by Dave Salter
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan22/97) - The Super Bowl is the most watched TV event every year around the world.

However, it never seems to live up to the pre-game hype. It's an annual super blow-out.

But a couple of prominent Yellowknife sports figures think this year's game will actually keep us awake all the way to the fourth quarter.

Sport North development staff members Doug Rentmeister and Bill Othmer are bucking the odds and picking the underdog New England Patriots to upset the heavily favored Green Bay Packers.

When the final whistle blows on Sunday, these high rollers say New England will have downed Green Bay 24-21. They're ignoring the 14-point spread that favors the Packers.

Othmer has a clear vision of what's going to transpire at the Superdome in New Orleans.

"Drew Bledsoe (Patriots quarterback) is going to have the game of his life and the Patriots' offensive line is going to come up big again," says Othmer confidently.

"It'll be a close one, though."

Rentmeister agrees it will a tight affair and feels the difference will come down to coaching.

"Bill Parcells (Patriots coach) always finds ways to win. Most people didn't think they'd get this far."

Both men say they have friendly wagers on the outcome. Othmer has a couple of loonies on the line against Dan Schofield of MACA's sport division.

Schofield is gladly taking the Packers -- 24-12.

"They're just too strong. They have too many arsenals on offence and defence," says Schofield, who describes his bet with Othmer as "huge."

Our other two amateur prognosticators are going with the favorite.

Schofield's co-worker, Chris Szabo, says the Packers will topple the Patriots 27-14.

"Reggie White (Green Bay linebacker) is due for a big game," he says.

"The Packers have more experience and have been more dominant in their play-off games."

Chris Bergman, executive director of Sport North, is a long-time Packers fan and says nothing is going to stop his team this year. He says Packers 35, Patriots 21.

"I'm going with the Packers without any doubt or reservations," he says.

"They're much too powerful mentally and psychologically. They'll be ready."