As a Titans player, it hurts to say Peyton Manning of the rival Colts will finally win the Super Bowl

AS I expected, the conference championship games were the most exciting games of the season.

Those two games were probably the best football that I have personally seen played since my days at the University of Hawaii, where the games weren't about money or status, but about the love of the game and an unrelenting passion to win.

The Colts, Patriots, Bears and Saints exhibited why they were the last four teams remaining and were the four best teams in the NFL. Unfortunately, two of the teams had to go home, but the other two are on their way to Miami.

The game I was most surprised about was the Saints and Bears. With the way Drew Brees, Deuce McCallister, Marques Colston and Reggie Bush had been playing, I thought that the Saints would have made the game a little bit closer. I predicted the Bears to win, but I was pulling for the Saints.

Nevertheless, the Bears showed why they are the best team in the NFC. The game was close early on, as Rex Grossman seemed to struggle with some of the throws. The Bears were able to keep the game close, forcing a couple of turnovers early in the game. But about halfway through the third quarter, the Bears took off and blew the Saints out of Soldier Field.

It seemed that the Bears were doing all the right things. Their defense was making big plays all game long, while the offensive line, led by Hawaii-born legend Olin Kreutz, dominated the Saints defense. Olin and his boys opened up the Saints' defense, allowing Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson to have huge rushing games.

IT SEEMED that home-field advantage played an enormous factor for the Bears. The Saints struggled to play in the rain, sleet and snow in Chicago. Once the elements started taking over, the Saints started to struggle. Despite showing some spark throughout the game, it was just too little and definitely too late, as the Bears rolled to the Super Bowl on a game-sealing interception by Nathan Vasher.

The Patriots-Colts game was the best game of the playoffs. It was another great matchup between two great teams, coached by two of the NFL's best coaches, and led by arguably the two best quarterbacks in the NFL. The Patriots jumped out to a huge lead, ending the first half up 21-6 as Peyton seemed to struggle as he has during these playoffs.

It seemed that the Patriots were headed to another Super Bowl ... until the Colts got hot.

With the defense continuing to play solid, Peyton started making all the throws in the second half. Once Peyton gets hot, it is almost impossible to stop him from scoring. At the end of this one, Peyton and the Colts were able to fend off the Patriots from a last-minute scoring drive, thanks to Marlin Jackson's late interception.

The Colts definitely earned the win and the chance to play for a Super Bowl.

My prediction, and I HATE TO SAY IT being a Titan and a Titan fan, is that Peyton finally wins the "Big Game" and leads his team to the World Championship. I think that the Colts are playing the best football their team has played since I have been in the league. More importantly, their defense is playing on another level. I will admit I want the Bears to win, but I think the Colts will explode on Super Bowl Sunday in two weeks.

FOOTBALL FANS may think they have a weekend free from football, but they are wrong. This upcoming Saturday ESPN is broadcasting the 2007 Senior Bowl, featuring the best college seniors from this past college football season. Recent University of Hawaii Warriors have been featured in this game, including myself, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Abraham Elimimian, Vince Manuwai and Isaac Sopoaga.

This year, Samson Satele represents for the Warriors, so everyone should tune in to support him.

With Colt Brennan making the incredibly wise decision to return to UH for his senior season, Colt will represent UH next as the No. 1 quarterback available for the 2008 NFL Draft.

I'm sure within a couple of years we will be watching Colt throw game-winning TDs in the Super Bowl himself.

WE ARE finalizing the details for my first annual Football Island Weekend and Football Skills Camp this week and will be getting that information to you soon.

I encourage all of you to go out and support the second annual Football Bash clinic featuring my friends Maa Tanuvasa, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, and coach Cal Lee this weekend at AMR field.

For more information call the AMR Youth Sports office at (808) 836-1923.

I hoped to help with this camp, but I wasn't able to make the event.

As always, please feel free to contact me at sackautism@aol.com for more information on my camp. I plan on heading to Miami for Super Bowl week, so I will give the fans direct insight of the sights and sounds during Super Bowl week.

Former UH lineman Travis LaBoy is chronicling his season with the Tennessee Titans for the Star-Bulletin