Eventually the game will begin

In America, where more people watch pro football than vote, Super Bowl Sunday is like a national holiday. From the eating and drinking, to the media coverage, to the wagering on the game, everything is done in excess.

This year ABC has got caught up in the excitement by making its television broadcast eight hours long. The four-hour preview show will take up more time than the game itself.

Luckily the half-time show will use up only 12 minutes. The entertainment is none other than the Rolling Stones. Sprint is paying the NFL $12 million to sponsor the show, which you don't need a whole lot of math to figure out is $1 million per minute.

If only this Sunday's game could somehow match the anticipation and celebrations by the NFL and its fans. About half of the time we actually do get a good Super Bowl game. Let's just hope this is one of them.

Seattle vs. Pittsburgh - There is no doubt both teams are excellent, deserve to be here, and on paper look to be pretty equal. But more things point to a Pittsburgh victory.

The Steelers are more battle-tested, having had to win contests at Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Denver just to get to Detroit. Seattle had its two playoff games at home against Washington and Carolina.

This year Pittsburgh is 9-2 away from home, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is a stunning 14-1 as a starter outside of Heinz Field. The AFC Championship was a truly impressive road game, as Pitt dominated Denver on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

In Detroit, the Steelers started out as the more business-like and disciplined team, with stricter curfews and less talk.

The first shot of Super Bowl XL was fired by Seattle tight end Jerramy Stevens, who stated that it was sad that Pittsburgh's Jerome Bettis would not be walking away with the championship trophy. That was an unnecessary and stupid thing to say.

Bettis is the sentimental favorite, sure to retire after the game win or lose, playing at home in Detroit, and worshipped by his teammates. The Steelers were already going to play hard for him. The one guy Stevens did not want to call out was Jerome Bettis.

Pittsburgh overall is the more physical, tougher and nastier team. With punt returner Antwaan Randle-El, the Steelers own the only advantage on special teams. The AFC Conference is stronger, and it has won six of the last eight Super Bowls. If defense wins championships, go with the Steelers' No. 4 rated D over Seattle's, ranked 16th. If you are superstitious, notice that given the option, Pittsburgh head coach Bill Cowher chose for his team to wear their road white uniforms of recent weeks, while the Seahawks were 0-2 this year wearing blue.

Against the point spread this season, Pittsburgh was 9-2 away from home and 5-1 away as a road favorite. Seattle was 3-5 away versus the spread, and 1-3 as a road underdog.

Over/Under - According to my numbers, of Seattle's eight games away from home this season, five went Over and three Pushed the total. Pittsburgh's offense has caught fire lately, averaging 32 points a game in its last five, with four of those going Over.

Prediction: Pittsburgh -4 and Over 47 points.

Final score: Pittsburgh 30 Seattle 20.

MVP: Ben Roethlisberger.

Numerous proposition bets are available. Too many to count.