You just have to love how the media is reporting how pleasant things are for them in Indianapolis this week as they engage in massive overkill coverage of Super Bowl XLVI. You can tell that these guys aren’t the ones who had to go to Kentucky to get a room 90 minutes away. And they are definitely not the ones footing the bill for a minimum four night stay at the La Quinta hotel for $1,975/night in lovely, rainy (this weekend) downtown Indianapolis.
This same hotel charges $74/night most days.
Indianapolis?
Woo-hoo!
Those concerned about New Orleans (a city that actually has appeal on many levels) really gouging fans next year, don’t be! The New Orleans Chamber of Commerce probably understands the game will return to the Big Easy. For Indy, it’s one and done (hopefully).
One fan wrote in to say that a friend of his saves $500/year for the Super Bowl and doesn’t touch it until his team makes it to the big NFL show. If only Browns had done the same, many could retire.
Super Bowl Trivia (that I liked)
- Super Bowl MVP – Joe Montana is the only player to win the Super Bowl MVP award three times. Over half of all MVP titles have gone to a team quarterback.
- Super Bowl Coaches – Don Shula (Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins) has served as the head coach in more Super Bowls (six) than any other coach. Chuck Noll (Pittsburg Steelers) with four titles has the most wins for a coach.
- Eighteen of the league’s 32 teams have won the Super Bowl.
- The 49ers have the best Super Bowl record with a 5-0 record, while the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills are tied for the worst record at 0-4.
- If the Patriots win, coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady will become the second coach-quarterback combo to win four Super Bowls, joining Steelers’ duo Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw.
- The Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts appeared in four Super Bowls, and ironically, all were played in Miami.
- Super Bowls I-VI were blacked out in the host cities television markets due to league restrictions that were in place at the time.
- The NFL/NFC leads the series, 24-21, in the Super Bowl.
- No Super Bowl game has ever gone into overtime.
- In the past eight years, only three teams have represented the AFC in the Super Bowl. The New England Patriots have appeared three times, the Indianapolis Colts twice, and the Steelers are making their third appearance Now 9 pats 4
- In the last 10 years (prior to SB XLVI), the NFC has been represented by 10 different teams.
- The name “Super Bowl” was not used officially until the 3rd championship game in January 1969.
- No NFL team has ever played the Super Bowl in their own stadium.
- New Orleans and Miami have hosted the Super Bowl the most at 9 times.
- The following things have never happened in a Super Bowl: a scoreless first half, a shutout, an overtime game and a punt return for a touchdown.
Silly Super Bowl Facts & Figures
- 6% of Americans call in sick the Monday after Super Bowl
- Antacid sales increase by 20% on the Monday following the Super Bowl
- 8 million pounds of guacamole is consumed on Super Bowl Sunday.
- 14,500 tons of chips are eaten along with that guacamole.
- The average number of people at a Super Bowl party is 17.
- 5% of Americans will watch the game alone.
- Of the top 10 most watched television programs of all time, 9 of them are Super Bowls
- Super Bowl Beers & Bathrooms
- Americans will spend nearly $11 billion on beer for Feb. 5.
- A little more than 94 percent of that will be spent on domestic brands.
- It takes 1.4 billion trips to the bathroom and over 2 billion gallons of water to flush away that almost $11 billion in beer that we’ll consume.
- 58 percent of viewers go to the bathroom during the game so as to not miss the commercials.
- More drivers are involved in alcohol-related accidents on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day of the year (except St. Patrick’s Day), according to the Insurance Information Institute
Q: What do call a Steelers fan holding a bottle of champagne after Super Bowl XLV.
A: Waiter.
*****
Miss Marie Collins, a first-grade teacher, explains to her class that she is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. She asks her pupils to raise their hands if they are Steelers fans too. Not really knowing what a Steelers fan was, but wanting to be liked by their teacher, their hands fly into the air.
There is, however, one exception. Paula has not gone along with the crowd. The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different.
‘Because I’m not a Steelers fan,’ she answers.
“Then," asks Miss Collins, “What are you?”
‘I’m a Baltimore Ravens fan,’ boasts Paula proudly.
The teacher asks Paula why she is a Ravens fan.
‘Well, my Dad and Mom are Ravens fans, so I’m a Ravens fan too, Paula responds.
‘That’s no reason,’ Miss Collins retorts. ‘What if your mom was a moron, and your dad was an idiot. What would you be then?’
Paula smiles and says, ‘Then I’d be a Steelers fan.’
*****
- Why don’t the Browns have a website? They can’t put three "W’s" together.
- What is the first page in the Cincinnati Bengals playbook? The Miranda Rights.
*****
Q: Why did Ines Sainz feel uncomfortable in the New York Jets locker room?
A: Because all the players put on Ben Roethlisberger jerseys!
*****
Q: Did you hear about the big fight that Madonna, Cher, Jewel and Fabio had?
A MATERIAL GIRL…
Speaking of Madonna, unless you are Billy Cundiff and you’ve just re-entered the real world after going into hiding, you know that she’s the halftime entertainer in Sunday’s big game. What can we expect to hear? Try this >>>> LINK
CHANCES ARE…
Check out these prop bets, odds and trends – knowledge of which will surely make the most sought out person at your Super Bowl party:
- Player odds to win MVP: Tom Brady: 7/5; Eli Manning: 9/4; Rob Gronkowski: 10/1; Chad Ochocinco: 50/1; Kyle Arrington: 100/1
- Color of Madonna’s hair during the halftime show: Blonde: -400; Any other color: +250
- (For the newbies, the "minus" means that choice is favored, while "-400" means you have to bet the equivalent of $400 to win the equivalent of $100).
- How long will it take Kelly Clarkson to sing the national anthem? (over/under 1:34): Over: -120; Under: -120
- How many times will Peyton Manning be shown on TV during the game? (over/under 3.5): Over: -130; Under: -110
- Giants vs. Patriots Super Bowl 2012 Line: PATRIOTS -3 points
- Giants vs. Patriots Super Bowl 2012 Over-Under Odds: 55 points
- GIANTS TRENDS
- NY Giants are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the NY Giants last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the NY Giants last 5 games when playing New England
- NY Giants are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing New England
- PATRIOTS TRENDS
- The total has gone OVER in 7 of New England’s last 8 games
- New England is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New England’s last 5 games when playing NY Giants
- New England is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing NY Giants
- New England is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games when playing NY Giants
YOU BETTER, YOU BETTER, YOU BET
During Super Bowl XLV (2011) the FBI estimates that $81.2 million was bet on the game and only 1.5% of that was legally wagered. So it’s safe to say that all throughout America pub owners from coast to coast have these secret little grids consisting of 100 blocks with numbers across the top and down the left hand side. But don’t tell anyone…
People will sign up for a block or more and they’ll plunk down a dollar or one thousand for the privilege of inking each of their John Hancocks. Once the grid is filled, numbers are drawn. If the last digit of both teams’ scores matches your block at the end of each quarter, you win. You know this right?
Now generally numbers such as 0, 1, 4 and 7 are viewed as the best numbers to get for either team (2, 5, 8 & 9 are thought to be worst) and generally the final score pays out more than the prior three quarters.
Because we (I) had nothing better to do with my time I looked back at the final scores of each of the 45 Super Bowls played to see if this general consensus is accurate. Here are a few things I discovered:
- The average winning score is 29
- The average losing score is 16
- The highest winning score is 55, while the lowest losing score is 3
- The most common winning score is 27 which has been hit 5 times; second is 31 at 4 times
- The most common losing score is 10 which has been hit 7 times; second is 17 at 6 times
As for which last digit pops up the most in the final outcome:
- Winners: 0 (4xs); 1 (6); 2(4); 3(3); 4(6); 5 (4); 6 (5); 7 (7); 8 (3); 9 (3)
- Losers: 0(8); 1(5); 2(0); 3(4); 4(5); 5(1); 6(5); 7 (12); 8(0); 9(5)
- Overall: 0 (12); 1(11); 2(4); 3(7); 4(11); 5(5); 6(10); 7(19); 8(3); 9(8)
So to put this into percentage based up 90 prior final scores (45 games x 2 teams) here’s the likelihood of your numbers popping up:
- Winners: 0(9%); 1(13%); 2(9%); 3(7%); 4(13%); 5(9%); 6(11%); 7(16%); 8(7%); 9(7%)
- Losers: 0(18%); 1(11%); 2(0%); 3(9%); 4(11%); 5(2%); 6(11%); 7(27%); 8(0%); 9(11%)
- Overall: 0 (13%); 1(12%); 2(4%); 3(8%); 4(12%); 5(6%); 6(11%); 7(21%); 8(3%); 9(9%)
Confused yet? Ok, here’s where we sum it up….the best numbers in their order of most likely to hit are:
- Winners: 7, (1 & 4T), 6, (0, 2 & 5T), (3,8 & 9T)
- Losers: 7, 0, (1,4,6 & 9), 3, 5, (2 & 8)
- Overall: 7, 0, (1 & 4), 6, 9, 3, 5, 2, 8
PREDICTION: Both teams are on a roll but the favored Patriots are so heavily dependent upon the guy wearing the tutu – I mean No. 12 and if recent history teaches us anything, it’s that the vicious Giants’ front four has created havoc for the future Hall of Famer. If the Patriots offensive line doesn’t have the game of their collective life, this one could get ugly.
But even if the offensive line is stout, do the Patriots have what it will take to contain the Giants receiver posse of Nicks, Cruz and Manningham? I don’t think so.
Brady gives a valiant effort but in the end in won’t be enough. Giants 38, Patriots 27
WHAT’S UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP?
As much as the Super Bowl is about football, of almost equal importance is what comes between the plays – commercials. Coming with a price tag of nearly $3 million for a 30 second slot advertisers put a lot on the line during one of the biggest events of the year. Take a look at this video labeled The 25 Best Super Bowl Commercials of All Time.
