Choosing a Side

There are 32 teams in the National Football League, but by the time Super Bowl Sunday rolls around, only two are left.

That means, even if you are a football fan, chances are you don’t really have a dog in Sunday’s fight. If you’re going to be watching the Super Bowl mainly as a social exercise this weekend — or just to have something to do between the commercials — you’re even less likely to have a vested interest in the outcome.

While it is possible to watch a game and just appreciate the talents of the players, I find it’s more enjoyable if you’ve got a personal (non-monetary) interest. So for those of you still undecided about whether to pull for the Indianapolis Colts or the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV, here’s my annual step-by-step method for choosing your allegiance.

The team with the advantage in each of the five categories gets a point. Some of these criteria are determined by simple math. Others may be in the eye of the beholder. If you don’t agree with my take on it, you can tally up the points however you see fit.

Please note, this only helps determine for which team you might want to cheer. Don’t bet any money based on what you’re about to read. If you’re that ready to part with it, there are some wonderful charities that would be more than happy to accept.

1. Geographic Proximity

As the old song goes, you can “root, root, root for the home team.” Barring that, go for the one that’s closest.

According to MapQuest.com, it’s just a hair under 300 miles from Marietta to Indianapolis, where the Colts call home. That’s hardly a hop, skip and a jump, but it’s a much shorter haul than the 1,007 miles to the Big Easy.

COLTS 1, SAINTS 0.

2. Alma Maters

Each team has players who excelled in college for schools with lots of local support.

The Saints boast two Ohio State alumni on the roster — defensive end Will Smith and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins.

The Colts have only one Buckeye on the team, and unfortunately, he’ll be sitting this one out. Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez injured his knee in the first game of the season and hasn’t played since. Punter Pat McAfee was drafted by the team this year out of West Virginia University.

I have to give the edge here to the Saints, since they’ll have two of these players actually on the field.

SAINTS 1, COLTS 1.

3. Mascot

Usually I decide this one based on which mascot is the most intimidating or which one would win in an actual athletic competition. I’d have to figure a colt could outperform most saints in terms of speed and strength.

But you also have to give credit for originality and how well the mascot fits the area from which the team hails. In that case, I’ve got to go with the Saints, since that name evokes the jazzy “When the Saints Go Marching In” and images of Mardi Gras. “Colts” is fine, but a tad bland by comparison.

SAINTS 2, COLTS 1.

4. Uniforms

New Orleans’ duds aren’t too shabby, gold and black with gold helmets bearing the fleur-de-lis emblem. But I prefer the Indianapolis uniforms, a simple mix of blue and white and a traditional design without the distracting bells and whistles of many teams’ contemporary attire.

COLTS 2, SAINTS 2.

5. Storyline

If you can’t get into the game itself, you might be intrigued by the back story.

The Colts have a rookie head coach, Jim Caldwell, who succeeded Tony Dungy after he retired last year. They’ve got quarterback Peyton Manning, trying to solidify an already impressive legacy as one of the best ever.

Of course, they’re also the favorites, and the underdog tends to be the sentimental favorite, even without the Saints’ Hollywood setup.

New Orleans historically has been a, well, less-than-impressive team. It took them 21 years just to record their first winning season and, until recently, those still came few and far between.

Now playing in their first Super Bowl, that alone might be enough to find favor with the general populace.

But the team is also representing the city of New Orleans, four years removed from the devastating Hurricane Katrina.

While sports pales in comparison to such real-world concerns, the connection is there, which has helped the Saints wrest the title of “America’s Team” away from the Dallas Cowboys, at least for a season.

SAINTS 3, COLTS 2.