Glass Houses

Busy week for the Colts and Hoosiers so let’s not waste any time.

Indiana at Northwestern,  2: 30pm

Super Bowl XLIV Indianapolis Colts vs New Orleans Saints, 6:28 pm

Indiana vs Purdue wrap up from Thursday night.

In reverse order, we’re off!

Purdue 78  Indiana 75

Another close loss.  Another “almost” victory.  Another good effort.

For Indiana to win this season, they have to do about 9.5 things out of 10 correctly and without error.

This game was another example of why that is true.

Bench scoring?  Check (at least for a half)

Turnovers? Check, barely double-digits

Shoot it well?  Check.

Shoot threes well?  8-16, check.

Support for Verdell Jones?  Check, Pritchard, Dumes

Shoot free throws well?  Check, 13-15 until last three minutes.

That was the good news.  That’s why Indiana was in the game.  That’s why Indiana led 69-66.

While the performance and effort was encouraging, the Hoosiers still couldn’t close out the game.

Indiana was stuck on 69 points from the 5:44 mark until VJ III three pointer at :58 seconds.

Indiana missed three front ends of one and one, Hulls, Elston and Jones, which could have padded the lead, taken the lead or cut into Purdue’s lead.

Christian Watford and Tom Pritchard did not score in the second half.  Look it up.

Today’s game at Northwestern will be another challenge for the Hoosiers.

Indiana will not have three or four days of practice leading up to this game as they did before the Illinois road game and before playing Purdue at home.

It will be interesting to see how this team plays on a  short turnaround against a Northwestern team who’s disciplined offensive movement gives every team they play problems.   Oh, and they have some kids who can play.  Shurna, Crawford and Thompson can all play.

Prediction:  Northwestern (-9.5) 76   Indiana 63

Super Bowl XLIV

The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints get together later this afternoon in Miami to settle the debate on who the best professional football team of 2009 will be.

The Colts have been here and done that, as they were victorious in Miami in 2007 over the Chicago Bears.

The Saints are the feel good story this year, the popular choice, the “I only tune it to watch the commercials” people will be rooting for them.

Good luck with that.

For a football fan, it’s the best and worst day of the year.

The best, as it decides a champion.

The worst, as it is designed for the “casual viewer” as the football is just as important as the commercials, half time show, and the human interest stories.

Drew Brees seems to be a nice lad.  Him and his wife love Nawlins and they have made significant donations to helping rebuild the city after the hurricane.

Good for them.

The city supports their team and think it’s nifty that they are playing for the world championship.

Good.  What city doesn’t support their team besides Jacksonville, Oakland or Detroit?

Boo.

I like football.

This game is about Peyton Manning, not Archie Manning.

This game is about not about cities and weather, it’s about blitzes and wide receivers.

This game is not about history, it’s about making history with a victory.

Unfortunately, the only drama in this game is going to be “how many.”

As in “how many” points the Colts are going to win by this evening.

We already know that Carrie Underwood is singing the National Anthem.  We already have seen most of the commercials on line.  We already know the set list for The Who at halftime.

The only drama left will be provided by the two teams.

As it should be on a Super Bowl Sunday.

Prediction:  Indianapolis Colts (-4.5) 34  New Orleans Saints 17