The New England Patriots, the latest champ in the AFC, and the NFC champions, the NY Giants, sealed their ticket to the biggest game of the NFL season after scoring tight victories in two dramatic games decided by free kicks. 

For most of the game, teams were focused on playing their defensive strategy, but during the dying moments of the game, team kickers Billy Cundiff of the Baltimore Ravens and Lawrence Tynes of the New York Giants became the most critical players on the field. Cundiff missed the chance to tie the score and force the overtime, while Tynes became the hero after scoring a free kick in Overtime.

The Patriots (15-3) will make Super Bowl thanks to a close 23-20 victory Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium. After both teams played a high action game for most of the game, Baltimore made a final attempt to tie the game at 23-23 and force overtime. However, kicker Billy Cundiff missed a 32 yard field goal in the last seconds of the 4th quarter, dropping Batimore’s chance to play its second Super Bowl game since 2001. Now New England will travel to Indianapolis to play its 4th Super Bowl since 2001 and the first Championship match since their Super Bowl upset vs. the Giants in 2008-09. 

On the other hand, the Giants, a team that struggled to overcome a five game losing streak during the regular season, will play its 5th Super Bowl game in franchise history after a 20-17 overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers. With both teams tied at 17 points, Giants’ Jacquian Williams knocked loose a fumble from the 49ers’ Kyle Williams in overtime to recover the ball at the 49ers’ 24-yard line, setting the stage for Lawrence Tynes 31-yard field goal and the 20-17 victory.

The coming Super Bowl XLVI will feature a rematch of the 2008 game, in which the Giants defeated the Patriots 17-14 and denied New England a perfect 19-0 season. The last time both teams met was a regular-season game in November, 2011 won by the Giants 24-20.

The Giants are 3-1 all-time in Super Bowl games, having won in 1987, 1991, and 2008, and losing to the Baltimore Ravens in 2001. The Patriots will make their sixth Super Bowl game in the last 16 seasons. New England has won the Super Bowl three times, in 2002, 2004 and 2005 (all under Brady’s direction). The Patriots lost the championship in 1986 and 1997, as well as 2008.

Game Odds:

New York Giants: +3 -105          
New England Patriots: -3 -115
Total: 55 O/U -110

The NFL odds above are at Wagerweb.com, a leading offshore sportsbook and highly recommended sponsor at inspin.com. The betting odds do change so please check their website here for instant updates. To follow the latest NFL Odds and lines, click here.

To take advantage of Inspin.com exclusive winning picks remember to visit our sponsor wagerweb.com to open an account.

Want Access to view Inspin's latest Sports News, Betting Analysis and Trends? Sign Up for an Inspin's Free Insider Account.

P.S. If you like this article, feel free to share it with your own list, post it on your site, on your blog, or add it to your autoresponder. Twitter it, Facebook it, translate it. As long as you leave it intact and do not alter it in anyway. All links must remain in the article. No textual amendments permitted. Only exception is Twitter. Any links to your own products or services, need to be done separate from the article itself, so that your audience can clearly tell it's your own link.