Even if my beloved and overrated Blue Devils hadn?t dropped two straight conference games, I?d be excited about this Sunday. (If I was a Duke-hater I?d be making my J.J. Redick = Viagara sign—he can?t keep it up for both halves).

I?m sure college basketball fans of Alabama, Connecticut, Creighton and Kansas feel similarly.

I mean can you ever really get enough of the defensive-minded, pouty, frowny, grimmacing, baby faced blonde throwing down with the untested brunette with an underused tight end. And that?s just the Miller Lite ?Catfight? girls!

For all you Googlers, the brunette is Kitana Baker, and if you enter her name, and then hit ?Images? within Google, you?ll find dozens upon dozens of pictures that made our Desipio censors blush. Make sure ?Safesearch is off?, and when you speak of me, speak well.

First let me get my sole tidbit of Super Bowl frustration out of the way. A guy I work with is in San Diego this week and he had the audacity to ask me who was playing on Sunday!!! How can you be in the host city and not know the freakin? participants already!?!?!?!?!? That?s not quite as bad as my firm?s middle aged receptionist who admitted to not knowing who LL Cool J was. Do these people live under rocks???

Before jumping in to my game analysis and fearless predictions, I can?t ignore the AFC-NFC Snore Off which took place in San Diego this week. The contest attempted to determine the loudest snorer in the NFL. San Francisco?s Dana Stubblefield was nominated by his wife, which makes complete sense. Who else would have access to such intimate knowledge? Peyton Manning of course. He nominated ex roommate Brock Huard. Um, is there really ever a reason to admit to sleeping with dudes? I can only guess that each and every member of the Pittsburgh Steelers made damn sure that Kordell Stewart not feel the necessity to participate.

They say defense wins championships, and the Buccaneers have no shortage of playmakers that can not only give an offense fits, but also put points on the boards themselves. Gruden has successfully game planned against mobile quarterbacks like Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb this season, so you?d think that he could implement a similar scheme to contain and frustrate Rich Gannon. A quarterback and offense that he knows like the underside of his visor. But keep in mind that the Bucs were swept this year by another mobile quarterback with considerably less overall talent and heart, in the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints, unlike the Eagles or Falcons have above average talent at the wide receiver position. Not unlike the Raiders with their future Hall-of-Fame duo of Brown and Rice, and maybe the best third wide out in the game in Jerry Porter. Bill Callahan doesn?t have Deuce McCallister in his backfield, but he does have a pass-catching guy in Charlie Garner that gives Gannon a viable fourth option. Should the Raiders choose to dance with what brought them to the Bowl, and not try to outsmart Gruden and Co., don?t be surprised if they throw the ball on more than 80% of their offensive plays. But, if we learned anything from the AFC Championship game, it?s that Gannon is now close enough to the end of the season to sell his body out, and get out of the pocket, picking up first downs, and gaining momentum for his team.

I?d also bet that Oakland?s defense is a little sick and tired of all the accolades being thrown Tampa Bay?s way, and they?ll take the lead of Bill Romanowski and Rod Woodson and use this stage to demand a little respect.

Predictions:
Coin toss- Tails
Most skin in a commercial- Beyonce Knowles
Funniest commercial- Willie Nelson and H & R Block
First guy to score- Sebastian Janikowski
First guy to score without an illegal pharmaceutical- Jerry Porter
Leading rusher- Rich Gannon
Over/under of tight upset Gruden shots- 22
Reason to not dilly dally during halftime- Miss Twain

Super Bowl XXXVII MVP- Gannon
Final Score- Oakland 27, Tampa 17