Another one who just doesn't get it

This comment from an ESPN.com story on the Patriots point spreads jumps out.

"Nowadays, you don't see too many spreads over 16 or 17 points," said Sean Van Patten, an oddsmaker at Sports Consultants in Las Vegas. "That's because most teams take their starters out in the fourth quarter of a lopsided game. The Patriots don't. I call this phenomenon The [Bill] Belichick Factor."

Actually, there have been several games in which the Patriots starters, as many as feasible, came out in the fourth quarter of a lopsided game. What's happening is that the Patriots are actually making the games lopsided early. They were 16 point favorites against Buffalo and led by 28 at the end of the first half. They were up 24-0 on Washington at halftime. It was 42-7 against the Dolphins. They covered 20+ points IN THE FIRST HALF in those games.