Let’s hope the actual game is better than the build-up.

On the surface, there just isn’t too much going on in Miami this week.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure it’s party time on South Beach and the Super Bowl should be all it’s cracked up to be (and it really should be a great game), but there just aren’t too many storylines.

Let’s go through the select few:

Freeney Factor

Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney’s ankle has taken precedence over most other happenings.

Will Freeney play and be a presence that Drew Brees’ and the Saints’ offensive line will have to deal with?

The QB says yes, he will. He will at least give it a shot. He and Colts coach Jim Caldwell have alluded to that much.

Freeney is a definite sack threat as one of the most prominent pass rushers in the NFL, but he had no sacks against Chicago when Indianapolis won Super Bowl XLI three years ago in Miami. However, he tallied 13 1/2 regular-season sacks and his mere presence is a factor.

Whether he does or does not play, though, the Colts’ defense might just be good enough to contain the Saints, who have scored 30.4 points per game this season, including the playoffs.

The Colts were ranked 18th in overall defense this season, but they came up with key plays in crucial moments several times throughout the season, giving quarterback Peyton Manning and the offense opportunities to pull out close games.

Opposing Connection

Another storyline is that of Manning facing the team who grew up with, the team his father, Archie, compiled his best years with, the team he would certainly be pulling for if his Colts weren’t the foes.

As Manning said, he realizes that most of the country is pulling for the feel-good, Hollywood-type story of the Saints winning the Super Bowl, bringing the city of New Orleans from the ashes of all that resulted from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the dust of desolation.

But, as he also said, he’s OK with that.

And, even if New Orleans loses, the city is already back. Who Dat Nation have gladly hopped onto the backs of the Saints and rode all the way to their first ever Super Bowl appearance in their 43-year franchise history.

And it’s been quite a ride. The ride has to end sometime, though. Especially with Manning cutting up defenses the way he does. Giving Manning seven days to prepare is one thing, but a period of 14 days is a different type of danger.

OCNN Reports...

The Chad Ochocinco News Network hasn’t broken any worthwhile news this week, though it is an indicator that the Bengals wide receiver is a self-marketing genius.

Ochocinco did tell Fox Sports reporter Jay Glazer that he is “sure” that Terrell Owens will be a Bengal next season. In my opinion, that spells disaster, in a bad way.

Ad it up

Controversial ads have been a topic of discussion the past couple weeks. The hotly-debated advertisement involving Tim Tebow, which some claim portrayed an anti-abortion message, has made the cut and will be seen. One of Danica Patrick’s GoDaddy.com commercials is one of those that didn’t make the cut. Really, though, it’s better for these companies if their controversial ad doesn’t make it, because that way they save $3 million and still get their product or service in the public eye.

Prop-er Ways to Bet

I was surfing through sportsbetting.com the other day for a free Super Bowl contest that I played last season, and I ran across all of the prop bets you could make for the big game.

Some of the mainstays were listed, like the coin toss, the length of the National Anthem, which coach will use a challenge first, and others.

But, get this, there is a whole section of Kim Kardashian prop bets. Kardashian, famous for the show Keeping up with the Kardashians, and for being Saints playmaker Reggie Bush’s girlfriend, is the subject of seven prop bets on the Web site. One example: Kardashian’s waist size (26 inches) vs. total rushing yards by Bush. I’ll take Bush on that one.

Super Bowl XLIV

Champion

OK, back to football. The Saints got to Brett Favre repeatedly in the NFC Championship game, laying bruising hits on the quarterback, but, if Minnesota had not committed unforced turnovers, that alone may have not been enough for the Saints defense to win.

New Orleans had the second-best defense in terms of takeaways, with 39 of them this season, led by veteran safety Darren Sharper. Will Smith, a defensive tackle, is the Saints’ equivalent to the Colts’ Freeney. He racked up 13 sacks this season.

If the Saints put the Colts in a quick hole with their quick-strike offense, it will make it difficult for the Colts, but not much is insurmountable with Manning and the dependable weapons he has around him.

In a game of such talented offenses, it will likely come down to which team makes the defining defensive play(s).

Who dat? Who dat? Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?

Da Colts. Dat’s who.

Snyder’s Pick: Colts 30, Saints 24.

AARON SNYDER can be reached at asnyder@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2664.