, but in terms of experience it’s a down move and we would lower our power ratings on the Jets.”

Bookmakers opened Tennessee as a 7-point home favorite against Oakland. Unsure of the status of Vince Young, bookies took a middle position.

“If Kerry Collins is the quarterback it’s less than a touchdown,” Seba said. “But if Young is in the line has to be 7 ½ or 8.”

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