Ah, New York, New York. It seems that the city that never sleeps also rarely loses.

Just months after the Yanks dismantled the other team in the Subway Series, now the New York Giants are in the big game. And just think. The Mets, who came in second place, are also from New York.

Does anyone lose in that town?

Seriously though, when it comes to winning nowadays, New York and its almighty media and critics seems to be the pinnacle of sports. Maybe its simply the big bank roll of metropolitan moguls, but money doesn't score touchdowns or hit home runs. And besides, everyone has lost the sense of a dollar in the sports world now, not just New Yorkers. You can thank A-Rod and his quarter-billion contract for that one.

So the latest development in New York's athletic euphoria is this over-hyped, over-commercialized mess called the Super Bowl. It's probably the biggest single game of any sport all year -- and low and behold -- there's a New York team on one side of the ball. Sorry Jet fans, you had your chance.

But now that the teams for Super Bowl XXXV are set, it's time to endure countless predictions and hear useless sports knowledge that means little or nothing after the coin toss. I mean, do you think Baltimore Ravens' sinewy linebacker Ray Lewis really cares that the Giants have allowed just 13 points throughout the playoffs?

No, Lewis has his own stuff to worry about. His defense has allowed just 16 points all postseason, and that's in one more game than the Giants. But you -- the sports fan -- will hear those kinds of statistics more times than Fox's Pat Summerall loses his keys in the next two weeks. Is that possible? If you watched Sunday's NFC Championship game, I think you'll agree that it's a sure bet.

Speaking of gambling, these two teams were remarkable long shots to win the Super Bowl at the beginning of the season. The Giants were given 75-1 odds to be in the big game, while the Ravens were 22-1. Note that none of the preseason favorites like the Rams (3-1), Redskins (7-2), Buccaneers (7-1) and Titans (8-1) even won a meaningful postseason game. Washington didn't even make the playoffs.

So with that being established, it's fair to say that this game should be close since neither team expected to be here. And, both teams are coming off impressive wins where both defensive units looked stellar. The early line was two points in Baltimore's favor, but that suggests that there really is no line. And with two weeks to go, expect that number to fluctuate like Baltimore lineman Tony Siragusa's monstrous waistline.

So who's going to win?

Since I'm a karma fanatic, my pick goes to New York. I just don't see Baltimore's storied defense stopping a team -- and a city for that matter -- that just seems to win, win, win.

But it's not just about the city of New York. Consider all of the early factors that seem to lean toward the Giants.

First of all, the Giants win big games. They're 2-0 in the Super Bowl, and let us not forget that it was 10 years ago to the month that New York beat Buffalo 20-19. What do you think Scott Norwood is doing nowadays, by the way?

The Ravens, on the other hand, are entering their first Super Bowl as a franchise. And don't even mention the Colts, please. Half of the Ravens weren't even alive when owner Art Modell demanded Colts' wins.

And lastly, look at the quarterbacks. Neither New York's Kerry Collins or Baltimore's Trent Dilfer is your prototypical NFL passer, but I think a huge edge goes to Collins. Dilfer's career has been marred by poor touchdown-to-interception ratios, and he seems incapable to take over a game.

Collins, though, simply picked apart Minnesota en route to a NFC Championship game record-tying five touchdown passes.

And the defenses? Well I've stayed away from that topic until now because I feel that both units will essentially cancel themselves out. The Ravens defense is outstanding, but then again, the Giants' front seven puts more heat on opposing quarterbacks than a Bunsen burner.

So, go with karma. It can't be beat. New York 17, Baltimore 13. Remember who told you first, too.