Will it be a Super Super Bowl?

SULLIVAN: Well Dave, here we go again. America turns it gambling eyes southward towards to the city of Miami as the NFC’s Champs the Chicago Bears—a seven point underdog—take on the kings of the AFC, the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Feb. 4th.

Let us start with the fact that the two teams in the Super Bowl deserve to be there. The Bears looked like they were  in trouble when Reggie Bush tore off that 88 yard touchdown to make the game close at 16-14. All Bush did was awaken a sleeping giant. The little fellow should act like he has been there before on his next touchdown romp. And Reggie, if you really want to impress people, throw yourself into helping rebuild the 9th Ward in New Orleans. That would be worth a celebration. Now go home, Saints, and get to work making your city whole again.

The Bears have a solid defense, and while everyone yells about how bad their quarterback Rex Grossman is, one thing he doesn’t do is make mistakes and turn the ball over. They may not be flashy, but the Bears got it done all season.

Right now, the smart money in Vegas is favoring the AFC Colts. AFC teams have won nine out of the last 11 Super Bowls and everyone is acting like this Super Bowl will be the crowning of Peyton Manning, finally breaking the family curse and winning big the game. It just might happen.

It was a pleasure to watch Bellichik and his Patriots go down in Indy. When Tom Brady threw that interception, it was a nice bit of karma. But it was all ruined when the Colts coach, Tony Dungy, and the team owner, Jim Isray, both claimed that the team won due to the glory of God. Given what we said in last week’s column (“Keep Jesus Out of Sports”), you know that bringing God into football is only asking for trouble.

The Colts have that covered though. They have a horse shoe on their helmet which is a pagan sign of good luck. Peyton Manning wears number 18. He is one of the three sons of legendary QB Archie Manning. The three sons divided into Peyton’s number 18 are six. Each Manning son is a six and thus Peyton—the eldest—has 666 as his good luck number—the devil’s number. So the Colts have God and the Devil and Vegas on their side. It will be tough to beat that trinity. The Bears will need some strong juju of their own to overcome this.

HOLLANDER: Here’s a sure bet for Super Bowl XLI: For the first time ever, an African-American Head Coach will win the Super Bowl. That’s because not only is it the first time an African-American Head Coach has made it to the season finale, but both teams’ head coaches are black (Tony Dungy, Indianapolis; Lovie Smith, Chicago). Maybe it appears to some that professional sports are “post-racial,” but the moment is worth recognition.

Art Shell didn't become the first African-American coach with the Los Angeles Raiders until 1989. More doors opened in recent years, coinciding with the so-called “Rooney Rule” requiring teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching jobs. Nearing its 80th year, the NFL has had six black head coaches. Two made it to the Super Bowl.

The disappointing New York Giants took notice and acted affirmatively. They made 43-year old Jerry Reese the third black general manager in NFL history. The Democratic Party feels it too. Barack Obama stands a realistic chance of the becoming the first African-American to be major party presidential nominee. In politics and in the NFL, winning is the new black. Or is it vice-versa?

It’s nice to see Peyton Manning get his chance, I guess. At least he earned it, accepting the once lowly team that drafted him and turning them into a league power. We can’t really say the same about brother Eli. Did you see the Manning family in their luxury box erupt with emotion when the Colts finally took the lead with a minute to go? They all went wild except—and he stuck out like a sore thumb—Eli. He just sat there with that same vacant expression we saw all season no matter what the situation. Something is seriously wrong with that kid.

I think Chicago can run the ball against Indy, keeping Peyton off the field. If Rex Grossman can continue to avoid mistakes and Chicago can cause a turnover here or there (they led the league in take-aways), then the Colts will be feeling the “Lovie.” Prediction: Bears by two points.

SULLIVAN: Are you done kissing up to the Bears yet? I know you had a huge half naked poster over your bed of the former Bear coach, Mike Ditka. You said you liked his gruff look and mustache. Now it looks like you are in love with Lovie Smith. You are a fickle one with your affections, Hollander. The Bears do have a running game and I know you read your little sports stats that claim Indy can’t stop the run. That was during the season. In the playoffs they have done well against the run and their oft-maligned defense stood up. They held back the Patriots when they had to. Who was sucking wind in the AFC game by the 4th quarter? It was the Patriots Defense Line that folded. You forget that the Super Bowl is played this year in sunny Southern Florida, so snow and ice—the Bears two secret weapons—will not be a factor. Indy is used to playing in the heat—their dome stadium is as hot as Hades. Be careful with your bets, but I think the Colts giving seven plus the over will be the Daily Double for the Super Bowl.

HOLLANDER: It’s true, I do have Chicago Bears fantasies. One such recurring fantasy involves you working as the human target in Shoot the Freak game at Coney Island. Bears nose tackle Tank Johnson steps up, pays his last dollar and unloads his full arsenal of firearms as you run and jump for your life. Tank exhausts his ammo. You survive. He needs another dollar to play. I’m standing there with a Cheshire cat grin, holding a fat wad of singles. I love that dream. (Sigh) You’re so predictable. You and every other weak-willed sportswriter in this town rub your privates, delirious with thoughts of writing the ultimate Peyton-ography after a Colts win. First, two teams must play a football game. And that’s precisely how these two teams are arriving at Super Bowl XLI, which gives the Bears the edge. The Bears, after thumping New Orleans and dominating the NFC, feel triumphant. The Colts, after escaping New England and playing inconsistently all season, feel fortunate. The Bears know exactly who they are. The Colts lack team identity. The Bears come to Miami feeling buoyant momentum. The Colts come to Miami feeling queasy relief.

The weather means nothing to the Bears. Yes, they play in a cold weather city but they also play on grass, like the field in Dolphin Stadium on Sunday. The Colts prefer the sterilized conditions of their domed stadium and artificial turf. In the balmy tropic of South Florida the windy city Bears will cut loose like Snoop Dog on Spring Break.

A point of analysis: Did you see the Patriots run back just about every Colts kick-off for 35 yards or more? Look for 2007 NFC Pro Bowl kick returner Devin Hester to give Chicago superior field position all game-long. In fact, look for special teams to play a huge role for Chicago, with their two other 2007 Pro Bowl selections; place kicker Robbie Gould and special teamer Brendon Ayanbadeho leading the way. Alas, my friend, you remain the Garo Yepremian of Super Bowl prognostication.