Country music and the Super Bowl go hand in hand. Last night, Darius Rucker played the Super Bowl Village in downtown Indianapolis. Tomorrow night, Carrie Underwood and Steve Tyler's Pepsi Super Bowl Jam performance airs on CMT Crossroads. And sure to tune in right before kickoff, when Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert sing "America the Beautiful."
And plenty of country stars have their opinions about the game itself:
- Chris Young isn't a big follower of either the Giants or the Patriots, but if push comes to shove, he's going with the G-Men. He says, "I just think when the Giants' front four is healthy like that, they can drop everybody else back into coverage."
- Lady Antebellum are pulling for the Giants. Actually, they're pulling for quarterback Eli Manning. Charles Kelley says, "He's come to a couple of shows, and so we are Giants fans on that night."
- Dierks Bentley couldn't care less about who wins -- he's just hoping for a good game. He says, "I just want to see a game that isn't over by halftime. I want to see something that goes to the fourth quarter, maybe deeper."
- Luke Bryan says spending time with his boys take precedence over football these days, but they'll still be getting together with friends to watch the game.
-
We have our annual predictions from the Scripps Howard Celebrity Super Bowl Poll.
HOLLYWOOD FAVORS NEW YORK
- HOWIE MANDEL: New York, 41-7. "Giants will mob the Patriots. I was just looking for a way to mention my show, Mobbed."
- ALISON SWEENEY: New York, 23-21. "Since I was in New York when the Giants won on Sunday night in overtime, I'm going with the Giants. Hopefully, it'll be another close game since those are the most fun to watch."
- ROSEANNE BARR: New York, 24-21.
- DENNIS FARINA: New York, 33-29. "The Giants are on a roll and Tom Brady is a little hurt."
- ANDREW DICE CLAY: New York, 31-21. "This is just my Brooklyn premonition. I don't follow sports that much, but I do like to watch the cheerleaders and you never know when you will ever get another wardrobe malfunction."
- HALEY JOEL OSMENT: New York, 34-31. "It's just destined to be won at the last second by a field goal." [He has picked 11 of the last 12 Super Bowl winners.]
- HOLLY MADISON: New York, 24-20. "First, I love New York and the Giants are on such a good roll right now that I don't want to mess with that."
- ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER: New England, 31-24. "I can't pick against my neighbor, especially when he is playing at such a high level. Tom Brady will be the Super Bowl MVP."
- SHERRI SHEPHERD: New England, 42-35. "New England Baby! Both teams have great offenses but Tom Brady is better under pressure. Eli Manning only has one Super Bowl win while Tom Brady has three (soon to be four)!"
- JOEL MCHALE: "Broncos by 7. Even though they're not in the game, Denver will show up unannounced and beat both teams at once. That's right, 11 versus 22. (Broncos quarterback Tim) Tebow will throw a last-second Hail Mary pass while saying a Hail Mary. Mary will then catch the pass for a touchdown."
CLASSIC TV STARS FOR NEW YORK
- DAWN WELLS, Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island: New York, 24-17. "There's nobody handsomer than Brady. But I kind of like Eli."
- RUSSELL JOHNSON, the Professor on Gilligan's Island: New York, 17-14. "They seem to be so evenly matched. I'm going to go with Eli and the Giants."
- TINA LOUISE, Ginger on Gilligan's Island: New York, 28-27.
- JACLYN SMITH, Charlie's Angels: New York, 27-24. "If I didn't pick the Giants, my husband would be filing for divorce!"
CLASSIC TV STARS FOR NEW ENGLAND
- FLORENCE HENDERSON, Carol Brady on The Brady Bunch: New England, 24-14. "They're a great team and I especially love Tom Brady."
- BARRY WILLIAMS, Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch: New England, 31-17. "As the seventh and youngest Brady, Tom is a classic and a winner."
- ADAM WEST, Batman: New England, 21-17. "It will be close and wrenching. Brady is on a record-breaking super roll. If his offensive line can keep up (its) great protection abilities, we know somebody's pattern and luck downfield could pile up points."
- JERRY MATHERS, Beaver on Leave it to Beaver: New England, 38-31. "Tom Brady is looking to avenge that last loss. I think it will be high scoring, because defensively both (teams) are weak (in the secondary)."
POLITICAL PUNDITS
- LOU DOBBS: New York, 34-24. "I think (Manning) and Brady are playing at about the same level, with an edge to Manning. Without (Patriots tight end Rob) Gronkowski, the Pats lose at least a touchdown of offense. Go Giants."
- BILL O'REILLY: New York, 27-24. "The Giants will be able to disrupt Tom Brady's passing. The Pats can't run the ball. Eli Manning will hit a few deep passes."
- KEITH OLBERMANN: New York, 27-17. "I was at (the Giants') last loss and saw two things: a) the Giant defense, especially the line, was humiliated by its own work versus Washington and vowed to never let it happen again. And b) Eli Manning can now pretty much put the ball to within a foot of where he wants it."
- RACHEL MADDOW: New England, 31-27. "Because the Lesser Manning is lesser. Adorable, and with such tiny hands! But lesser."
WORLD OF SPORTS
- YOGI BERRA: New York, 23-20. "Better defense should be the difference."
- JOHN MCENROE: New York, 24-21.
- MARK CUBAN: New York, 38-31.
- DANICA PATRICK: New York, 34-31. "The Giants have been on a roll; confidence and momentum are important in any sport."
- HULK HOGAN: New York, 24-17.
- ARNOLD PALMER: New York, 28-17. "Eli Manning is feeling his oats. I think he will have a good game in the Super Bowl."
- JACK NICKLAUS: New England, 31-28. "How many games have the Patriots lost? Three. How many games have the Giants lost? Seven. I realize the Giants are hot right now, but over the course of a season I think the Patriots have performed better and I like their body of work. Eli is a great quarterback and I am a big fan. It just so happens I root for the AFC, because I am a long-time Dolphins' fan."
- DALE EARNHARDT JR.: New England. "The Redskins whooped the Giants twice so if they won it would make me feel good as a Redskins fan, but I think the Patriots will win, barely, by 3 or 4 points."
MUSICIANS
- JOAN JETT: New York, 38-35. [She has picked the last six Super Bowl winners.]
- VANILLA ICE: New England, 31-21. "I think the G-Men are playing great ball and could upset again, but I think the Pats are out for revenge from the last time they met and will do whatever it takes not to lose the Super Bowl a second time to the same team."
- ANDY WILLIAMS: New England, 13-10. "I love Brady and (New England owner) Robert Kraft runs a great organization."










