Sports editors disagree on probability of super blowout

Six years ago a wonderful thing happened in the NFL.

OK, I realize that there have been many Super Bowls before and after that, but this particular one was something special. It was exciting.

If you're just a casual observer of the NFL, let me bring you up to speed. The New York Giants faced the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXIV. The Giants entered the game as the underdog. Their starting quarterback, Phil Simms, was lost earlier in the season (ironically, against the Bills), and Jeff Hostetler was thrust into the starting role.

Going with a second-string quarterback, lacking in running talent compared to the Bills and Hostetler facing the pass-rushing attacks of Bruce Smith and Cornelius Bennett the Giants were backed into a corner.

But the Giants came out swinging. They wore down a young, strong Bills defense by grinding out yardage on the ground. Yet, the Bills were not to be silenced.

The Bills got three unanswered scores: a field goal, a touchdown and a safety.

Following two Giant touchdowns, a Bills' touchdown and a Giants' field goal, the stage was set.

Quarterback Jim Kelly drove the Bills 61 yards to the Giants' 29-yard line in the final two minutes. And then it happened.

Bills kicker Scott Norwood's kick to win the game was long enough, but it sailed just to the right, hence history was made.

This game exhibited nothing but excitement. I was on the edge of my seat watching these teams fight each other to a bitter climax, and I don't even like these teams. Even more, O.J. was the MVP! O.J. Anderson, that is.

And the country was at war.

Super Bowl XXV seemed to unify everyone in the country and was an outlet for the soldiers in the Persian Gulf to sit down for a few hours and unwind.

Six years later, we've been treated with blowout after blowout. Teams were made fools of and people got rich off point spreads.

Want proof?

Super Bowl XXVI: A sign of things to come.

The Bills return to the Super Bowl only to find a wily, experienced Washington Redskins team waiting for them. Washington quarterback Mark Rypien (remember him?) was the MVP, going 18-of-33 for 292 yards and two touchdowns.

The Washington receiver trio, the "Posse," were the beneficiaries of Rypien's success. Gary Clark caught seven passes for 114 yards, and Art Monk grabbed seven of his own for 113 yards.

Thurman Thomas, who led the AFC in rushing with 1,407 yards and the NFL with 2,038 total yards from the line of scrimmage, amassed a whole 10 yards on 13 carries. He also forgot his helmet and missed the first play of the game. Final score: 'Skins 37, Bills 24.

Super Bowl XXVII: "How 'bout them Cowboys?"

Jimmy Johnson was worried at one point in this game. Buffalo actually led 7-0 in the first quarter.

Nine Bills turnovers and 35 Cowboys points off turnovers later the game was decided.

Sad.

Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman completed 22-of-30 for 273 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.

What's even worse was the most exciting part of this game came when Leon Lett made a fool of himself on national TV. Lett almost scored on a 65-yard fumble return, but he had the ball stripped by Bills receiver Don Beebe just before he crossed the goal line following a premature celebration. Maybe it was just a reaction to his medication. Final score: Cowboys 52, Bills 17.

Super Bowl XXVIII: Who forgot to flush the toilet?

The Super Bowl turned toilet bowl rematch of the Cowboys and Bills left me a bit fooled at first. Again, this game was actually close at one point, as the Bills were ahead 13-6 at the half. A James Washington fumble recovery for a touchdown, two Emmitt Smith touchdowns and an Eddie Murray field goal later, and the Bills replaced the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings as the laughing stock of the Super Bowl. Final score: Cowboys 30, Bills 13.

Super Bowl XXIX: Different teams. Same result.

San Francisco quarterback Steve Young, the game's MVP, led an explosive offense that generated seven touchdowns, 28 first downs and 455 total yards. He completed 24-of-36 passes for 325 yards and broke former 49ers quarterback Joe Montana's previous record of five touchdown passes in Super Bowl XXIV. Oh yeah, they played the San Diego Chargers. Boring. Final score: San Francisco 49, San Diego 26.

Super Bowl XXX: Close, but no cigar.

This game between the Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers began quite promising, and then Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell showed his true colors (Jet-green) throwing two interceptions into the waiting hands of Larry Brown. Brown's picks led to 14 Cowboys points. Final score: Cowboys 27, Steelers 17.

With Super Bowl XXXI upon us in five days, I can only think of one thing -- blowout. This is the Green Bay Packers year. The Packer defense hasn't allowed a touchdown in 10 quarters and won't give Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe enough time to throw the ball. If you're thinking about placing a "friendly" bet, then take the Packers minus the 13 points. I placed a friendly bet, myself (hey Rob, I like my cheeseburgers with just ketchup). Call it: Packers 30, Patriots 13.

So while I'm sitting on my couch, beer in hand and hoagie in mouth, I'll be thinking of one thing -- only 32 days to spring training.

Super Bowl XXXI. Green Bay vs. New England. Mike Holmgren vs. Bill Parcells.

But not exactly the way you might think.

In all my time at The Daily Collegian -- heck, in all my time watching sports -- I've only seen one other sure bet and that was taking the one point and the Nittany Lion football team against Texas in the 1997 Fiesta Bowl. I told everyone who would listen that the Nits were a sure thing. Who in his right mind would bet against Joe Paterno on New Year's Day?

Obviously, the oddsmakers in Las Vegas didn't think so, and JoePa showed why he is arguably the best coach on Jan. 1.

Now they're at it again. Only this time the oddsmakers aren't picking on JoePa. They are picking on someone nearly as good in the big game.

Bill Parcells.

Let me say from the get-go that I am not a big Bill Parcells fan. In fact, the only reasons I can stand the guy a little bit are because my girlfriend is a die-hard New York Giants fan and Parcells is a known winner.

I'm not one for the Patriots, though. They beat my Steelers in the playoffs this year, fueling my hate for them even more.

However, being the unbiased sports editor that I am, I have to say it is utterly ridiculous to say the Packers will beat the Patriots by more than two touchdowns.

Thirteen points is entirely too much to give Parcells. This guy feeds off stuff like being two-touchdown underdogs. And he will prepare his team using that as a motivational tool.

All the guy does is win. Think about it.

When he arrived in New York, the Giants weren't more than a stepping stone, a speed bump, for Washington and Dallas. When he left, the Giants had just won one of the most exciting Super Bowls in history, as they edged Buffalo by a point.

What might be even more impressive than that win was how the Giants got to the Super Bowl. New York beat San Francisco -- at Candlestick Park. Many thought the 49ers were invincible that year. But they weren't.

Enter Parcells in New England.

The Patriots had just lost an obscene number of games, finishing the 1992 campaign 2-14. But under Parcells, New England made it to the playoffs, albeit a wild-card game, two years later.

Now, with talk of Parcells leaving New England, the Patriots are on the verge of breaking the 13-year drought of an AFC team winning the big one. The last time the AFC won an NFL title was when the Los Angeles Raiders beat the Redskins, 38-9, in Super Bowl XVIII.

Many felt Green Bay was the team to beat this season. And they were right. The Packers cleared the hump (read: Dallas and San Francisco) and made it to the Super Bowl. And now Parcells has the opportunity to pull off another huge upset in late January.

See a pattern forming here?

I was watching SportsCenter, maybe a week ago, and Parcells was quoted saying something like practices were going well for the team. Quarterback Drew Bledsoe was confident and things were quietly coming together while the Packers, with their high-octane offense and solid defense, were receiving the brunt of the media attention.

Parcells said he had the Packers right where he wanted them.

It is possible this year's version of the "Super Bowl" will be a blowout. After all, besides last year's contest, the last competitive game was . . . when the Giants beat the Bills.

So don't be surprised if the game gets out of hand, if that's what you consider a 13-point difference. I'm not saying the Patriots will win, but don't be surprised if it is the Patriots are on the winning end, or at least within that ridiculous 13-point spread.

I won't be.

Oh, by the way, if you want a prediction, look at Matt's column on top.

I'll let Bill do the talking for me.