Patriots are huge favorites as usual

A given in the NFL in recent seasons is that New England will win the AFC East.

The Patriots have won the division four years in a row and are expected to do so again this season.

Favored to win the Super Bowl by many so-called experts and oddsmakers, New England is an overwhelming choice over New York, Buffalo and Miami in the AFC East.

The websites Vegasinsider.com and Marsasoft.com have the Patriots the 1-6 favorite in the division, which isn’t surprising given the players -- Randy Moss and linebacker Adalius Thomas to name two -- they have added.

What could derail the Patriots are injuries -- especially to quarterback Tom Brady -- and a rugged road schedule that includes games in Cincinnati, Dallas, Indianapolis and Baltimore.

New York, which improved under new Coach Eric Mangini last year, is the 4-1 second choice on Vegasinsider and Marasoft.

Miami -- which has a new coach in Cam Cameron, a new quarterback in Trent Green and an aging roster -- is 12-1 on Vegasinsider and 10-1 on Marasoft, and Buffalo is 15-1 on Vegasinsider and 10-1 on Marasoft.

Baseball

Although Baltimore is suffering through another losing season, the Orioles have held their own versus New York.

The Orioles won six of the first 11 games versus the Yankees and can add another win tonight in New York with Erik Bedard on the mound.

The front-runner for the Cy Young Award in the American League, Bedard (12-4) hasn’t lost since June 10, winning eight consecutive decisions along the way while leading the league in strikeouts with 199.

With rookie Phil Hughes throwing for the Yankees, the matchup favors Baltimore, but Hughes, recently returned from the disabled list, is coming off a strong game against Cleveland. He gave up only one run and four hits to the Indians in six innings last Friday in a New York victory.

Despite remaining under .500, defending World Series champion St. Louis remains in contention in the mediocre National League Central.

The Cardinals hope to climb closer to the division lead when they continue a series tonight in Milwaukee.

The pitching-thin Cardinals hope to get another strong performance from Joel Pineiro, who threw seven scoreless innings in his most recent start versus San Diego.

Milwaukee, which threatened to run away with the Central in the first two months of the season, will counter with Yovani Gallardo, which isn’t welcome news to Brewers fans. In his last outing in Colorado, Gallardo surrendered 11 runs and 12 hits in 2 2/3 innings in what was ultimately a 19-4 defeat.

bob.mieszerski@latimes.com