I haven’t posted anything to Tailgate Crashers since a quick recap of the divisional playoff games a couple of weeks ago. This wasn’t really intentional; it’s just getting into that awful two-month stretch between the AFC and NFC Championships and Opening Day where life just sucks. Yes, I include the Super Bowl in this stretch ever since they went to the asinine two-week wait. No one game needs two weeks of hype, especially one that’s going to do a 45 rating regardless of who’s playing. I really never care to write anything about the Super Bowl because there’s not much to say that isn’t already being said in nine million outlets world wide.
One thing I will say is that I wouldn’t bet on this game. At the moment, the Bears are a 6.5 point underdog and the over/under is 48.5. I can’t see this game being as high-scoring as the NFL wants it to be for two reasons. First, I don’t buy the Bears’ defense giving up 20 or 30 points, even against Peyton Manning. People seem to think that Peyton’s big game curse is over. I’ve never thought it was a big game curse for Peyton, it’s much simpler. Peyton Manning hates to get hit. When he’s getting hit, he gets nervous. When he gets nervous, he gets happy feet. When his happy feet start, his “tremendous decision making†falls apart and he delivers stupid passes over the middle. People are forgetting the four interceptions he tried to throw in the game against the Ravens. People are also forgetting that Manning has, at last count, played TWO good quarters in the playoffs. Fortunately for him, they’re the last two, so the other 50 don’t count.
Secondly, we’re still talking about Rex Grossman. While I do think the Colts’ defense is one of the best possible match-ups for Grossman, meaning they don’t have an intense pass rush and their secondary all work on a tackle-first/intercept-second basis, I can’t see the Bears throwing up 20 or 30 on a defense that doesn’t give up a ton of big plays. Since I refuse to bet an Under (they make the game less fun to watch), I can’t put money there. As for a cash line? No thanks. This game is one of the least cut and dry Super Bowls in recent memory. On one hand, you have a team with a killer defense, a shaky quarterback, a crazy special teams weapon, and a legit lunatic playing linebacker. On the other you have the supposed pinnacle of quarterbacks (who I’m convinced is going to be just as shaky as Grossman come next week), probably the best wide receiver in the league whose hands apparently lose feeling in January, a defense that plays prevent from the coin toss, and a coach that never really seems to go in for the kill.
Somehow, all this translates into a touchdown’s worth of favorite for the Colts. I don’t know much, but I do know this game isn’t going to be a blow out either way and, if I was betting, it would have to be Bears and Under. I don’t see this game being separated by more than two field goals and I certainly don’t see an over both defenses considered.
As for my bandwagon pick. I’m going to be pulling for the Bears. Why? Because Rex Grossman having a Super Bowl ring after being belittled by every football-covering media outlet on Earth (including me) for the last five months while Peyton “best on earth EVAR†Manning continues to go without will make me laugh. I will find it hysterical. That, and my mind can’t comprehend Adam Vinateri with four Super Bowl championships.
