BY JIM DONALDSON
Journal Sports Writer

Bettors, at least, believe in the Patriots.

Despite the loss of star quarterback Tom Brady for the season midway through the first quarter of the first game, and the fact that his replacement, Matt Cassel, hasn't started a game since he was in high school, money is pouring in on the Pats in the wagering on Sunday's afternoon's grudge game at the Meadowlands against their detested AFC East rivals, the New York Jets.

The Patriots were 2-1/2 point underdogs in the opening line. That dropped to 2 points Tuesday, and to 1-1/2 Wednesday, meaning that much of the money coming in is being bet on New England.

The legal bookmakers in Las Vegas attempt to balance their books by having as much money bet on one team as on the other. Since bettors generally put up 11 dollars to win 10, it doesn't matter to the bookmakers which team wins because they collect 11 from one guy to give 10 to another. That only works, obviously, when the money wagered on each team is approximately equal. In order to maintain that balance, the line sometimes "moves," as is the case this week, with bettors believing the Pats won't collapse, despite the devastating loss of Brady.