The column I would have written if we had any room in the newspaper today

I, like most journalists, take pride in my objectivity.

I tend to think I take a little more pride than most, though, because in the one sport on which I focus most of my writing — college football — I actually don’t have a dog in the fight.

Because of that, when you read my annual batch of columns, you’re seeing opinions formed, by and large, without bias.

Today, however, I’m removing that hat.

You see, today, the NFL team I’ve rooted for the vast majority of my life finally is in the Super Bowl.

Today, that same team is facing my least favorite team led by my least favorite quarterback.

So no, what you will not see from me are well-reasoned, sane arguments.

I want the Saints to win because they never have.

I want them to win for all those various saviors that came along over the years that never panned out.

I want them to win for New Orleans and for Louisiana. They’ve been the glue holding the whole thing together since Katrina.

I want them to win for Drew Brees. For Darren Sharper. For Scott Fujita, Reggie Bush and Marques Colston.

I want them to win because I don’t want Peyton Manning to.

I want them to win because I don’t want Dwight Freeney to.

Nor do I want Reggie Wayne, Gary Brackett or Dallas Clark to win.

While it’s quite obvious the Colts are the favorites heading in, I don’t want to think about that either.

I want to believe Brees will lead the Saints to victory. That Bush will have a big game. That all those receivers will step up big. That the New Orleans defense will return to its early season form and start picking off passes like crazy.

I also want to believe Manning will revert to his old form in big games, despite all evidence that that Peyton Manning no longer exists.

Yes, it’s true, there are lots of reasons to think this won’t be the Saints’ night.

But I don’t care.

My prediction? Saints 94, Colts -15.

Who dat?