THE LATEST LINE: PACK SHOULD HAVE WAY WITH BRONCOS TODAY

When attempting to handicap today's Super Bowl between Green Bay and Denver, you first have to try and determine one thing.

Does the point spread -- which has held fairly steady at Green Bay by 12 -- reflect the fact the Packers simply look like that much better of a team or the fact the NFC has so dominated the past 13 Super Bowls?

Actually, it's probably a combination of the two.

While some might think there's no way a team should be favored by that many points in a game that supposedly pits football's two best squads, don't forget that all but a few of the past 13 NFC wins have been decided by well over 12 points. In fact, the NFC's average margin of victory during its 13-year winning streak is almost 21 points.

And when you look at how both squads got here, the Packers have been by far the more dominant team, beating Tampa Bay by 14 points and what looked like an exceptional San Francisco squad by 13 points on the 49ers' home field. Denver barely slipped past Kansas City and Pittsburgh in its final two playoff games.

But all of that won't mean anything late this afternoon in San Diego. Then it's up to the players on the field.

I can see how Denver might be able to hang close if John Elway is really on, Terrell Davis gains big yardage and the Broncos' defense plays like it has lately.

But, overall, I just see the Packers being way too potent on both sides of the football. I don't see the Broncos slowing down Brett Favre and Dorsey Levens and I don't see Green Bay's defense allowing too much of anything.

I look for things to be close for a while, with the more powerful Packers ultimately wearing down the Broncos.

Final score: 35-17.

Of course, don't go running to your bookie based solely on my prediction.

After all, I've been known to be wrong before.

* I had the pleasure of attending Monday's big Missouri win over Kansas and it was certainly quite an atmosphere.

Sitting with friends high up in the student section, everybody stood virtually the entire game and the noise level was deafening most of the night.

SEMO students who attend games at the Show Me Center could certainly take a page out of what went on Monday at the Hearnes Center.

* Scott City basketball star Jon Beck was recently featured on ESPN's Scholastic Sports America, a weekly show that focuses on high school sports across the country.

Beck was highlighted because of his performance against Egyptian, Ill., when he hit 16 3-pointers. That total is the sixth-best ever by a high school player.

* The real telltale sign that both Cape Central and Notre Dame are experiencing somewhat average boys basketball seasons?

Notre Dame's tiny gymnasium wasn't even packed when the city rivals squared off Tuesday night. I can't ever remember that being the case in the last 10 years or so.

* SEMO's gymnastics team, under energetic and enthusiastic first-year coach Kris Buchheister, will open its home season today (1 p.m.) at the Show Me Center.

Fans can take in the meet and still have plenty of time to get to their Super Bowl party.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian