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What a difference a
foot makes
Even the spread is a foot
By George Starks
Sports Editor
How fitting... the New England Patriots opened as three-point favorites
over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI.
Both the Patriots and the Giants made it to the Super Bowl in virtually
the same manner... a foot.
In the case of the Giants, they made it on the foot of their place
kicker, Lawrence Tynes, in overtime when he hit a 31 yard field goal
attempt, while the Patriots escaped overtime because the place kicker
for Baltimore, Billy Cundiff, failed with his foot when he missed a 32
yard field goal attempt.
Not only did both teams get to the Super Bowl, but how ironic that both
games would come down to a field goal that would in essence be three
feet apart in distance.
I really can’t remember if two championship games, played on the same
day, ever ended in the same manner as these two games did. If there
ever were, I don’t remember.
So how fitting is it that the spread on the upcoming Super Bowl is
three points? A foot. A kickers foot.
In the past, overall favorites have won 33 of 45 and six of the last
eight Super Bowls. The three point opening spread is the same as it was
last year between the Packers and Steelers.
The biggest spread was in 1996 when the 49ers were 18.5 point favorites
over San Diego. The slimmest was Super Bowl V when the Cowboys were one
point favorites over the Baltimore Colts.
The last time these two teams met in the big game was in 2008 when the
Patriots were favored by a dozen. The Giants won that game in one of
the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history.
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