By Larry DiTore
Bloomberg

The New England Patriots, who failed to make the National Football League playoffs this season, are favored to win the Super Bowl next year by Las Vegas oddsmakers.

The Patriots, with former Most Valuable Player Tom Brady's probable return at quarterback after a knee injury sidelined him for most of the season, are 6-1 favorites to win the NFL championship on Feb. 7, 2010, according to Las Vegas Sports Consultants, which advises casinos on betting lines. The team was undefeated last season until losing the Super Bowl to the New York Giants.

"The Patriots coming into this year were overwhelming favorites based on what they did last year,'' said Mike Seba, Sports Consultants' senior oddsmaker. "They're going to have pretty much the same team as long as Brady comes back, so they should be the favorites again.''

The Pittsburgh Steelers, who are 6 1/2-point favorites against the Arizona Cardinals in the Feb. 1 Super Bowl, are second to New England for next year's game at 7-1. The Giants and Indianapolis Colts are 8-1.

The Patriots this season became only the second team in NFL history to miss the playoffs after finishing with an 11-5 record. Brady was sidelined with a season-ending knee injury in the team's opener in September.

Matt Cassel filled in and threw for 3,693 yards, with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, as the Patriots narrowly missed the postseason. New England won three of the past seven Super Bowls with Brady at quarterback.

The Dallas Cowboys have 9-1 odds to win the 2010 Super Bowl, while the Baltimore Ravens, who lost to the Steelers in the American Football Conference championship game, are 11-1. The Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans, all playoffs teams this season, have 12-1 odds.