Tym Glaser

ARE YOU ready for some football?

Yeah, folks, it's that time of year again when behemoths in pads and helmets charge into each other from close range in the National Football League (NFL).

American football is definitely an acquired taste. Outsiders and the uninitiated don't understand the myriad of penalties (violations not free shots at goal) and the stop-start nature of the game which is not exactly helped by, of all things, breaks for TV ads!

A Test cricket match might seem like it goes on forever but there's a natural flow to the game. The NFL is herky-jerky, a lot of sumo-like encounters (without the holding) at the line of scrimmage complemented by occasional successful passes and runs of varying lengths as teams try to get that all-important touchdown.

However, despite its idiosyncrasies, it's clearly the most popular sport in the States, well ahead of the national pastime, baseball, and basketball.

Of course, a part of its appeal is the remarkable amount of betting on things like 'points spreads' and 'over/unders' and the fantasy league fad.

favourites

This, of course, leads me to help out my punting pals with a breakdown of the favourites in American and National conferences this season.

The dominant AFC appear to have three standout teams, the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts, the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers.

The Colts got off to a flyer at home against the highly-rated New Orleans Saints on Thursday night with a 41-10 drubbing and seem to have picked up where they left off last year. Peyton Manning is clearly the best quarterback in the league and he has a fine cast of offensive stars in receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne and young running back Joseph Addai. The defensive unit was the Colts primary problem most of last season until a turnaround in the play-offs which carried into Thursday's season opener.

The San Diego Chargers have as much All-Star talent as any side in the competition through the likes of running back LaDainian Tomlinson, tight end Antonio Gates, linebacker Shawne Merriman and emerging quarterback Philip Rivers. The big question mark about this team is new coach Norv Turner who was unable to translate his success as an offensive coordinatorto a head coach at stops in Washington and Oakland.

The Patriots, winners of the Super Bowl in 2002, 2004 and 2005, were 18 points up on the Colts in the AFC Championship game last year before Manning's heroics denied them another Bowl appearance.

The Pats seem to be greater than the sum of their parts thanks to canny coach Bill Belichick but they possess a great quarterback in Tom Brady and a mean, veteran defence.

The Baltimore Ravens, Pitts-burgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans, with gun young quarterback Vince Young, have shots but look a class below the 'big three'.

Over in the NFC, thing are far more murky.

Conference champions the Chicago Bears have a great defence led by linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs but their offence hangs on the inconsistent arm of Rex Grossman and was found wanting against the Colts in the Super Bowl.

good running backs

The Saints, despite Thursday night's blowout, were the feel-good story of last season and made it all the way to the conference final. Drew Brees is a class quarterback and he has two good running backs at his disposal, Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister, and solid receivers in Marques Colston and David Patten.

However, the Colts exposed the defence and they ain't goin' nowhere if they give up 40-plus points each game.

The Dallas Cowboys will be hoping young, second-year quarterback Tony Romo can continue his heroics of last year and drive the Texas team into the post-season. His primary target is an ageing Terrell Owens while he hands off to workhorse Julius Jones. However, the strength of the 'Boys is defence.

The Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles - if quarterback Donovan McNabb can stay healthy, improving San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams also have legitimate claims in a wide open conference.

So, who will make it to Super Bowl XLII in Arizona on February 3?

How about Patriots versus Cowboys?

Remember, I get 10 per cent of any winnings.

Later.

tym.glaser@gleanerjm.com