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Two-a-days and the heat of August are right around the corner and NFL Sunday fever is here.  Whether it be playing fantasy football or just putting a bet down between friends, there are some big decisions to be made every Sunday morning in the Fall that could produce some big bucks.  Besides Saturday, Sunday is my favorite day of the week.  It's great to kick back and hopefully watch your favorite NFL team dismantle an opposing one.  Trash talking for a week about how good your team is and how they are "superbowl or bust" is allowed, because hey, who can say otherwise.  Mainly, I am just ready to watch some football.  But that got me to thinking.  Which is better to watch football on, the new Sunday Night Football on NBC or the new Monday Night Football on ESPN?  I came to the conclusion by judging criteria between the two and examining the results.  Here is how it went.

1.  Commentators                                                                                                                                    

SNF - John Madden can be "maddening" sometimes with his incessant overstatement of obvious facts and occurrences on the field, but his goofy demeanor and voice make his blunders laughable and forgettable.  He also has knowledge of the game and won a superbowl, so his comments do mean something.  I enjoy Al Michaels, who is calm, as an opposite to Madden.  I love Madden on XBox too.

MNF - Love Pardon the Interruption, and Love Tony Kornheiser on it.  But I dislike him on MNF.  He almost mocked the game and his counterpart Joe Theismann last year.  In my opinion, he is as bad as Dennis Miller.  When I am watching football, I do not need a funnyman trying to make jokes.  I want someone who knows football.  I feel like this is where Kornheiser hopes to make up for his lack of knowledge from experience of playing the game.  I am also mad at MNF for getting rid of Joe Theismann.

Winner: SNF

2.  Time slot

SNF - Living on the East coast, Sunday Night football games begin at 8:15 EST.  This is not all that much better than MNF, but starting late like this is fine because of the rest from the weekend (or at least getting to sleep in). 

MNF - These games are scheduled for 8:30 but usually start around 9 EST.  The only factor is that these games seem to last longer and everyone is usually tired from work and/or school earlier that day.  Enjoy kicking back to this game, but it sucks going to bed late tired from staying up the night before and knowing you are going to have to get up early again tomorrow.

Winner:  Small edge to SNF.

3.  Channel

SNF - NBC is a pretty good station with even some decent shows.  I enjoy Bob Costas covering the Olympics, but somehow his small stature and football do not mix in my brain.

MNF - ESPN is your leader in sports for a reason.  They are good at what they do.  They have unlimited camera angles and their pregame is better than SNF.  I have grown up with Chris Berman doing the football highlights, and whether I like him or not, I want him to stay there.  Plus, Suzy Kolber is pretty foxy for an older chick.

Winner:   MNF

4.  Game Schedule

SNF - SNF has it down pat.  They start the season off on September 6 with a great game between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts.  Everyone will be so ready for football tons of people will tune in for this shoot-out.  They also scheduled some great other games like the Cowboys vs. Bears in Week 3 and the Colts vs. Chargers in Week 10.  But what is really smart about SNF is they have a flexible schedule for weeks 11-17.  They can change the Sunday night football game up to 12 days before the scheduled match.  So, if two teams with meaningless records are to play on SNF in Week 16 while two playoff contenders are fighting for their lives are also playing, NBC can switch the games.  No more watching teams play frivolous games.

MNF - The opposite happens with MNF.  Their games are already scheduled which will lead to more popular games not having the big stage.

Winner: SNF

5.  Betting and Fantasy Football

SNF - Sometimes this can be the last chance for your fantasy players to come through for the week.  A big game by one player can switch the points in your favor.  The last game in a parlay usually falls on this game, so big money can be earned here.

MNF - The VERY last chance to try to win in fantasy football.  If you have one player left on MNF, this can be the most rewarding time to stick it to your opponent by coming from behind to win a weekly game.  If you have had a bad weekend bet wise, this is the chance to go big or go broke.  If you had a good weekend, this is the time to be stupid and turn it around to a bad weekend.

Winner: MNF

Sunday Night Football wins over Monday Night Football, but barely.  Either way, I am just ready for some NFL action.

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