Most people might think Valentine’s Day is the second holiday of the year, but it is not. Super Bowl Sunday has become a global phenomenon. 
The National Football League’s final game always dominates television ratings in the United States, but now it has become a major event globally. 
Almost everyone watches the Super Bowl, even if it is just for the commercials or to go to a party. 
Regardless of which teams actually make it, the game is already a huge deal. But the fact the best team from each conference will play makes this game an even bigger deal. 
Since the NFL playoff format expanded to 12 teams in 1991, this year’s Super Bowl will be only the fourth time the No. 1 seeds in each conference met in the final game. 
The last time it happened was for Super Bowl XLIV back in 2010, a game that also involved Peyton Manning when the Colts took on the Saints. 
The biggest championship game perhaps in American sports is a mere two days away, and I cannot wait to see it. Super Bowl XLVIII is one of the most intriguing matchups I have seen in a Super Bowl in my lifetime. 
Typically, I can make my prediction about the game the night after the conference championship games or at least a few days after. I did not decide who I thought would win this game until I wrote this column, and to be honest, I am still not sure. Both of the teams are that good. 
Right now, the betting odds say the Broncos are a three-point favorite, but if you ask me, this one is a pick ’em. 
I honestly do not know how either team could truly be considered a favorite in this strength-on-strength matchup as the Broncos and their No. 1 offense take on the Seattle Seahawks and their No. 1 defense. 
History is on the Seahawks’ side. 
In the five times the top-ranked offense has played the best defense in the Super Bowl, the defensive team came out on top four of the five times. 
Also, in the three prior matchups of No. 1 seeds from each conference, the NFC team has won all three times. 
If you look at the 13 Super Bowl winners since the year 2000, seven of those teams were top five in defense, and only two were top five in offense. 
The message is pretty clear. Defense wins championships, and that is why I pick Seattle to win this game. 
I could go into a big soliloquy of football reasons to break down this game, but it would be pointless. I could honestly make a strong case for why Seattle can win the Super Bowl, but I feel I can also make just as strong a case for Denver.  
I cannot tell you I honestly believe that the Seahawks defense that allowed just 14 points per game and that only allowed more than 30 points just once all season was going to hold the Broncos under 30 points, but the truth is the great Peyton Manning, with two weeks to prepare for an opponent, most certainly could drop 30 on Seattle. 
I cannot say for sure that the Broncos, who average 38 points per game, will even eclipse the 30-point mark against the Seattle defense. 
Normally when I make a prediction, if I am right, I am the first one to point it out to everyone and say, “I told you so.” I will not be doing that after this game if Seattle wins. Both teams are really good, and both are talented enough and well-coached enough to be champions. 
I just hope we see a great game between the best of the best in the sport, and I fully expect we will.