The second Sunday in February is set aside for the most hyped event in the world of sports, and kicks off tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Super Bowl LX — 60 for those of you challenged by Roman numerals – features a pair of 14-3 teams – the slightly favored Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots – in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX (49) played in Glendale, Arizona.

The Pats rallied and held on for a 28-24 win in that one when the Seahawks blew a prime chance for a winning touchdown in the final seconds. The decision to attempt a pass near the goal line instead of handing the ball off to bruising running back Marshawn Lynch will forever haunt Seattle head coach Pete Carroll and remains one of the most talked about plays in Super Bowl history. Instead of the likely winning score, New England cornerback Malcolm Butler spoiled the day for Seahawks fans when he came up with the pick.

We can only hope this year’s “Big Game” will also feature memorable plays and an exciting, competitive game. On paper, it appears to be an even matchup between similar type teams, since both the Patriots and Seahawks rely heavily on their stout defensive units.

Far too often however, the Super Bowl morphs into a Super Bore, with the halftime show and commercials being remembered more than the game on the field. Expectations for a Super Bowl being a super contest should be tempered a bit, but we can certainly hope this is one that will provide plays that will be talked about forever.

Seattle enters as a 4.5-point favorite, and that seems reasonable, considering their road to make it this far was considered more challenging than what New England faced in both the regular season and playoffs.

There are some observers who feel the Seahawks’ defense will give young Patriots quarterback Drake Maye a difficult time with its various looks, but Maye is also a threat to find yards at key times with his scrambling ability. Seattle QB San Darnold has given his team steady, but not spectacular play all season, and he has been given the edge by most in the matchup.

The weather promises to be ideal in the Bay Area, with sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 60’s at kickoff, so that won’t be a factor, which is what you want to see in a Super Bowl. It should be a fast turf for the receivers, and even though it sounds obvious, the more accurate quarterback will hold the Lombardi Trophy during the postgame celebration.

Let’s hope that it’s a game worth watching and lives up to its super adjective until the very end. The halftime show doesn’t appear to be of any interest to yours truly (which is usually the case), and most of the commercials are just plain weird instead of funny. So, my hope remains that we enjoy a great battle between two teams who many never expected to be here. I’m also hoping that for those of y’alI that wager money on the game and the numerous prop bets, you pick up a little cash.

I know you’re eagerly anticipating my prognostication, so with further ado, let’s say Seattle 24, New England 13.

Super Bowl factoids etc.

Here’s a few more interesting – at least they are to me and hopefully to you as well – facts surrounding the Super Bowl:

The first Super Bowl wasn’t called the Super Bowl. It was the AFC-NFC World Championship Game and was played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1967. Green Bay defeated Kansas City 35-10, and Packers QB Bart Starr was named MVP.

There have been 10 Super Bowl rematches, and this year’s game will be the third time the Seahawks and Patriots have clashed.

Super Bowl Sunday ranks as the second-largest food consumption day in the U.S., second only to Thanksgiving Day.

The inaugural Super Bowl’s halftime show featured a couple of guys flying around with jet packs.

Tickets are still available for Super Bowl LX, at least as of a day or so ago. The cheapest ticket is going for the measly sum of $4,481, while premium seating will set you back $9,474. The most expensive ticket is only $44,796, which is virtually directly behind the home team’s bench.

Tickets for the very first Super Bowl went for six bucks and the game was far from a sellout.

The Patriots are looking to break a tie with Pittsburgh for the most Super Bowl wins. New England is 6-5, and the Steelers 6-2.

Alicia Keys sang the longest National Anthem, clocked at two minutes and 35 seconds during Super Bowl XLVII in 2013.

Typically, 120 balls are used during the actual game, and they’re all crafted by hand at the Wilson Football Factory in Ada, Ohio.

The football on top of the Lombardi Trophy is the exact size of an official “Duke” football.

Vols seeking revenge at Rupp

Kentucky basketball fans are hoping for a super win the night before the Super Bowl, with Tennessee coming to town. The Cats rallied from a 17-point deficit to nip the Volunteers in Knoxville three weeks ago 80-78 in a game that saw players from both teams mix it up after the buzzer.

Denzel Aberdeen played his finest game as a Wildcat in that one, coring 18 of his team-high 22 points in the second half. Otega Oweh, Jasper Johnson and Collin Chandler added 12 points apiece for Kentucky. UT guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie led all scorers with 24.

Without a doubt, the Tennessee coaches and players have not forgotten, and they will be looking to play at the top of their game and return the favor. It would behoove the Cats to do the same, and continue progressing the way they have since the embarrassing performance in Nashville on Jan.27. You may recall that was the night Vanderbilt blasted Kentucky 80-55.

The Cats will also be unveiling their much talked about denim uniforms this evening in remembrance of the formidable 1996 national champion Kentucky team, when current head coach Mark Pope was wearing the blue and white. This year’s team is hoping to play similarly to the Cats of 30 years ago, and if so, they should be in excellent shape to sweep the season series vs. Tennessee for the second year in a row.

For that to occur, UK will need to limit the production of Gillespie and freshman Nate Ament, make solid decisions on the offensive end, and hope to continue shooting the ball well. Rebounding will

also be a key against the physicality of the Vols.

The game will be televised on ESPN with tipoff set for 8:30 p.m., and against my better judgement, I’m going to make another prediction:

Kentucky 75, Tennessee 70.

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“It is easier to stay out than get out.” – Mark Twain