Twenty-one years ago today, the Bears played the 49ers in the NFC championship game, and things did not go well for Mike Ditka's team. The Niners rolled, 28-3, in frigid conditions in Chicago.

I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, and I rooted for the Bears as a child. I remember watching this game and feeling very, very disappointed, for the Niners were so superior to Chicago, and there was nothing the home team could do about it.

How does this relate to handicapping? Well, the Niners, for the record, were one-point favorites. Every handicapper should be so lucky as to back a slight favorite with a combination as strong as Montana-to-Rice at some point of his or her life.

For the record, the Bengals and Bills played for the AFC title on Jan. 8, 1989, and the Bengals prevailed 21-10, as five point favorites. I have no recollection of that game, but I do remember the 49ers clobbering the Bears.