Super Bowl prediction

No love lost here for Seattle coach Pete Carroll after he bailed on USC leaving them stuck with sanctions for misdeeds that happened on his watch -- notably the Reggie Bush affair. And Pete won't hesitate to run up the score against an inferior opponent, laughing all the way. Not a class act, to say the least.

But though he's supposedly a good guy, yours truly has had it up to my eyeballs with all the Peyton Manning hype. Peyton this, Peyton that, Peyton everywhere. Enough already with the Peytonmania. Who does this guy think he is? Tiger? I'd like to see him taken down a peg because, if he wins the Super Bowl, get ready for another onslaught of goofy Peyton commercials on TV hawking various products. And he might even bring his Goober brother back to co-star in a few of them. With everything else we have to cope with these days, we don't need that sort of aggravation.

I'm thinking Manning won't have his usual luxury of sitting back in the pocket all day waiting for a receiver to come open against the Seahawks. One way or the other, the ferocious blue and green bunch are going to get after him.

So OK, the Broncos are a slight favorite. I look for them to do well in the early part of the game, and perhaps go into halftime leading by 7-10 points. But methinks the relentless pressure will eventually take it's toll on Goober's big brother. The Seahawks have the #1 defense in the league for a few reasons. They rotate a few guys in and out of the game on their defensive front four to keep them fresh -- and they can all bring it. Unlike against New England, Peyton's going to get hit in this game. And the whole recent overblown media circus involving Richard Sherman aside, he and his buds in the secondary are still likely the best unit in the game with their coverage skills and being physical against opposing receivers. In the second half, I suspect this will take it's toll as well. Not that they'll need any extra motivation, but tell me these guys, especially Sherman, won't be super-jacked to put on a defensive clinic to put the recent bad press to rest -- and I'll tell you you're wrong.

Also, though only a second year starter, Seattle QB Russell Wilson shouldn't be taken lightly either. He can make all the same throws as Manning, plus unlike Manning, he can pull the ball down and pose a running threat.

I just think Seattle will eventually wear Denver out, so I'm picking them to win 27-24.

So now it's a no-brainer on how you should bet. Take Denver to easily cover the 2.5 point spread.

Because I'm always wrong.

You can ask my ex about that.

No wait, don't. Everything's been cool for many years. No sense stirring up that hornet's nest.