Nick Brunner and Tim McLister
The single biggest day on the American sports calendar took place Sunday in Miami. You might recall the two o’clock tip-off at BankUnited Center where Lady Hurricanes of Miami played host to SIUE. But if that game somehow slipped you mind, hopefully you recall the heavy weight bout that went down inside Sun Life Stadium where the two top dogs of the NFL went to battle for the Lombardi Trophy. While it wasn’t the battle between quite possibly the two greatest field generals ever to grace the gridiron, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning, which many historians of the game (including a certain Free Press Sports Editor) were salivating over, it no doubt boasted the best teams the NFL had to offer this season. For the first time ever two teams who began the season undefeated through thirteen games, clear cut top seeds in their respective conferences, would collide on Super Sunday. After the absolute joke that was the Pro Bowl the previous week, it was comforting to know that the best the NFL had to offer would be on the field when the Colts of Indianapolis squared off against the Boys of Bourbon Street, the New Orleans Saints.
With a championship hanging in the balance, it only felt right to get a bold prediction from a champion right here on the Hill, Tim McLister. In his first semester at McDaniel, Tim led his intramural basketball team to the coveted 4-on-4 men’s competitive league championship. Let’s put his football knowledge to the test in this week’s rendition of Out Pick Nick.
Tim’s Take…
I feel that the Indianapolis Colts will win the super bowl. The main reason the Colts are so successful is because of the league MVP Peyton Manning. Manning is simply the most dangerous man with the football, making everyone around him better. He even has a mental advantage to this game where his mind allows him to easily memorize pictures, or in this case the Saints defense. Not to mention the Colts defense has been playing exceptionally well. With much rest throughout the past two weeks and the Saints being new to the winning category, the Indianapolis Colts will win Super Bowl XLIV.
Nick’s Take…
Both teams can put up points in a heartbeat. When two quarterbacks playing at such a high level match up like this it makes for football at its finest. That said, I think that this one will be decided by ball control and big plays by players not named Brees or Manning. This is why I have to give the edge to the Saints. With a defense that thrives on creating turnovers and a weapon in the return game like Reggie Bush, the Saints have great opportunity to put points on the board even when Brees and the offense are on the sideline. Also, the Saints should be able to take advantage of the Colts defense on the ground with the running of Pierre Thomas and Bush. The injury to defensive end Dwight Freeney could prove devastating to the Colts pass rush. Give any NFL quarterback time to sit comfortably in the pocket and he’ll more likely than not find somewhere to go with the ball. Give a guy like Drew Brees that time and he’ll find a way to win. Look for the Saints to make a big play either on defense or special teams, have a solid day pounding the rock, and Mr. Brees to do his usual thing. Add that all up and at the end of the day expect to see the Saints go marching into the Big Easy with their first Super Bowl title.