Super Bowl XLVII

If the big game prestige is not enough to draw you in, here are 47 reasons why you really need to watch Super Bowl XLVII:

I. Harbowl

What other way to begin than with this fun tidbit that’s way under the radar: two brothers are coaching against each

other! They’re Jim and John and their last name Harbaugh lends itself to many Super Bowl puns.

II. Ray Lewis

If you also hadn’t heard, this will be the Ravens’ linebacker’s last game. Lewis likes dancing and making motivational

speeches, so you can expect those if the Ravens are hoisting the trophy. He’s also involved in Super Bowl week’s

weirdest storyline (so far).

III. Linebacking linchpins

There will indeed be other linebackers besides Lewis patrolling the field Sunday. A few are quite talented and fun to

watch, in fact. Ravens teammate Terrell Suggs will work to contain the Niners’ option rushing attack. The Niners have

a fearsome tackling tandem in the middle of the defense with Patrick Willis and Navorro Bowman.

IV. Lipsync or live?

All eyes and ears will be focused toward Beyonce when she performs the Super Bowl halftime show. Will she sing

live after the inauguration backlash? (That's a mystery). Is this a prop bet in Vegas? (Not yet but there are others ).

And will it be controversy-free? (Most likely not, judging by recent history ).

V. Kaepernicking

Because you haven’t made it as a sports star until your name becomes an -ing verb that can be trademarked for the

purpose of tons of memorabilia. I’m kissing my non-existent bicep just thinking about it.

VI. Celebrity girlfriends

Katherine Webb became an Internet sensation after college football’s title game, so much so that she’s now covering

the Super Bowl. Someone's galpal could be next though it definitely won't be Manti Te’o’s girlfriend (because we

haven't heard enough lame jokes about that in the past couple weeks).

VII. O.J. Brigance

One story surrounding this Super Bowl you really should check out if you haven’t yet: Brigance was the Ravens'

special-teams captain when they won their first title. Now the team’s senior advisor to player development, he has

ALS and speaks through a computer.

VII. Rice and Gore

Sounds like one for the political junkies but it’s really two ground grinders who can have game-changing impacts.

Both teams are at their best when they remember running backs Ray Rice and Frank Gore set up big passing plays.

Sometimes that seems to go by the wayside.

VIII. Commercials

Always a fun part of the watching experience, 2013's crops look to have some doozies.

IX. Gold rush

Aldon Smith’s 19 1/2 sacks left him three shy of the single-season record. The mark for most sacks in a Super

Bowl? 3 by Reggie White in XXXI and Darnell Dockett in XLIII.

X. Milestones

History could be made as San Francisco goes for an NFL record-tying sixth Super Bowl victory. The Ravens are 1-0

in Super Bowls and will try to keep their mark unblemished.

XI. Flacco for real?

Winning a Super Bowl helps ascend quarterbacks to greatness. Joe Flacco has faced a knock of inconsistency

through his career but a title can change that notion - just ask Eli Manning.

XII. New Orleans

The Big Easy provides a backdrop full of character, hosting its first post-Katrina Super Bowl. NOLA loves throwing big

parties and they’ll get another when Mardi Gras begins Wednesday.

XIII. Alex Smith

He’s the NFL version of Wally Pipp, the Yankee who missed a game, was replaced by Lou Gehrig and never got his

job back. Smith suffered a concussion, had to sit and so began the Kaepernick era. It was by no fault of Smith's, who

had resurrected his career and was having another strong year. He’ll watch from the sidelines Sunday.

XIV. Wings, pizza, drinks

Food is half the fun, especially if you don’t care who wins. There’s no better excuse for indulging on a work night than

Super Bowl Sunday. Just make sure to put some Tums on the shopping list - and check out a list of Super Bowl

deals .

XV. Shannon Sharpe

The former Ravens tight end and CBS analyst is not afraid to be honest, notably taking on Bill Belichick for being a

sore loser after declining a postgame interview after the Patriots’ AFC Championship loss to the Ravens.

XVI. Big Apple references

Next year’s Super Bowl will be played outdoors at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, setting up the possibility for cold,

wintry conditions. You’ll probably hear plenty about how problematic this could be, so naturally expect unseasonably

warm temperatures.

XVII. It’s not the Pro Bowl

Enough said.

XVIII. David Akers

If you revel in the possibility of drama, Akers could be a good bet. The kicker who had been a model of consistency

for years took a volatile turn in 2012. He could be the next Scott Norwood - or Adam Vinatieri. Glory or goat’s a

common theme with kickers in the big game.

XIX. Redemption

Somewhere Lee Evans, Billy Cundiff and Kyle Williams will be watching and can feel a little better after their costly

miscues factored in these two teams falling

one game short of Super Bowl XLVI. Evans dropped a potential game-winning touchdown, then Cundiff missed a

game-tying field goal to crush Baltimore’s hopes. Williams fumbled not once but twice in crucial situations, the

second setting up the Giants in field goal position for an OT win.

XX. Justin Tucker

The Ravens’ rookie kicker has been the anti-Akers this season, connecting on 90 percent of his field goal attempts.

XXI. Falling confetti

Losing players, like ESPN analyst Herm Edwards, call it the worst part of the game – watching the other team revel

in title glory, colored paper falling on the field.

XXII. Best receiver debate

49ers receiver Randy Moss made some waves at Media Day when he said he was the great receiver ever .

Apparently he hasn’t heard of 49er great Jerry Rice or his bevy of records

XXIII. New Blood

It’s the first Super Bowl since 2002 without Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Ben Roethlisberger.

XXIV. Saved by the Bell to Super Bowl

Niners head coach Jim Harbaugh made a cameo on Saved by the Bell back in the day. Tell me he’s not cooler now.

XXV. Predictions

You want to be the one that’s right about everything regarding the Super Bowl from the final score to amount of chips

Billy eats in the 3rd quarter.

XXVI: Puppy Bowl

Just in case someone at the party needs a football break: The "Puppy Bowl" airs from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday on Animal

Planet and repeats until 3 a.m.

XXVII. Lombardi Trophy

It's always special seeing the prized trophy on display - that is unless you can't stand the team that's on the podium

celebrating with it.

XXVIII. Streaks

The NFC has won the last three Super Bowls but that's still a long way to go from the conference's 13-year Super

Bowl dominance from 1984-1996.

XXIX. Twitter talk

If you're bored, pull out your smartphone and you'll be sure to find plenty of Super Bowl buzz on social media. Last

year's Super Bowl set Twitter records for tweets sent per second.

XXX. “The NFL won’t exist in 30 years”

Enjoy it while you can, so says Ravens safety Bernard Pollard at least. In the wake of calls for change due to head

injuries, Pollard went on a scattered rant in which he opined that the game is becoming watered down and fans will

get fed up.

XXXI. Michael Phelps

The most decorated Olympian of all-time hails from the Baltimore area and is a big Ravens fan.

XXXII. Vernon Davis

Explosive and athletic, Davis is often an enigma. He sputtered through most of the season but then blew up in last

week’s NFC Championship game. Atlanta couldn’t cover him but Baltimore will have to devote attention to the player

former coach Mike Singletary once called “uncoachable.”

XXXIII. Obama on head injuries

For the fourth consecutive year, the president will be interviewed in the pregame coverage, this time by CBS’ Scott

Pelley. Obama’s comments this week about player safety have put even more scrutiny on the issue.

XXXIV. Youth vs. experience

Young quarterbacks typically struggle against the Ravens D that includes mainstays like Lewis and safety Ed Reed.

Super Bowl XLVII will be just the tenth start of Colin Kaepernick’s NFL career.

XXXV. Art Modell

Scorned in Cleveland and savior in Baltimore, Modell will be in the news this week months after his death. The

Ravens will wear a black “Art” patch on their Super Bowl XLVII jerseys and the Hall of Fame will announce Saturday if

the man who moved the Browns will be enshrined in Canton.

XXXVI. Unsung contributors

One on each team’s offense who make can make an impact: Ravens fullback Vonta Leach makes a difference

everywhere he goes, a lead blocker who fuels top run games. 49ers tight end Delanie Walker isn’t the athletic freak

like Vernon Davis but if you don’t pay him attention, you will pay.