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Week 21: The Super Bowl Tradition Forgot

My friends, the Crystal Ball is back for its final installment of the 1999-2000 NFL campaign, covering the Super Bowl That Tradition Forgot.

Goodness, where are the Niners and Bills and Broncos and Packers? Where are the Raiders barking at the moon and Jim McMahon showing a full moon? And where is the good weather? Judging by this week's temperatures, Atlanta will get another Super Bowl when John Rocker joins the Rainbow Coalition.

With most Super Bowls, the hype usually tops the game but this week there hasn't even been any hype. In fact, I've thought very little about the game - instead focusing on which foods I'll stuff down my neck on Super Sunday.

Of course, despite my sterling 120-64 record, there is ample evidence that I shouldn't be predicting any game, much less pigskin. To wit: last week's calls that the Jags and Rams would win by scores of 24-21 and 34-6, respectively. Unfortunately, I've got no excuses except to say that I just did what the voices told me to do. (What the heck - it worked for Charles Manson?)

One reminder about the big game: It starts at 6:18 p.m. ET on ABC, preceded by the pregame show, which began on Tuesday with the new Regis Philbin show Who Wants To Be A Jockstrap Repairman? Please don't raise your hand, George.

Of late, many fans have been hopping on the Tennessee bandwagon, citing the Titans as a "Team of Destiny." My friends, destiny is the burrito I'll wrap my fingers around this evening, not a football team which beat an overrated Buffalo club on a fluke play.

But, I've got to admit that even I have fallen in love with Tennessee in recent weeks. However, any amorous feelings I had for Jeff Fisher & Co. vanished when I saw the brutal, horrific toupee sported by Titans owner Bud Adams after last Sunday's AFC Championship victory. My goodness, the man's head would've looked better if he were wearing a squirrel.

As for the game, the tempation is to look at the Titans' effort in recent weeks and say "They're better than the Rams. They can control Kurt Warner. Marshall Faulk can be contained." Incorrect, I say.

The simple truth is this - the Rams dominated teams all year long and were actually led by their defense, which was tops in the NFL against the run. This means a long day for Eddie George, and I don't think the Titans are in position to win with Steve McNair leading the charge.

In the end, it'll be too much Warner, too much Faulk and way too much London Fletcher as the Rams reach the mountaintop. As for Vermeil, you can bet the tears will flow like Refrigerator Perry's fat rolls - and that's before the game kicks off.

Final score: Rams 31, Titans 21. See you next year.

The Standings

The Guru 120-64 Trying to keep his chins up.

The Norvell 43-54-1 Best playcaller in the game (football).

The Swamp Fox 34-80-1 Birth records link him to Pete Carroll.

Tell the Guru what you think of his selections at AQB's Speak Out board or e-mail ArmchairQB.com.

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Week17 First Round Divisional Round AFC/NFC Finals

The Guru's Super Crystal Ball: Reeves vs. Shanahan

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