We're only a couple of weeks into the NFL regular season, and we've slipped back into the swing of it after such a short break like a comfy old pair of slippers ... or perhaps a newly fitted pair of shoulder pads! Today we start getting into the middle of the mousetrap and start shouting at the scrimmage for NFL regular season 2010.

Football Fantasies

The Superbowl is a long, long, long way away ... but we'll check out some of the early faves anyway ... at least then we can look back and say 'Ha! We were right/wrong/stupid/genius/ill in the head'. Here's what the bookies think of the NFL regular season teams this week:

To win the Superbowl:

New Orleans Saints: 9.00

Green Bay Packers: 9.00

Baltimore Ravens: 9.00

Indianapolis Colts: 11.00

New England Patriots: 11.00

To win the AFC:

Baltimore Ravens: 5.50

Indianapolis Colts: 6.00

New England Patriots: 6.50

San Diego Chargers: 7.50

To win the NFC:

New Orleans Saints: 4.50

Green Bay Packers: 4.50

Dallas Cowboys: 6.50

Gridiron Gossip

If there are two things that go hand in hand even more than sewing circles and gossip, it's sports and gossip! Here's the scuttlebutt for week 2 of the NFL regular season:

• The Jets were happy to see their first win of the season after being investigated for their treatment of a female reporter by the NFL last week. It was found to be unprofessional but not harassing, and owner Woody Johnson has made a public apology.
• Poor old Brett Favre is copping a bit of indirect flak for returning ... "He didn't expect it to be this hard", said the Associated Press :-)
• The AP have been less veiled in their opinion of the Pittsburgh Steelers ... "Mike Tomlin isn't sure who's going to play quarterback next for his Steelers. The way his defense is playing, it might not matter." I think somebody forgot to buy the AP reporter dinner when he was in town!
• The interplay between Peyton and Eli Manning has attracted plenty of attention. Although there are no signs of trouble in their paradisiacal relationship yet, everybody's waiting ...

Tweeters in T-Formation

Once you've sifted through all the advertising and general stupidity that topics like the NFL attract, there are some cute, random and very true thoughts about the NFL showing up in Twitter. Did we find any of them?!

--- Donovan_Varnell The NFL is crazy this year! The entire AFC west won today (yep even the Raiders) and the Vikings and Cowboys are 0 - 2 losing at home #NFL

--- DBrandonC Buck up Cowboys, it's game time dammit! #nuffsaid #NFL my rant is OVER!

--- hawk1987 RT @tiesto: I am so happy that the @nfl is here again..so many great games!!! Loving da bears doing so well and of course the saints!!

--- LonghornMatt_H RT @propain713: The best WR in the NFL plays for the Houston Texans. Hands Down.

Well, the little counter is gone and speculation is removed, replaced by plenty of joy! The Saints had an awesome, unforgettable season, and it seems that the thousands of people who said they wished the Saints would win (though they were expecting the Colts to do so), actually gave New Orleans the lift they desperately needed. Today we look back at some of the highlights.

Superbowl News

• Drew Brees was named the Superbowl MVP, ahead of favourite Peyton Manning.
• For those who didn’t know, this is the first time the Saints have even played in the Superbowl, let alone won it! The underdog rises.

Game rundown

BBC Sport has an awesome blow-by-blow rundown of how the game progressed. Here are some highlights from the full itinerary - note that times are British:

• 2330: Woodson picks the Saints, and I finally get a prediction right. Mike Carlson says Saints too. Ready for kick-off now.
• 2341: FIELD GOAL - NEW ORLEANS 0-3 INDIANAPOLIS
  Manning throws in front of Garcon and is incomplete on third and five. It's time for Matt Stover, the oldest player in Super Bowl history at 42 years and 11 days, to slot home from 38 yards with 7'29 left in the first quarter.
• 0001: TOUCHDOWN - NEW ORLEANS 0-10 INDIANAPOLIS
  Manning caps a 96-yard drive with a pass to Pierre Garcon in the right corner of the endzone. That ties the longest drive in Super Bowl history and will really have taken the wind out of the Saints' sails.
• 0008: END OF FIRST QUARTER - NEW ORLEANS 0-10 INDIANAPOLIS
  You may have expected the Colts to be up at this point but whodathunk Indy would have run the length of the field to do it? Establishing dominance on the ground could be a real key. Meanwhile, the Saints' offence only managed 36 yards all quarter.
• 0050: FIELD GOAL AND END OF FIRST HALF - NEW ORLEANS 6-10 INDIANAPOLIS
  Hartley does the business at the end of a quarter that has seen the Colts snap the ball just six times and gain just 15 yards.
• 0156: END OF THIRD QUARTER - NEW ORLEANS 16-17 INDIANAPOLIS
  Addai converts a simple second and inches as the time ticks off on this quarter, with the Colts possibly having a slight advantage but certainly all to play for in the final period.
• 0214: TOUCHDOWN - NEW ORLEANS 22-17 INDIANAPOLIS
• 0229: TOUCHDOWN - NEW ORLEANS 31-17 INDIANAPOLIS
• 0244: SAINTS WIN 31-17

Best Ads of the Superbowl

We heard plenty of controversy about Superbowl ads before they were aired, and checked out a few funny ones. Here's what the blogosphere and it's netizens thought were the best of the Superbowl ads:

• Snickers and the Golden Girl, where Betty White of Golden Girls fame just needed a Snickers to turn her back into her football playing-self.
• Oprah Winfrey, David Letterman and Jay Leno walking into an ad - this was probably so popular because of the surprise factor! It apparently took 'Cold War era tactics' to keep it quiet.
• Google's (very expensive) minute long ad was another one of the most-talked about, though it has been on Youtube for a few months.
• Doritos aired four customer-generated commercials, and the one with a dog outsmarting a man using an electric collar was voted second-best commercial by USA Today.

Buzz on the S'Tweet

Well, Twitter has certainly settled down from the fever pitch you could see it at just before game time yesterday … I'm surprised all those micro-blogs didn’t create a macro-crash! Focus is now on the halftime show, the celebrities and the ads, now that the football factor has been removed. Here's what they're saying:

 --- MatthewLumby: Interesting news that last night's Superbowl was the most watched TV show ever in the US, beating the final M*A*S*H episode.

 --- CarleyAnn_K: Q:What was your favorite Superbowl Commercial? A:Any of the Doritos commercials. those were ... http://formspring.me/CarleyAnnK/q/141776379

 --- arcallegari: WHO DAT, WHO DAT..... SUPERBOWL is ours... GO SAINTS

 --- Flatztroniks: Wow yesterdays superbowl was the highest rating program of all time in my country of australia :)

 ---

The little counter on the NFL website currently says there is 10 minutes to go until kickoff … though you might already know who won by the time you read this! Today we'll briefly look at some of the big issues surrounding who will win, but mostly focus beyond the actual result.

Superbowl News

• Dwight Freeney (our favourite news item) tested out his ankle just a couple of hours ago for the first time.
• President Obama has predicted victory for the Colts, although he has said that he has a 'soft spot' for the Saints.
• Wind is expected to be a big factor in the game - there are gusts up to 22 miles per hour at Sun Life Stadium.

Live blogging at the Wall Street Journal

If you don't have live coverage but would like to be updated with developments as they happen, check out Speakeasy at the Wall Street Journal. They'll be live blogging the game, the ads and the half-time show.

Top Ten X-Factor Players

Pundits are predicting an especially close game for the Colts and the Saints. According to Fox Sports, these players represent the biggest x-factors in a tight match up. Liisted in order from least to most 'ex-ish'

• Chad Simpson, Colts RB/KR
• David Thomas, Saints TE
• Robert Meachem, Saints WR
• Antoine Bethea, Colts S
• Will Smith, Saints DE
• Raheem Brock, Colts DT
• Austin Collie, Colts WR
• Reggie Bush, Saints RB/PR

Current Odds

• Best odds for both teams can be found at BlueSquare and 888 Sport, where the Colts are paying 7.00 and the Saints are paying 10.00.

Three Places to Watch the Superbowl Online

Please note , we have not vetted these sites - recommendations come from member comments at Pantai Gading.

• http://thebestlistonline
• http://superbowllivestreaming.net
• http://www.freefootballradio.com

Buzz on the S'Tweet

If you type 'Superbol' in to the search box on Twitter, prepare to drown under a wave of tweets! It simply isn’t possible for one person to read or analyse them all. Here is a little cross section:

 --- bretta75: RT @SamaritansPurse Food 4 thought> The cost of 1 #Superbowl ad slot could provide clothing and shoes for 120K kids living in refugee camps.

 --- N8theSk8: RT @AdweekDotCom: Top creatives review the Super Bowl ads on our microsite as they air: http://www.adweek.com/superbowl #sbad #brandbowl #sb44

 --- Typewriter: lets see if twitter can handle the superbowl load

 --- ozfest: i guess i should watch the superbowl....but i cant find my remote :(

Okay, I suppose in a sense the countdown to the 2010 Superbowl began shortly after the 2009 Superbowl … probably right around the time the first match of the new season was played! But now there is less than 24 hours to go before the main event, so we check out the latest developments and audience sentiment only a few hours away from the Superbowl.

Superbowl News

• The big question mark over the game was Dwight Freeney, and ESPN and CBS are now reporting that he will play in Sunday's match, despite only having a couple of practices with the team beforehand. His ankle ligament tear was suffered only two weeks ago, and many doctors say that injury requires around six weeks recovery time.
• The Wall Street Journal has reported that a stop-work dispute over revenue sharing between owners and players might mean the Superbowl is not played at all in 2012.

Craziest Superbowl Bets

If you aren't particularly enthused about the idea of betting on which team will actually win, there is still plenty of money to be made through the Superbowl bookies! Here are some of the craziest Superbowl bets (and favorites to win) for this year:

• What color will the Gatorade be that is dumped on the head coach of the winning team? Favorite is yellow at 1/1
• Which Super Bowl commercial will have a higher rating on USA Today’s annual Ad Meter? Favorite is Budweiser at 2/3
• Who will the Super Bowl MVP thank first? Favorite is God at 4/5
• If any member of the Who smashes their guitar during halftime, what does the guitar hit first? Favorite is the floor at 2/3
• How many times will CBS show Eli Manning live on TV during the game? Odds are Over/Under 2.5
• Which CBS show will get the most promo’s during the game? Favorite is Undercover Boss at 1/1, followed by CSI Miami at 7/2

Current Odds

Odds for different betting venues remain fixed at the same levels as several days ago. While major betting agencies average out at around 1.47 to 2.75, the range is much wider. Here are the odds you could be enjoying for the Superbowl!

• Colts range from 1.44, to 1.48, 1.53, and Bodog tops the list at 4.00
• Saints range from 2.63, to 2.65, 2.75, 2.82, and Bodog tops the list (again!) at 3.6

Buzz on the S'Tweet

Here's a tiny cross section of the millions of tweets that have been sent out about the Superbowl. This is starting to become such a respected news and opinion source that the official NFL site even has a Twitter section! The talk has mostly turned to the parties rather than who will win, today.

 --- Charity_turner: Superbowl tomorrow!!!! GO COLTS!!!!!! They will WIN!!!!!!!!!!

 --- KodiakBear288: Ugh why did I think coming to walmart the day before the superbowl was a good idea?

 --- Cahallgren: Placing an obscene # of bets on Superbowl. Is betting on the coin toss mean I have an addiction? Or number of times they show Eli or Archie?

 --- MartinDoug: RT @EricSchmidt: Can't wait to watch the Superbowl tomorrow. Be sure to watch the ads in the 3rd quarter (someone said "Hell has indeed frozen over.")

 --- RevSammyRiley: @moozer725 the Saints are the underdog...but not like most underdogs. The difference isn't too much between the two. #SuperBowl

Only a day to go, before we find out whether the Colts will buck off the Saints …or the Saints will enlist some heavenly help to win the Supebowl! Controversy about players, halftime performances and advertisements is still rising … we see what people are talking about with one day to go.

Superbowl News

• Dwight Freeney says his knee is still improving … so less than 48 hours out from the game, it is still unclear whether he'll be playing! He still hasn’t practiced with the team, and at least one journalist at the Associated Press is leaning towards'doubtful'' for Freeney.
• The Saints have cut their practice time by about 20 minutes, putting freshness above practice.
• Colts receiver Reggie Wayne hurt his knee at practice on Friday, but is listed as a 'probable' player for Sunday.
• Controversy over Superbowl ads continues, with revelations that gay dating site ManCrunch was rejected for one of the 62 free ad spots, while an anti-abortion ad from Christian groups was given the green light. The ManCrunch ad is destined to become a Bud Light ad.

Superbowl Stockmarket Theory

Punters use Madden NFL to decide who to bet on, and the stockmarket uses the Superbowl winner to decide who to invest in. Crazy, yes! But unfortunately true. Investors believe that a win by a team from the old American Football League foreshadows a down market, but a winner for a team from the old NFL means a bull market. We'll see.

Current Odds

Odds for different betting venues are the same  as yesterday. Here are your 'best bets on the Superbowl':

• Colts range from 1.44, to 1.48, 1.53, and Bodog tops the list at 4.00
• Saints range from 2.63, to 2.65, 2.75, 2.82, and Bodog tops the list (again!) at 3.6

Favorite to win the Superbowl MVP is Peyton Manning, with odds of 1.91, followed by Drew Brees at 4.30

Buzz on the S'Tweet

Twitter certainly proffers more questions than answers - but those that have given their opinion are mostly leaning towards the Colts. Here's what Tweeters think of the Superbowl odds:

 --- indmix: I dont think the superbowl is going to be a close game. I see a good 3 touch down spankfest being handed! i just dont know who will win

 --- BaileyQueens: SUPERBOWL SUNDAY is approaching quickly this year. Who do you think will win? All New Orleans Saints over here :)

--- vyannacarroll: i need to win some money. ...anyone betting on the superbowl? ..i dont watch the NFL, but i think the saints will win.

 --- marketwire: @Davewire I'm rooting for fellow Purdue alum Drew Brees and #whodat nation, but think #colts will win the #superbowl

 --- nuno1287: 63.3% think the Colts will win the superbowl, while @amart1985 @PerlaDelCaribe1 and @BellaCangri86 belong to the 36.7% going for the Saints

It's that time of year - the first thing that  America looks forward to after Christmas and New Years. The Superbowl attracts the attention of punters worldwide; it's one of those sporting events where the prestige often inspires amazing performances from 'those least likely'. Anything can happen, and frequently does … but today we are looking at what we expect to happen at the Superbowl!

Superbowl News

• The Who have been booked as the halftime act for the Superbowl. Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend gave reporters at the Bridgestone Halftime News Conference an impromptu acoustic performance on Thursday.

• Dwight Freeney, said to be the X-factor for the Colts, is still hopeful that he might play on Sunday, given the state of his injured ankle.

• The politics of abortion and gay rights have entered the arena of Superbowl advertising, in what is being called 'the most famous 30 seconds of advertising that nobody has seen yet'. According to a poll, Canadians are more interested in watching the ads on the Superbowl than the game itself! Check out some of the ads that were banned from the Superbowl this year.

• Naperville-based author Dan Green is credited for the Saint's rallying cry, 'Finish Strong'

Madden NFL Says…

Madden NFL runs a Superbowl simulation every year, with the help of Electronic Arts (EA Sports). This year, the Saints came out ahead in the simulation … and the simulation has made the correct prediction 5 out of the last 6 years. It's only failure was the Giatn's Superbowl victory over the Patriots, and to quote Yahoo's video games blog, " Even Nostradamus couldn't have seen that one coming".

Current Odds

The Colts are definitely the favorite in betting terms, and it seems that public sentiment is mostly following that … see the 'Buzz on the S'Tweet'. Here are the odds currently available from different betting venues:

• Colts range from 1.44, to 1.48, 1.53, and Bodog tops the list at 4.00
• Saints range from 2.63, to 2.65, 2.75, 2.82, and Bodog tops the list (again!) at 3.6

Buzz on the S'Tweet

Here's what the tweeters of the internet are betting will happen on the big day. If you have trouble deciphering the links and hashtags, the dollars are flowing for the Colts!

 --- Eddie_617: Who yall think is winning the SuperBowl: Saints or Colts?? I personally want the Saints to win, but I believe the Colts will win.

 --- dashoost34: My Thought 4 2day: I think the superbowl is gonna b a snooze fest..COLTS will end it early..Saints need a dome or at least some turf 2 win

 --- Bearmountaincab: Is everyone ready for Superbowl Sunday? I think Manning and the Colts will win, but won't be disappointed if the Saints win either.

 --- hannalovesjonas: just voted "Indianapolis COLTS!" on "Who do you think will win the Superbowl?" vote too ➔ http://bit.ly/b9L0hM

 --- rickyriffle: Who do I think will win Superbowl?... i dont know COLTS!

The NFL season is underway. Think you know who is going to win Super Bowl XLIII? Check out the best betting odds now.

View Odds