OT: Pick the SB Winner

[NealIsGod]

I am going with the Bears. Here are some good reasons (stolen from ESPN):

1. Everyone in Miami seems to be handing the trophy to the Colts already. ... Um, didn't we learn this lesson already from the Saints-Bears game? You never want to be on the same side as the gambling majority. Ever.

2. The Bears are staying near the airport (not near anything), while the Colts are staying closer to the beach (and closer to all the trouble). That makes it about 20 times as likely that an Indianapolis Colt will be this year's winner of the Stanley Wilson/Eugene Robinson Award and distract his team in the process. I can't take the chance.

3. It's been said a kajillion times, but how can anyone be sold on this Colts defense? Against the Chiefs, the Colts stacked the line against LJ and just made Herm Edwards and Trent Green try to beat them. Against the Ravens, they didn't even have to stack the line because Jamal Lewis is so freaking slow, so they concentrated on forcing Steve McNair to make mistakes (and he obliged). Against the Patriots, they gave up 34 points and it would have been more if Troy Brown didn't get flagged for that illegal pick and the fourth-quarter interference against Reche Caldwell had been called. Now you have a Bears team that can pound the ball with two running backs AND has the receivers to throw deep. I know the Colts will stack the line and force Grossman to beat them, but teams have been doing that against the Bears all season -- they always seem to make two or three big plays.

4. Peyton Manning's record in big games: Not so good. A little better recently, but still ... not so good. I'd like to see him win one title at the college or pro level before I'm laying seven points with him in a Super Bowl game.

5. Remember when the 2003 Yankees outlasted the Red Sox in that seven-game bloodbath and had nothing left for the Marlins series because it was like they had already played their World Series? I'm not saying the same thing will definitely happen here, but it's worth mentioning the Letdown Potential here. The Colts and their fans just spent the past two weeks breaking out the popsicles and doing the "we finally made it" routine. Meanwhile ...

6. The Bears just went 15-3, made the Super Bowl and then had to spend the next two weeks hearing everyone take shots at their QB and give them little to no chance of winning the game. They have all the makings of being one of those teams that pulls off a mild upset in a championship game and spends the next few days telling everyone stuff like "Nobody believed in us!" and "The only people who believed we could do it were the people in this locker room," followed by everyone getting annoyed that they won't shut up that nobody believed in them. But it's kind of true. Nobody believes in the Bears. That's the best motivating force in sports. It really is.

Well, I believe in the Bears from Chicago. I see this being one of those Super Bowls that's crappy and disjointed for most of the first half, followed by a point explosion right near halftime and one of those second halves when the teams just trade scores (like the Pats-Panthers Super Bowl). And in those games, either team can win, right? So here are my predictions.

A. Chicago 33, Indianapolis 30.

B. Thomas Jones for MVP.

C. The greatest Manning Face of all-time.

D. A new record for "nobody believed in us" quotes.

[Enigma869]

I'd like to see The Bears win the game. I am sooooo sick of Peyton Manning! I know many fans were sick of my beloved Patriots, but hell, at least the Patriots actually won something (or three), to warrant the attention! Manning has never won a thing, and he's the most over-exposed athlete I've seen, since Michael Jordan!


John from Boston

[NealIsGod]

I'd like to see The Bears win the game. I am sooooo sick of Peyton Manning! I know many fans were sick of my beloved Patriots, but hell, at least the Patriots actually won something (or three), to warrant the attention! Manning has never won a thing, and he's the most over-exposed athlete I've seen, since Michael Jordan!

True dat. Peyton Manning - Advertising Whore.

[Just Mindy]

I was told to cheer for the Bears.

That said, whoever I route for usually loses.

I voted for the Bears but predict a win by the Colts.

[Rockindeano]

I predict a blowout. The Bears defense will not be able to rotate defensive role players into the game with Indy's no huddle offense. While tired of Manning as well, the guy prepares like no other.

Colts 31, Chicago, 17

[donnaplease]

I predict a blowout. The Bears defense will not be able to rotate defensive role players into the game with Indy's no huddle offense. While tired of Manning as well, the guy prepares like no other.

Colts 31, Chicago, 17

From you lips...

Can you send one up for that, master?

[Granny]

Norm says:

Colts: 45

Bears: 17

[dcvader]

Watch the weather. If it rains and turns somewhat sloppy = edge to the Bears.

Colts 2006 1-3 on real grass

Bears 2006 10-2 on real grass

Bad weather = Bears win.

[Rockindeano]

Watch the weather. If it rains and turns somewhat sloppy = edge to the Bears.

Colts 2006 1-3 on real grass

Bears 2006 10-2 on real grass

Bad weather = Bears win.

Bad weather, favours offense, believe it or not.

The receiver knows where he is going..the defender takes more time to adjust due to a wet/muddy field.

Indy is 1-3 on grass because A) they played 8 home games on turf, and the grass games they lost were due to at the time Indy's injuries..

By the way, they did beat NE and DEN on the road. They both have grass. So, it's 2-3 right?

[dcvader]

Watch the weather. If it rains and turns somewhat sloppy = edge to the Bears.

Colts 2006 1-3 on real grass

Bears 2006 10-2 on real grass

Bad weather = Bears win.

Bad weather, favours offense, believe it or not.

The receiver knows where he is going..the defender takes more time to adjust due to a wet/muddy field.

Indy is 1-3 on grass because A) they played 8 home games on turf, and the grass games they lost were due to at the time Indy's injuries..

By the way, they did beat NE and DEN on the road. They both have grass. So, it's 2-3 right?

The numbers I posted are from Espn Radio this morning. I think the Colts will win, just an interesting twist with the rain down there this morning.

I know all that, there are too many stats and trends to look at. I gotta think that bad weather would help the Bears, Colts indoor team, Bears like it sloppy.

Bottom line, I just want a good close game, not blow out.

[Scarab Pilot]

Da Bears.

[donnaplease]

Who's performing pre-game and at halftime?

I still say Neal's rendition of the SSB would be super awesome at the Super Bowl!!!

Dean, the next time you shake Jeff's hand, will you suggest that?

[Scarab Pilot]

Who's performing pre-game and at halftime?

I still say Neal's rendition of the SSB would be super awesome at the Super Bowl!!!

Dean, the next time you shake Jeff's hand, will you suggest that?

Prince is doing the halftime show. I think it will pretty good. I'd love to see Journey do it instead!

[JrnyScarab]

I'd like to see The Bears win the game. I am sooooo sick of Peyton Manning! I know many fans were sick of my beloved Patriots, but hell, at least the Patriots actually won something (or three), to warrant the attention! Manning has never won a thing, and he's the most over-exposed athlete I've seen, since Michael Jordan!


John from Boston

Gotta agree with you. If I see one more Peyton Manning commercial I'm gonna lose it. Face it, the Pats should not have lost that game. They are not the type of team to use excuses but that flu they were suffering wore them out pretty fast. I've never seen the Pats look so fatigued so early in a game. They are one of the best conditioned teams out there but they were spent by early in the second half. I'm not crying as the Colts made a great effort in the 2nd half. I just think extra fatigue played a huge role. I'm going with the Bears in this one. They know how to force turnovers and can cover the middle of the field better than the Pats because of their linebacker speed.

[RocknRoll]

Da Bears. I'm from Chicago so what else?

I hope someday we do get to see/hear Neal Schon's SSB at the SuperBowl. I'd so much rather see this, than some singer butchering the song. Halftime would be icing on the cake

[treetopovskaya]

don't follow football but because my hubby's from chicago i'm rooting for the bears. }:C)

*funny... i've never seen no bears in chicago... hmm* };C)

[Rockindeano]

Who's performing pre-game and at halftime?

I still say Neal's rendition of the SSB would be super awesome at the Super Bowl!!!

Dean, the next time you shake Jeff's hand, will you suggest that?

Billy Joel is singing the National Anthem.

[NealIsGod]

Who's performing pre-game and at halftime?

I still say Neal's rendition of the SSB would be super awesome at the Super Bowl!!!

Dean, the next time you shake Jeff's hand, will you suggest that?

Billy Joel is singing the National Anthem.

Yeah, there is a betting line on the length of it, too. Billy said he may place a bet. Easy money...

[NealIsGod]

Anyone see the Geico caveman skit a few minutes ago? Love that guy.

[NealIsGod]

Stevie Nicks is on the pre-game show playing Stand Back. Sounds pretty good.

[Rick]

Stevie Nicks is on the pre-game show playing Stand Back. Sounds pretty good.

Holy Crap! She's still singing?

[NealIsGod]

Stevie Nicks is on the pre-game show playing Stand Back. Sounds pretty good.

Holy Crap! She's still singing?

She is touring later this year with Chris Isaak.

[Moose]

Indianapolis 51
Chicago 14

[Rick]

Indianapolis 51
Chicago 14

WOW! Now that says something.

[Rick]

Stevie Nicks is on the pre-game show playing Stand Back. Sounds pretty good.

Holy Crap! She's still singing?

She is touring later this year with Chris Isaak.

Cool, I use to think she was great.

[NealIsGod]

Indianapolis 51
Chicago 14

WOW! Now that says something.

I hope it's not a blowout. The worst SB I ever saw was the 49ers-Chargers yawnfest.

[ohsherrie]

I'm going with the Bears because NIG said so, and because I think Colts should be in Baltimore.

[Rick]

I'm going with the Bears because NIG said so, and because I think Colts should be in Baltimore.

Both are very good reasons Sherrie, very good.

[larryfromnextdoor]

Indianapolis 51
Chicago 14

i bet this is very realistic.. big blow out..

[AR]

Irsays 24 Bears 13