In front of a record setting American television audience and on the strength of a late fourth-quarter drive led by <a href="http://www.authenticsignedsports.com/store.php?act=search&cat=find&key=Eli+Manning"> Eli Manning</a>, the <a href="http://www.authenticsignedsports.com/store.php?cat=45"> New York Giants</a> beat the heavily-favored <a href="http://www.authenticsignedsports.com/store.php?cat=find&team=90"> New England Patriots</a> 17-14. Manning became only the second quarterback in NFL history to throw two go-ahead fourth quarter touchdowns in a Super Bowl (<a href="http://www.authenticsignedsports.com/store.php?act=search&cat=find&key=Joe+Montana"> Joe Montana</a> being the first). Following the Giants monumental victory Eli and the coaching staff spoke briefly with the President of the United States George W. Bush.

For his efforts, Manning was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XLII. He and his brother <a href="http://www.authenticsignedsports.com/store.php?act=search&cat=find&key=Peyton+Manning"> Peyton Manning </a> are the only brother combination to play at quarterback in the Super Bowl and the only set of brothers to win Super Bowl MVP, doing so in successive years.

Celebrate the <a href="http://www.authenticsignedsports.com/store.php?act=search&cat=find&key=Super+Bowl+XLII"> Super Bowl XLII (42)</a> Champions, New York Giants led by quarterback Eli Manning by adding a framed Super Bowl Collectible or Autographed Super Bowl Memorabilia to your collection..

Eli Manning has finally stepped out of the shadow of older brother Peyton. He led his team through 3 straight road playoff game victories and is now taking the NY Giants to the biggest game in sports. On the eve of Super Bowl XLII, Eli Manning memorabilia is in demand like never before.

His post-season success shows with this 599 passing yards, 4 touchdown passes, and 0 interceptions.  A great item to get a hold of is an Eli Manning autographed football.

True fans of the G-Men will definitely want to take a look at grabbing an Eli Manning autographed helmet or an Eli Manning autographed jersey.

Let's hope the Manning success carries over from last year. If so, Eli Manning memorabilia will definitely be something football fans will try to get a piece of.

It's official. Super Bowl XLII will host Eli Manning and the New York Giants as well as Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. This is quite surprising considering where these two teams began the season: an 0-2 start that had the fanbase questioning the QB as a franchise disappointment and an organization wrapped in a cheating scandal of which they were found guilty. But lo and behold, these two phoenix-like teams have risen above the ashes and landed themselves in the big game; which is appropriately being held in the suburbs of Phoenix.
Last night, Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress froze the Packers dreams of returning to the Super Bowl. Burress played beyond his average greatness, catching 11 passes for 154 yards, and forcing two defensive penalties out of Packer Pro Bowl cornerback Al Harris during his 60-minute workout.
Earlier in the day, it seemed that the Patriots were faltering from their usual level of play, led by Tom Brady's carelessness in his passing game. The Chargers defense, who led the NFL in interceptions and takeaways, picked off Brady three times (including his first red zone interception in two years).Then the second half began and the Patriots became wise to using the small-ball approach; a shift that would turn the game around for them and allow them to control the ball for a staggering 21:38. Tailbacks Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk combined for 221 yards and 35 touches from scrimmage.
Needless to say, Sunday February 3^rd won't come quietly, as these two set up for a great rematch. For sports cards collectors, this is the golden ticket for authentic sports memorabilia. Manning vs. Brady. Burress vs. Moss. The match ups at each position are star-studded and fully aligned for an exciting clash. The autographed memorabilia from this meeting should be something worth holding on to.

Michael Vick had one of the most promising careers in the National Football League ahead of him. He was the star quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons and the 2007 Draft brought plenty of young talent onto the team to spark a successful season. Little did they know that shortly before the season kicked-off, Vick would be turning himself in on charges of racketeering and drug use, as well as suspicion of lying about his involvement with the “Bad Newz Kennels” dog fighting operation. A case that has certainly affected the collectible value of his memorabilia. Vick was sentenced on Monday to 23 months in prison, which carries a possibility of being reduced by approximately 4 months if he shows good behavior. The real question on everyones' minds is if he will ever play pro ball again. His $130 million contract, once the richest in NFL history, is now suspended without pay, and all of his endorsement deals have been revoked. When asked about an indefinite suspension before the trial, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell responded “That's a determination we'll make later on... when the legal process is closed.” Now that sentencing has occurred, the professional career of Michael Vick lies in Commissioner Goodell's hands. As for his authentic sports memorabilia, one could argue that the current value might be solely based on the whirlwind of media frenzy surrounding the case and only time will tell how this controversy will affect his overall worth. What are your thoughts?

ESPN has come out with their latest Power 16 list, heading into a week of Conference Championships. One-loss West Virginia has vaulted to the top spot, while Missouri's victory over Kansas has moved the Tigers up to No.2. The Mountaineers received eight first-place votes, and the Tigers picked up seven. Ohio State, Georgia, and USC round out the top five. Say goodbye to Oregon (11), Texas (13), and Virginia (16) and say hello to Illinois, Tennessee, and Clemson. Time to organize your football memorabilia, for it seems a new era is being ushered in. The Big 12 North is becoming a more formidable foe for the South, the SEC is knocking itself down in a struggle for the top every other week, and the Big East, Pac-10 and Big Ten are nothing to scoff at. And over it all, an autographed football by Darren McFadden, Tim Tebow, Chase Daniel or Pat White might be worth a pretty penny here in the next month or two. Anyways, check out the recent top 16 and see if you agree with the standings. No doubt if you don't, they'll change in a week anyway.

1. West Virginia, previously ranked #4, 10-1 record
The stakes in the Backyard Brawl have never been higher. A victory over Pitt sends WVU to the BCS title game. Who saw that coming after the loss to South Florida two months ago?

2. Missouri, previously ranked #3, 11-1 record
It's the season for miracles. The Tigers weren't ranked until late September, but now they're one win away from New Orleans. Christmas arrives early if Mizzou beats Oklahoma.

3. Ohio State, previously ranked #5, 11-1 record
You won't find bigger Oklahoma or Pittsburgh fans than the folks in Columbus. The Buckeyes' holiday wish includes an upset... and the way this season has gone, don't be surprised if they get it.

4. Georgia, previously ranked #7, 10-2 record
Is any team playing better than Georgia? The Dawgs don't have an SEC East title to show for it, but they've won six straight games and keep their hopes alive for an at-large BCS bid.

5. USC, previously ranked #9, 9-2 record
There probably won't be a national title for Troy this season, but if USC beats UCLA, the Trojans will claim an unprecedented sixth straight Pac-10 title and a trip to the Rose Bowl.

6. LSU, previously ranked #1, 10-2 record
The Tigers have pulled out close games all season, but their triple-overtime loss will hurt for a while. LSU's national title hopes are likely done (thanks Darren McFadden), but it can claim the SEC crown versus Tennessee.

7. Oklahoma, previously ranked #10, 10-2 record
DeMarco Murray won't play in the Big 12 championship, but it won't matter if Allen Patrick runs like he did versus Oklahoma State. Patrick's line: a career-best 202 yards on 29 carries and two TDs.

8. Kansas, previously ranked #2, 11-1 record
The Jayhawks were second in the nation in scoring (46 ppg), but KU didn't score in the first half and was held to 28 against Missouri. Kansas' 42 yards on the ground didn't help. The Tigers finished with 151.

9. Virginia Tech, previously ranked #8, 10-2 record
Since the loss to BC, Va. Tech has won four straight, outscoring its opponents 144-59. The Hokies get a rematch when they face the Eagles for the ACC championship on Saturday.

10. Florida, previously ranked #12, 9-3 record
Even a broken hand can't stop Tim Tebow or his Heisman campaign. Tebow threw for three TDs and rushed for two more in the rout of Florida State. If you're counting, that's 29 TD passes and 22 rushing.

11. Arizona State, previously ranked #6, 9-2 record
The Sun Devils don't just lose to USC; they lose big. ASU has lost eight straight to the Trojans by an average of 19 points. The good news? They've won five of seven games after USC.

12. Hawaii, previously ranked #14, 11-0 record
Hawaii is the only unbeaten team in the Top 25. With its first outright WAC title in hand, the Warriors' next goal is to finish off an undefeated regular season. Will BCS berth follow suit?

13. Boston College, previously ranked #15, 10-2 record
Matt Ryan finished the regular season with 28 TDs, breaking Doug Flutie's mark, as the Eagles broke a 15-game losing streak vs. Miami. BC can make its first BCS bowl appearance with a win over the Hokies.

14. Illinois, previously unranked in Power 16, 9-3 record
The Illini haven't played since Nov. 17, but they continue to move up in the rankings. They'll be rooting hard for Ohio State to play in the BCS title game because that might mean a trip to Pasadena.

15. Tennessee, previously unranked in Power 16, 9-3 record
Is it time to step off the “Phillip Fulmer must go” bandwagon now? The Vols are the unlikely SEC East champions and will look to claim their first conference title since 1998 against LSU.

16. Clemson, previously unranked in Power 16, 9-3 record
After throwing only 22 passes in his first two seasons, Cullen Harper impressed as a full-time starter. Harper finished the regular season completing 67 percent of his passes with 27 TDs and only six picks.

Others receiving votes: Brigham Young, Auburn, Oregon, Wisconsin, and South Florida. Football collectibles have certainly been a popular item this year due to the weekly fluctuation in rankings among the teams. Be sure to post your items in your 2007 football collections and root your teams on through the Bowl season!

This past weekend in college football had its share of triumphs and upsets, and this is my take on it:

As we reach the midpoint of the season, college football might as well put the AP poll in a blender because it seems everyone can beat everyone else at any given point, and that is what makes this season one of the most exciting in recent history. It is also why quite a few people believe the BCS is not fair across the board, as opposed to a playoff system of some sort, and that the rankings shouldn't even be posted until half way through the season.

Though there were some tough wins, and some even tougher losses, the highlight of this weekend was the Stanford victory. A 41-point underdog in the betting pools, Stanford beat No. 2 ranked Southern Cal in a stunning 24-23 victory, proving you can have brains and brawn in the total package. It is the Trojans' first loss in 36 games at the Coliseum, however, USC still holds a place in the Top 10. A lucky break seeing as Michigan tumbled all the way out of the top 25 after losing to their unranked opponent in their opening game. “I don't know if there's ever been a game where a team was a 40-point underdog and playing with a quarterback making their first start [and won],” said Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh. The Cardinal had lost its previous three Pac-10 conference games by a combined score of 141-51.

ESPN.com writer Mark Schlabach writes it best: “There's never been a college football season quite like this one. Half of the AP poll's top 10 and nine ranked teams lost in Week 5. Four more top-10 teams and eleven ranked squads fell in Week 6. During the first six weeks, Notre Dame couldn't win (until beating UCLA 20-6 on Saturday night); Cincinnati and Connecticut, of all teams, wouldn't lose. Ron Zook looks like a genius, Urban Meyer looks human. No one can slow down Kansas; Louisville hasn't stopped anyone.”

Stats to consider:

Of the 25 teams ranked in the preseason AP poll, 10 teams are now unranked. Seven of the now top 15 ranked teams, were unranked in the preseason. (Who lit the fire under Southern Florida?!)

Second ranked Cal, Boston College, South Florida and Cincinnati are ranked the highest they have ever been in school history. Missouri has its highest ranking since 1981, and Kansas is ranked for the first time since 1995.

Seven of the ten remaining unbeaten teams in major college football were unranked in the preseason. LSU, Ohio State and Hawaii are the only undefeated teams left from the preseason top 25. Southern Florida is ranked fifth, is undefeated, and has only had a football program for 12 years.

Yes, this season has been one great roller coaster ride for those with iron stomachs, and it still holds a lot of promise. Let iTaggit help manage collections of your sports memorabilia, such as the rookie football cards of these rising collegiate stars. Then let Expert Eric help value your collections through our What's My Item Worth feature. Lastly, write me your thoughts and opinions on college football; they may even be featured in next week's sports blog!