NFC Preview

The Atlanta Falcons will host a conference title game for the first time in their 47 year history when they face the San Francisco 49ers in the earlier title tilt this Sunday. The winner will go to the 47th Super Bowl, being played this year in New Orleans, on Sunday February 3rd.

The Falcons, who were two and a half point favorites yesterday versus the Seattle Seahawks, disappointed their bettors but delighted their fans (wonder how many are both, and the extent of the fan’s diminished joy with the “no cover” victory) winning (30-28) after dissipating what twice was a 20 point lead.

Bettors have reacted to the Falcons’ near loss/no cover and to the 49ers impressive Saturday night win vs the Green Bay Packers. SF is a three and a half point favorite, after opening as a three point favorite, vs the Falcons.

The 49ers are hoping to bring San Francisco just the 5th “double title,” meaning baseball and football in the same year during the Super Bowl era (1966- present). The San Francisco Giants, who had never won a World Series as a San Francisco based team, won their second World Series in three seasons. Now if the Niners (5-0) in Super Bowls can win a sixth in the next three weeks, San Francisco will join Baltimore 1970 (with the Orioles and Colts–Ernie Accorsi was the Colts public relations man), Pittsburgh in 1979 (Pirates and Steelers), New York in 1986 (Mets and Giants), and Boston in 2004 (Red Sox and Patriots) as the only cities to win the baseball/football “Double title” in the same baseball, followed by football, season.