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With the Super Bowl matchup finally set, it is time to once again take an in-depth look at each team and examine both their strengths and weaknesses, as well as make a prediction on the outcome of the game, the point spread and over/under line.

So, without further adieu, here goes nothing.

New England Patriots, the Colts have finally reached the 'Big Game' under Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning's leadership.

After a roller coaster ride of a regular season that saw the Colts field the league's worst run defense, becoming the first team in 22 years to yield 100 yards rushing in every game, Indianapolis has somehow transformed themselves into a team that knows how to win in other ways besides just outscoring their opponents, as they showed with their ugly 15-6 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC divisional round.

Offensively, the Colts will try to do what they do week in and week out - let Manning win them the game with his rocket right arm and, more importantly, his superior quarterbacking mind - not to mention just enough running from elusive rookie rusher Joseph Addai and veteran, Dominic Rhodes. The Colts will, however, have their work more than cut out for them against an outstanding Bears defense.

In order for Manning to be effective passing the ball, and to stop the Bears from blitzing him like crazy, Indy will need to run the ball with some effectiveness. This will allow Manning to use play-action passes with more effectiveness.

If The Colts can't run the ball effectively, Manning's job will be much tougher.

The first order of business for the Colts, defensively, will be to continue their stellar play this postseason against the run. If the Colts can stop Chicago's rushing attack, then they should be able to unleash their formidable pass rush, featuring defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, on Chicago’s often shaky quarterback, Rex Grossman.

If the Colts can't figure out a way to stop the Bears two-headed rushing attack of Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson, they will be in a lot of trouble no matter how many points Manning puts on the board.

 (15-3)
The Bears appear to be firing on all cylinders after their emphatic win over the New Orleans Saints in the NFC championship game. However, the Colts won't be quite as easily to conquer as were the valiant, but overmatched and inexperienced, young Saints.

The first order of business for the Bears will be to continue their often overpowering rushing attack led by severely underrated veteran Thomas Jones and his highly touted backup, first-round pick, Cedric Benson.

If the Bears can't run the ball effectively, which they have done pretty well all year long, quarterback Rex Grossman, could end up buried beneath a landslide of Indianapolis blitzes or hurried into some of the ill-timed throws that almost cost him his starting job earlier this season.

The Bears, even without all-world defensive tackle, Tommie Harris and Pro Bowl caliber safety Mike Brown, are still one of the top defensive units in all of football and feature several other genuine playmakers, like cornerbacks Nathan Vasher and Ricky Manning Jr., not to mention sideline-to-sideline ballhawk, middle linebacker, Brian Urlacher.

If the Bears can effectively stop the Colts from running the ball, it will help in their tall task of stopping Manning and his overly talented receiving core, headed up by future Hall of Famer, Marvin Harrison.

Even if the Bears do manage to contain Addai and Rhodes to a certain degree, they will still face the best quarterback on the planet in Manning, who will just take what the Bears defense gives him until they make a mistake he can capitalize on.

My Pick:

To be totally honest about it, I have been on a roll of nearly epic proportions since the playoffs began and I expect another cover in this game as well. I think this matchup is going to be one of the best Super Bowls we've seen in the last half-decade and another down-to-the-wire finish. However, I firmly believe that Manning will somehow find a way to win his first Super Bowl championship, while Grossman may succumb to the pressures of the biggest game in his career with a two-interception game that even the Bears overpowering defense and rushing attack won't be able to overcome.

Let's not be foolish though - the Bears should cover the insanely high point spread and, in the process, send this game well over the 48.5 over/under line. Let's call this game, Indianapolis 31 Chicago 27

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Eric Williams is a sports columnist for the Philadelphia Sunday Sun, and Sr. NBA analyst for basketball.com as well as a nationally syndicated freelance writer for both print and online publications. To contact Eric, e-mail, eklass66@yahoo.com.