Trav's Thoughts

It's not the best day of the year - at least not for me. That day comes in 35 days on Selection Sunday when the field of 64 (65 if you count the play-in game) is announced for the NCAA Tournament.

But today is a good day. I don't have a personal stake in the game. That's a sad thing, but at least it let's me relax and enjoy the action.

I'm rooting for Indy today. I've said before that I think Peyton Manning gets a bum rap. This is his chance to silence those critics who praise him for his incredible statistics, but slam him for the fact that he hasn't won the big game.

I'm rooting for Marvin Harrison, too. He plays the game the way it should be played. He plays tougher than he gets credit for, and he isn't flashy. He does his job, and he does it well.

I'm rooting for Joseph Addai. The pundits said Indy would have trouble running the ball when they let Edgerrin James go to Arizona. Rookie running back Addai has rushed for more than 1000 yards and has gotten the job done.

I'm rooting for Indy's defense. With the return of Bob Sanders, they were able to step it up in the playoffs and finally conquer New England when it mattered most. This is a better defense than the casual observer might think.

I'm rooting for Brian Urlacher, one of the best linebackers in the game.

I'm rooting a little bit for Rex Grossman. The guy has taken a beating from everyone with an opinion about his ability as a quarterback. He's in the Super Bowl.

I'm rooting for Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy, two gentleman who do things the right way. Dungy has persevered through terrible personal tragedy because of his commitment to his job, his players, and his organization. Smith has shown steadfast loyalty through the season, when the easiest thing to do was replace his QB and take the heat off both himself and his team.

I'm looking forward to this game.

My pick: Indianapolis 28 - Chicago 20