Super Bowl XLIV Preview

This Sunday, February 7th, is Super Bowl Sunday. The Indianapolis Colts will be playing the New Orleans Saints for the biggest prize in sports; The Lombardi Trophy. So here are 44 things to know that can help you impress your friends. At the end of it I will give you my prediction (which will most probably be incorrect).

1. This is NO's first SB appearance
2. This is IND's 4th SB appearance (2-1 in past 3 SB)
3. This is the first time since 1993 that both SB teams were #1 seeds in their conferences
4. Each team has 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (NO: Malcom Jenkins & Will Smith; IND: Roy Hall & Anthony Gonzalez)
5. Against common opponents NO is 5-0 & IND is 3-2
6. The NFC has won 12 consecutive coin-tosses
7. NO Coach Sean Payton was an assistant to Jim Fassell and the Giants in SB XXXV
8. IND Coach Jim Caldwell is the 5th rookie Head Coach to make the SB
9. IND has 12 Hall-of-Famers while NO has only 5
10. Peyton Maning has 7 career playoff games with 300 yards passing
11. Drew Brees had 7 games this season with 300 yards passing
12. NO back-up QB Mark Brunell has thrown 182 career TD passes
13. Reggie Wayne & Dallas Clark each had 100 catches & 10 TDs this season
14. IND's Linebackers have outtackled NO's Linebackers 263-237
15. IND's Defensive-Lineman have outsacked NO's Defensive-Lineman 24.5-18
16. Dwight Freeny had 13.5 sacks this season
17. Raheem Brock has 28.5 sacks in his 8 year career
18. IND has not given up any 2nd half points in the playoffs
19. NO running back Reggie Bush has 258 combined yards (rushing, receiving & returning) this post-season
20. NO linebacker Jonathan Vilma had 110 tackles in the regular season
21. IND's Assistant Offensive Line Coach; Pete Metzelaars; played for the Bills in their 4 consecutive SB losses
22. Reggie Bush is averaging 7.7 yards/carry in the playoffs while only averaging 5.6 yards/carry in the regular season
23. NO wide receiver Marques Colston was drafted in the 7th round (252nd pick overall) from Hofstra
24. The Saints have 8 defensive TDs this season; 3 of them are on interception returns by Darren Sharper
25. 25 Colts & 4 Saints have played in a past SB
26. Both Manning & Brees have played games at Sun Life Stadium (site of Super Bowl 44) this season
27. Manning is trying to be the 15th player to win the MVP award & SB in the same year
28. Brees is trying to be the 4th QB to win the SB with a completion % of 69 or higher
29. Manning is tied with Colts Legend Johnny Unitas for 3rd all-time with 17 games with 4 or more TD passes
30. Manning has been sacked only 10 times this season
31. NO defensive end Will Smith had 13 sacks this season
32. NO linebacker Scott Fujita has a BA in political science & an MA in education
33. NO has a TO Ratio of +11 while IND's is only +2
34. Since 2007 IND is 19-1 when Dallas Clark scores a TD
35. NO would be the first team to win the SB after losing it's last 3 regular season games
36. NO has lead the NFL in scoring & total offense the last 2 seasons
37. IND has outscored their opponents 416-317 in regular season
38. NO has outscored their opponents 510-341 in regular season
39. IND kicker Matt Stover has a career 83.7 FG%
40. IND defense has given up 10 points per game in the playoffs
41. NO has outscored their opponents 139-48 in the 4th quarter this season
42. 29 of Jeremy Shockey's 48 catches have been for 1st downs
43. Pierre Garcon & Austin Collie have combined for 27 rec. 360 yards & 3 TDs in the playoffs
44. Reggie Wayne has 77 receptions in his playoff career (4th most all-time)

Hope you enjoy these facts & stats. As for the game it's going to be a great one. The possibility of Dwight Freeny not playing probably makes the game closer than it would be if he was healthy. The official prediction for Super Bowl XLIV is Colts 44 Saints 38. Enjoy the game; and remember please drink responsibly.