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NY Pols Make Their Picks For Super Bowl XLVIII

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Local politicians are starting to take sides for Super Bowl XLVIII.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday that he's rooting for the Seattle Seahawks against the Denver Broncos because he always favors the underdog and "loves'' what Seattle does.

Sen. Charles Schumer on the other hand will be cheering for the Broncos.

"The Manning connection pushes me over to the Broncos," Schumer told 1010 WINS. "I like Eli a lot, I know he had a tough year, a lot of people say it's in his head. I think, you know, when the offensive line had as many injuries and was as porous as it was, it's hard to be a good quarterback. They'll do better."

Oddsmakers have the Broncos as 2-point favorites.

De Blasio will not attend the game at MetLife Stadium across the Hudson River. He'll watch it at home.

But he's glad the NFL took a chance on an outdoor Super Bowl in a cold-weather area. He said football "is supposed to be played in an outdoor stadium.''

Schumer will also be watching the game from the comfort of his own home.

"The rules of the Senate are such that I'd have to pay $2,500 for a ticket. I can't afford it or I could afford it, but it's a stretch," Schumer said.

Sen. Schumer said he was instrumental in getting the NFL to choose MetLife Stadium to host the Super Bowl.

"I feel really good about it," Schumer told WCBS 880. "I started the campaign a year after 9/11 to bring the Super Bowl to New York."

He said after years of pushing, the league agreed to have the game at a cold weather stadium.

"We're two days away and it has exceeded our expectations, it is just incredible how this town has been overwhelmed by the Super Bowl, that's all everyone is thinking and talking about," the senator told 1010 WINS.

Schumer said snow isn't in the forecast and it's not expected to be as cold as feared. He added all the events surrounding the big game have gone off without a hitch so far.

"I think New York can already call this a success because of the economic impact, because of the excitement. And I know the NFL is excited. I think they're happy, New York's happy, I think the teams are happy, the weather looks pretty good - all systems go, let's do it again soon," Schumer told WCBS 880.

The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks will square off Sunday for the Lombardi Trophy. The game kicks off at 6:25 p.m. at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

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(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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