Poll: Americans still love their football

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- If there is a post-Super Bowl letdown among U.S. sports fans, it is likely because pro and college football are ranked in their top three favorite sports.

The annual Harris Poll survey of sports fans and their viewing preferences found professional football still ranked as the favorite television pastime followed by baseball and college football.

Pro football was pegged as the "favorite" sport followed by 30 percent of fans, virtually unchanged from the 29 percent mark in last year's poll. Baseball was picked by 15 percent of fans followed by college football at 12 percent. Auto racing -- at 10 percent -- was the only other sport in double figures.

Harris said in a statement that pro football appealed to fans in their late 20s or in the 65-and-older age bracket. College football was far more popular in the South than on the East Coast, which was more partial to the NFL and baseball.

The survey was conducted Jan. 15-22 and polled 2,302 adults, of whom 1,562 regularly follow one or more sports. The margin for error wasn't stated.