Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mmintl.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!linus!philabs!pwa-b!mmintl!franka
From: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams)
Newsgroups: net.sport.football
Subject: Re: Super Bowl XX
Message-ID: <1043@mmintl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 15-Jan-86 18:50:10 EST
Article-I.D.: mmintl.1043
Posted: Wed Jan 15 18:50:10 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 19-Jan-86 04:21:15 EST
References: <417@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Reply-To: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams)
Organization: Multimate International, E. Hartford, CT
Lines: 43

In article <417@decwrl.DEC.COM> fredrickson@learn.DEC writes:
>Remember this: Miami beat the Bears convincingly December 2. 
>
>Miami was better than Chicago, and I'm sure they would have 
>entered the Super Bowl with a good deal of well-founded 
>confidence. New England is better than Miami. Much better. They 
>should have been 3-0 against them this year. If you don't think 
>all that gives the Patriots reason to think they can beat the 
>Bears, think again. 

Miami's victory wasn't all that convincing.  The Bears did gain more
yardage than the Dolphins.  The Dolphins did play better in the first
half, but the Bears were just as much better in the second.  The problem
is that one half of dominance by a running and defense oriented team
doesn't offset one half of dominance by a passing and offense oriented
team.  One might also note that Miami scored one touchdown off a blocked
punt, and got another as a result of a botched on-side kick.

I don't mean to say that Miami didn't deserve to win the game.  They
played very well, and they won fair and square.  I'm just saying that
the game did not really suggest that they have a better team.

>This is not a prediction of a New England upset. I still haven't 
>decided about that. It is merely a statement that the Pats do 
>belong in New Orleans, and a warning to anyone planning on 
>wagering their grocery money on Chicago giving 9 or 10 points: Be 
>careful. The Pats have covered the spread 14 weeks in a row. 

Yes, the Patriots deserve to be in the Super Bowl.  Including playoff
games, they have the best record in the conference.  They may well be
the second best team in the league.  But the Bears may well be 10 points
better than the second best team in the league.  I wouldn't bet any
grocery money on the Patriots, either (actually, I don't recommend betting
the grocery money on anything); remember "there's no way the Bears are
10 1/2 points better than the Giants"?

My own prediction: Bears 20, Patriots 10.

(By the way, I am Bears fan, but the Patriots are number two on my list
for professional football.)

Frank Adams                           ihpn4!philabs!pwa-b!mmintl!franka
Multimate International    52 Oakland Ave North    E. Hartford, CT 06108