Media sources have historically turned to the animal kingdom when making picks on sporting events.

Whether it's a monkey selecting winners in the NHL playoffs or a horse making plays on the Kentucky Derby, our furry friends have taken over the handicapping when all the stats and studying have failed.

So with Super Bowl XLIII kicking off in Tampa Sunday, I'm turning to that age-old tradition with the help of my dog Fritz.

Fritz is a two-year-old, 86-pound English Bulldog, who is probably the most unfortunately named dog in history. It's like we lost the war or something? (I didn't name him. I adopted him from a family)

He eats lightning and craps thunder...and poop. He snores like an outboard and burps like Tony Siragusa. But he's sat through more football and basketball games than you and can bark the start to the Monday Night Football theme.

He also loves to eat (again, like Tony Siragusa), so with that in mind we've designated his favorite dog treats as this year's Super Bowl competitors.

The Arizona Cardinals at +7 will take the form of a Purina Chew-rific Bacon & Cheese treat. The Pittsburgh Steelers at -7 will be represented by the Pedigree Breath Buster Biscuit.

I've laid both treats on the floor and whistled to my unsuspecting dog to come into the kitchen. Let's see how this plays out...

Fritz bounces into the kitchen and immediately looks up at me then down at the two treats laid out about an inch apart. He can tell something is up. He shoots me a confused glance that reminds me of Tony Romo in December.

After a brief hesitation, he goes for the red and brown Chew-rific treat (Arizona). He sniffs at the Cardinals franticly. Once for every point given by the oddsmakers.

Then suddenly snaps up the Breath Buster Biscuit, picking Pittsburgh -7 in a flash of smacking gums and flying crumbs.

Fritz followed up his busy day of betting by sucking back a bowl of water and plopping down in front of the TV for Providence at UConn. He has the Friars +13.

Good luck Sunday and enjoy the commercials.