Zane Mathews’ Super Bowl Prediction(s)

If Super Bowl predictions were Twinkies, if  they were laid end to end would stretch all the way to New Orleans and beyond. (and what a waste of perfectly good Twinkies) Everyone (that cares) has an opinion. And they are all worth about the same. But, traditionally, I throw my "Twinkie" into the ring just for kicks. And just for the record, I’m not usually right. But, there's an outside chance I could be right, and for about two minutes folks will possibly (mistakenly) think I know what I'm talking about.

The fact is, I don’t really care who wins, and I think I’m like a lot of Broncos fans in that regard. We’ll watch the big game because we are football fans. It’s what we do. No, our team isn’t there, but we still love the game.

For me, watching the game is only part of the fun. The other half is eating all the food that is prepared specially for this occasion. Typically, regardless of whatever else is included in the spread, I insist on pizza and hot wings. This year, however, I’m breaking from tradition. No pizza, no wings. The menu for the weekend will include bacon-wrapped shrimp, bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers, nacho cheese Doritos, Ruffles Potato Chips with Lays Ranch Dip, raw vegetables, Rice Krispie treats, and cream soda. Oh, and my darling wife is having sushi. In spite of that, I predict this year's big game food could be the best in my 40 years of Super Bowl watching.

Of course, the Super Bowl broadcast is famous for its commercials, and so this will be the one time of the year when we will actually look forward to seeing the commercials and voting for our favorite. Some years are better than others, but I have already seen the Doritos commercials and so I’m optimistic that this will be a good year for commercials. I predict the commercials generally will be highly entertaining.

This year's National Anthem is being sung, REALLY sung by Alicia Keys. Honestly, I can't name any of her hits, although I know there is one about fire. But, I do know that this girl can sing. I predict a top-quality performance of the Star-Spangled Banner.

The halftime show this year features Beyonce'. She has a lot of fans, and I figure a lot of people will love her show. It's part of the game, and it's usually what people  who's team wasn't playing in the game,  talk about  around the water cooler at work the next day. I won't be glued to my set, but I will watch it. My prediction here is that it will generally be a disappointing halftime show and next year's show - in New Jersey - will feature fully clothed  "Stars on Broadway."

When it’s all said and done, regardless of the outcome of the game, aside from the feeling of being  completely stuffed from eating and eating and eating, there is sadness. No more football until the end of the summer. Sunday afternoons just aren’t as much fun at our house with no NFL games to watch. No Broncos, no playoffs, nothing. That’s why we are so excited come August just to see a pre-season game. It doesn’t count, but at least it’s football.

Oh, yeah, the game. My  prediction. BALTIMORE 28, SAN FRANCISO 24. MVP- Joe Flacco.