The most Super of all the Bowls

The Colts will win. Make no mistake about it. How much they will win by is what is up for debate.

I am going to be cheering for the Saints, for the simple fact that I am not a Colts fan. I believe anyone who isn't a die-hard Colt fan will find themselves cheering for the Saints. Their story is simply too good to pass up.

We have two of the marquee QBs in the league going up against one another, and by all accounts, both seem to be pretty stand-up guys (other than a certain pants-dropping incident in college by Manning, but hey, we forget these things). I wouldn't mind seeing either guy declare they are going to Disney Land (and in Brees' case, he has made a deal with Ellen to declare he is going to her show if he wins). But since Peyton has done it before, I'd like to see Brees get his chance. Being the experienced team or the new team can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on how you look at it. Peyton and the Colts are aware of the pressure and what it's like to be in the Super Bowl. Brees and the Saints have no idea what this is like, but sometimes ignorance is bliss. They aren't really supposed to win, so they will be going out with all guns firing. The pressure is usually on the team who is supposed to win, and this year, that is the Colts. I think back to last year, how the Cards almost upset the Steelers, even though it wasn't supposed to happen that way. If it weren't for a TD that undoubtedly shaved at least 10 years off of James Harrison's life, we may well be enjoying the last days of the Cardinals reign rather than that of the Steelers (and as a result, I would have had to live with a very cranky husband for the last year). Having said that, Brees has to shoulder the dreams of the entire city of New Orleans, and is well aware what a Super Bowl victory would mean to the city. Talk about pressure.

I am going to predict 35-27 for the Colts for a few reasons:

Peyton Manning. Enough said. Drew Brees is awesome, but Peyton is in a league of his own. He will be pressured by NO's defense and maybe even throw a pick, but he will find a way to get it done just as he did during the season. This guy is an offensive genius. He can read a defense as easily as Shaun can read a gluten-free menu. How many times did he fall behind and come back in the 4th this season anyway? To revise a famous quote by Larry Bird said about Michael Jordan "I think it's just God disguised as Peyton Manning". I'm actually going to predict that NO scores first and gets the crowd squarely on their side, but that Peyton will be cool and calculating as always, and bring the Colts to victory.

Dwight Freeney. I think the "will he or won't he" debate is genius. They are making NO prepare for three scenarios: 1) If Freeney plays, and plays well, 2) If he doesn't play, 3) He plays and doesn't play well. The Saints have to be prepared for all three scenarios, and making them do the extra thinking and preparations is genius. I think he will play and that he won't be that much of a factor, but his mere presence cannot be ignored and must be prepared for.

Indy's defense also can't be ignored. According to SI.com, before they decided they wanted to lose, the Colts defense ranked second in points allowed.

The one thing I hope more than anything is that it doesn't go into overtime. I would hate to see a Super Bowl decided on a coin toss, because whatever QB gets the rock on the first possession, they are going to score.