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By Mark F. Gray

After two weeks of hype Miami is now officially Payton Place. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning may be the first son of New Orleans but after leading the Saints to their first Super Bowl Sean Payton is now the Baron of the Bayou.

Super Bowl XLVI has the potential to be the best ever. Although purists still believe that offense sells tickets and defense wins championships the explosiveness of these teams should make for must see TV. Of course with 30 inches of snow on the ground what else is there to do?

The Colts are a five point favorite which is a trap bet proposition given that the spread is between a field goal and a touchdown. Manning is an efficient master at taking what the defense gives him and when they spread the Saints out in four wide receiver sets they are almost unstoppable. During these playoffs New Orleans secondary has been exposed with more holes than a block of Swiss cheese.

Despite a vulnerable defense the Saints have simply found a way to win to get to this game. Who dat gonna believe you can come up with five turnovers in the NFC championship and beat future hall of famers Kurt Warner, Brett Favre, and Manning to win. But if there was ever a case to be made for a team of destiny here it is.

For the first time since 1993 the Super Bowl features the two best teams in each conference although there are different motivations. The Colts hope to validate Manning’s place in history as Jim Caldwell hopes to become the third Black coach to win the Super Bowl in four years. The Saints, however, are representing the renaissance of post Hurricane Katrina New Orleans.

Groove Theory: Saints 27 Colts 24

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