SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

That's right gents, the greatest spectacle in all of sports is but TWO DAYS AWAY. I know what you're thinking, "Gee golly, I sure do like those commercials, but I really wanna cheer for a team this year. Who's the right call Andrew?" Fear not friends, I am here for you.

This year the biggest stage in football features the dynastic New England Patriots, striving for the untouchable 19-0 record, will engage in vicious concussion-inducing fanfare with the underdog, suddenly unbeatable New York Giants. Though there really is nothing new about either of these teams making a title appearance considering each has been in the play-off mix consistently for the past few years, the game is made intriguing by the storylines behind it. Has Eli Manning finally evolved into one of the game's elite passers? Will Brady be hindered by his ankle? Is this the biggest upset in the history of the game yet to happen?

Yes, no, and maybe. Let's dive deeper.

Obviously, the Patriots passing game is the fuel that runs the fire, though they have been running the ball nicely the past few weeks. Expect neither to result in great success against a Giants D that's seen more than it's share of trials the last few weeks. Stopping Brett Favre and Tony Romo isn't an easy task. The Giants defense is ready for the biggest offensive weapon in the history of the game, bank on it.

But can the offense keep up with the points the Patriots do score? Again, I say to you, yes. Eli Manning has been flawless in recent weeks and it seems silly to think that the Patriots will keep him in check when they had trouble doing that just one month ago. Plaxico Burress has never been hotter and he smoked one of the best corners in the game last week. Cap it with a bruising running game, and suddenly the Patty Cakes are in for a bigger fight than most anticipate.

Here's how I see it, the Giants are underdogs for a reason. They already lost to the Pats once, have lost six more games than them, and haven't got the record-breaking credentials. But in football, it all comes down to the expression made famous by Chris Berman. "That's why they play the games." It's why the Giants beat the Packers, it's why the Chargers beat the Colts, and it's why upsets happen every single day of NFL action.

Most importantly, it's why the Giants will win, 35-31.

*Dramatic Ending*

Third Time's The Charm?

You all know the old NFL mantra, it's tough to beat a team three times in a single season. This is the challenge the Dallas Cowboys face as they take on the New York Giants for, not the first, not the second, but the third time.

It doesn't help matters that for the first time in years, the Giants actually look like they know what they're doing in the second half of the season. Eli Manning looks like his brother (finally), the running game is finally going, no matter how many times each back is gonna get hurt, and the defense is stepping up and making plays. At 11-6, the Giants are one of the most battle-tested teams in the league. 5 of the 6 losses they suffered this year were to play-off teams, Dallas twice, Green Bay, Washington, and New England. In fact, the only non-play-off team to beat them were the Minnesota Vikings, a team who just about slipped in.

Dallas still, arguably, has the best team in the conference though. Facing great ridicule because of his taste in blonde pop stars, Tony Romo will have to step up and put his play-off demons behind him to win this game. Terrell Owens is expected to play which makes things easier, but I maintain that Romo will have to win this game.

In all honestly, Dallas has not looked good in recent weeks. A team that should have finished 15-1, ended up with two ugly losses in the last month of the regular season. The momentum is traveling in opposite directions here, but is it enough to push the Giants over the unstoppable Cowboys? In a word, yes. Giants win 28-24.

Next week, I'll tackle the two championship games that I will have predicted correctly, as well as finally address those pesky other sports. Word on Brett Favre's future, the favorite in the NBA's eastern conference, the hottest team in hockey, and maybe a little off-season baseball.

Have a good weekend, enjoy the games.

Now With More Turnover

And not the delicious fruit kind.

I hope you were paying attention in week ten when the San Diego Chargers derailed the Indianapolis Colts by a score of 23-21, cause it's not going to happen again. Not this year at least.

That fateful week following a devastating loss to the Patriots, Peyton Manning led the Colts into San Diego to try and regain their grounding, and ended up giving the Chargers the ball six times. To make matters worse, the most clutch kicker in NFL history, Adam Vinatieri, decided to shank two field goals, including one that would have given Indy the lead with but minutes left.

To call the game a choke would be the understatement of the season, right next to "the Patriots are a decent team."

Still, the Bolts still almost threw that game to the dogs but managed to hang on and outlast Indy in the ugliest game I've seen all year. This weekend, the two play again for a spot in the AFC Title Game, and this time you're looking at a much scarier Colts team. With most of the injuries gone, the Colts are the team they started with this season. You know, the defending Super Bowl Champions. Turns out, that's kind of a big deal.

With star Tight End and number one reciever Antonio Gates likely on the shelf, the Chargers offensive weapons are limited outside of the usual explosiveness of LaDanian Tomlinson. Logically, to keep up with Indy's formidable offense, the Bolts will need a miracle.

Sorry, but of all the teams, it seems least likely that these Bolts get lightning to strike twice. Colts win easily, 34-17.

"We Want The Ball, And We're Gonna Score"

-The infamous words of Matt Hasselbeck

In 2004 the Seattle Seahawks traveled to Green Bay to battle the Packers in the play-offs. Upon entering OVERTIME, 'Hawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, when asked whether his team would like to receive the ball, stated "We want the ball, and we're gonna score." The overconfidence cost him, and he was picked off by Packers corner Al Harris. The interception was returned for the game winning touchdown.

Now, four years following the haunting incident, the Seahawks and former Packer coach Mike Holmgren return to the Bay to exorcise their demons against a formidable Packers team this weekend. The Seahawks, a mediocre team throughout the regular season thanks to the death of Shaun Alexander's legs, proved to be a force to be reckoned with against a red-hot Washington team in the first play-off game.

The problem there is, they face a great challenge in these Green Bay Packers. The Pack's offense is nearly flawless in every aspect, executing the short pass offense to the best effect we've seen in years. Nearly half of age-defying Brett Favre's passing yards come after the catch, so give these receivers some credit. Alongside the young Ryan Grant at running back, and the sharp pass defense, the Seahawks may have met their match.

Still, I like the Hawks chances here. The pass game is working well enough for them to give the Pack a fight, but the weather in Green Bay is projected to be light snow, wind, and cold. Very cold. This may force both teams to go to the run, giving Grant the chance to prove himself as an elite running back, and smart money says he will. Packers win a tight one 28-24, cause they'll get the ball, and they will score.