Sideline reporter Steve Tasker will probably get as much screen time Sunday on the CBS

telecast of the Super Bowl as Drew Willy, the former University at Buffalo quarterback who is

now an Indianapolis Colt.

When Peyton Manning led the Colts past the Bears in the 2007 Super Bowl, Tasker made only

one game appearance dealing with an injury to Colts receiver Marvin Harrison.

"It is [CBS'] philosophy — and I kind of agree with it — there's nothing that I

can see down there on the sidelines — unless something happens out of the ordinary

— that will add anything that [game analyst Phil Simms] can't do from the booth. ...

They don't need me adding fluff to the game."

But it is still quite an honor for the former Bill and current CBS analyst to be selected

to roam the sidelines, where he'll interview Colts coach Jim Caldwell in the pregame show and

at halftime.

"Certainly," said Tasker, who has been on the sidelines for conference championships and

the Super Bowls covered by CBS for the past three years. "I like watching Phil do his job, it

helps me do mine when the regular season rolls back around."

Tasker expects the Colts to defeat the New Orleans Saints, largely because of Manning.

"It is hard to bet against Peyton, he is so good at what he does and makes everybody else

better," Tasker said. "He's got a 900-page playbook at his fingertips. If they give him

anything defensively, he's got an entire playbook to combat it."

The Saints also have a high-powered offense under quarterback Drew Brees.

"I think they are built to beat [the Colts], plus the Saints have an opportunistic defense

that gets a lot of turnovers," Tasker said. "This is one of those games ... even if one of

them gets up 21 points in the second half, they've got to keep their feet on the gas. Because

these are two teams that can really light it up."

Following record viewership on Fox and CBS for the conference championships, the Colts-

Saints matchup is expected to hit a rating in the 40s nationally on CBS and even higher on

WIVB-TV. Last year's Super Bowl had a 52.0 rating on Channel 2, the local NBC affiliate.

CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus is excited about the story lines that find the

son (Peyton Manning) of the Saints' legendary Archie Manning quarterbacking the Colts against

his dad's former team. The Saints' first appearance ever in the Super Bowl also comes more

than four years after Hurricane Katrina.

"It is hard to imagine a series of story lines that would be more compelling," McManus said.

There won't be any big technological innovations for game coverage, just adjustments.

McManus noted that high-speed cameras that give viewers a better look at plays on the goal

line and out of bounds are one of the adjustments.

"There is nothing dramatic that we can point to as "this is something we've never done

before,' " McManus said.

The game has special meaning to CBS' Jim Nantz, who will do play-by-play alongside Simms.

Nantz said he was 8 years old when his father bought standing room tickets to the Saints'

first game in 1967 and they "sat there in awe" when the Saints' John Gilliam ran back the

opening kickoff for a 94-yard touchdown. "I feel pretty special to be there the first time the

Saints are in the Super Bowl," added Nantz.

Before the game begins, CBS' plan is to enliven its pregame show with several features.

Naturally, the quarterbacks will be featured. There will be a piece on the Saints' Reggie Bush

and the guy with the most famous ankle in Miami, Colts pass rusher Dwight Freeney. Katie

Couric will interview the nation's First Fan, President Obama. Former Steelers coach Bill

Cowher will interview Plaxico Burress, the former Steeler and Giant, in prison.

Over at the NFL Network, sometime between 11 a.m. and noon, there is a feature on ex-Bill

Anthony Hargrove, who had substance-abuse troubles before becoming a Saint.

In the never-ending mission to seek younger viewers, the two-minute opening on CBS will

feature Jay-Z doing "a mash-up" of "Run This Town" with an orchestra. In other words, Jay-Z

will probably get more screen time than Tasker, too.