Madatory Credit: US PRESSWIRE

A lot of interesting things happened on Super Bowl weekend. Here’s some of my thoughts about the NFL’s final weekend of the football year:

-Congratulations to the New York football Giants. While I think Peyton Manning is a better quarterback than his brother Eli, I’m probably not the only one who thinks Eli is a better clutch performer. That throw to Mario Mannigham in the final drive was positively sick.

-The Detroit Lions have the fourth best odds of reaching the Super Bowl next year. They sit at 20 to 1, along with the Super Bowl winning Giants. Only the Packers, Saints, and Eagles have better odds in the NFC.

-Nice to see Clint Eastwood hawking Chrysler products. But it didn’t send chills down my spine like Eminem’s commercial did last year.

-I find it hilarious that Matthew Stafford won the “Comeback Player of the Year” award. Don’t you have to accomplish something first before you can comeback from it? Like Stafford said, I hope he never wins that award again.

-The Lions raised their ticket prices for the first time in five years. They raised prices an average of 8%. Not a bad deal, They have a shot at the Super Bowl next year and they will still be ranked 23rd or 24th in cheapest tickets in the League. Martin Mayhew is making all of the right calls for this organization so the product should remain a relative bargain compare to the rest of the league.

-Dick Stanfel, who played offensive line for the Detroit Lions in the 50′s, failed to make the Hall of Fame this weekend. I’m not too broken up over him not making the Hall, because before the process started I had never heard of him, and trust me–I know my Lion’s history.

-Is it me or is the Hall of Fame being watered down? I watched Chris Doleman and Cortez Kennedy play their whole careers and never once thought, “yeah, he’s definitely Hall of Fame material.”

-I find it interesting that Cris Carter fell short of the Hall of Fame again. Personally, I think he and Charles Haley both belong. Wouldn’t it be funny if that “not special enough” receiver for the Lions, Calvin Johnson, made it in before Carter did?

-Did you notice that I have the Lions taking center Peter Konz in the first round of my Mock Draft? Todd McShay has them taking a offensive guard, Cordy Glenn of Georgia. I just don’t see a linebacker or corner worth taking at that spot. Konz is 30 pounds heavier than Dominic Raiola.

-I have a lot of time to talk about who the Lions will draft, so I’ll get to that later. Now that the football season is over and Draft season is upon us, I can’t get this song out of my head by Andy Williams: “It’s the most Wonderful time of the year!”

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Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

We usually put together a post with predictions for each Lions game but today is a pretty big game. Here is what we’re thinking.

Marty Medvedik: This should be a great game. Both teams have been here before and both have clutch quarterbacks. I’m going with the Michigan man Tom Brady to prevail in tonights game. I just think Brady will do everything in his power to NOT lose to the same team twice in the Super Bowl. New England Patriots 28, New York Giants 21.

Ross Husson: I have been thinking all week on who I think will win the Super Bowl and it took me the entire week to decide. Everyone is going with the Giants because of their defensive line and Rob Gronkowski won’t be playing at full health. Both of those are great reasons and there other factors that benefit New York. However, the greatest quarterback and coach duo have had two weeks to prepare for this game. For that reason, I’m going with Pats. New England Patriots 27, New York Giants 25.

Zac Snyder: The New England Patriots can say that this game isn’t about getting revenge for the Giants robbing them of a perfect season a few years ago but I believe that thought is somewhere in their minds. There isn’t a team better at playing with a chip on their shoulder than the New England Patriots, as shown in their dismantling of the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round, and the Giants will find themselves in the cross-heirs today. It wouldn’t be a huge shock if the Giants won like the last time these two teams played in the Super Bowl but I don’t think it will happen. New England Patriots 30, New York Giants 20.

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Dale Zanine-US PRESSWIRE

If you want to try your hand at sports betting but don’t want to risk real Benjamins or deal with potentially shady characters, check out Free Sports Bet. They start you off with a little money from advertisers and let you play the picks. If you’re good enough you can eventually redeem it for real cash. It’s free, legal and fun. Hard to find all three of those things in another sports betting outlet.

On with Saturday’s picks…

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