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Get ready for the Year of Wild Disagreement. That's the scenario over here as we gear up for the start of another fascinating season in the juggernaut world of the NFL.

With most of the pundits having handed in their predictions for who will line up in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, the only thing we can say for sure is that they have largely agreed to disagree.

The wild spread of possible contenders is absolutely breathtaking. From Dallas and New England to Jacksonville and Cleveland, fully a third of the league has its genuine supporters for being legitimate candidates.

And, while there is heavy backing for the Cowboys and Patriots to be the two teams we will focus on at Raymond James Stadium on February 1, there is equally firm support for the likes of San Diego, Indianapolis, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

You pays your money and you takes your pick...

It makes for a delicious anticipation of the big kick-off, though. Starting with the Giants v the Redskins (live on Sky Sports 1 at midnight on Thursday, continuing with a mouthwatering triple-header from 6pm on Sky Sports 2 on Sunday and then two games on Monday from midnight back on Sky Sports 1), we will see a succession of teams with a lot to prove from Day One.

Certainly, it is hard to recall another recent season when the main contenders came from such a wide-ranging popular choice. Therefore, it is a fun and lively debate to list them category by category in the following manner.

The Big Three

These are the teams that, on the evidence of the majority vote, are most likely to be in Florida for some winter sunshine - and a tilt at the Lombardi Trophy.

You'd also struggle to get a cigarette paper between the Cowboys and Patriots when it comes to deciding who gets to lift the aforementioned silverware. Of all the TV talking heads and newspaper 'experts', I've counted 20 major supporters for each team, and each one 100 per cent certain in their judgment.

Jerry Jones' flamboyant Dallas outfit are just flat out expected to carry all before them in many eyes, simply because they have so much talent, while the Boston Bullies are equally touted as champs because, well, because it was just a fluke they lost out on their bid for a 19-0 season to the Giants, right?

Just don't bank on another run at the 'perfect' season, especially if Tom Brady's foot injury really is more serious than they are letting on - the idea of Matt Cassel under centre is enough to have most Pats fans reaching for the Tylenol (that's the equivalent of Anadin, for anyone unfamiliar with American-speak).

The Chargers are hot on their heels, though, and many people expect LaDainian Tomlinson finally to propel San Diego through their own glass ceiling on the back of an MVP season. The Californian 'LT' has the fire in his eyes, according to various reports from the West Coast, and it should keep burning all the way to the Sunshine State.

The Fab Four

The next level of support for this year's contenders features the mixed quartet of Indianapolis, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Jacksonville.

To some, it was only a freak aberration that the Colts managed to lose to the Chargers in the playoffs last time around, and they would surely have taken care of those arrogant Patriots if given the chance. But Indy followers will also be holding their breath over the health of Payton Manning on a weekly basis. Did you see some of the play of his back-ups during the pre-season? Horrible only begins to describe it.

The Saints are fancied to regain the 'New Orleans' effect which had them flying through much of 2006 in the aftermath of the city's rebuilding, plus they have one of those remarkable ex-New York chaps, in the shape of Jeremy Shockey, who are so well-balanced they have a chip on BOTH shoulders.

For the Eagles and Jaguars, it is case of them being the 'nearly men' of 2007 and, with a fully healthy line-up (Donovan McNabb fans take note) going into this term, they are expected to make things especially tough for their division rivals - notably Dallas and Indianapolis respectively.

The Quirky Quartet

These are the four teams that are all looked at as the 'outsiders' of the popular voting predictions, but who all have more than one backer.

Cleveland were the surprise team of 2007, especially behind the quarterback play of Derek Anderson, and several tip them to go several steps further - and not purely the pundits on the banks of Lake Erie, either.

Some serious upgrades on defence and the forecast of a breakout year for linebacker Kamerion Wimbley (surely a powerful reason for picking this team for the London game next year - 'Wimbley at Wembley', a headline writer's dream!) have Browns fans feeling seriously optimistic.

The Brett Favre-less Green Bay Packers can insist they are only one player short of the team that were arguably the Cinderella story of '07, while Minnesota supporters are banking on the Vikings' hard-nosed defence doing enough to back up the unproven quarterbacking of Tarvaris Jackson to get them through the play-offs.

The fact the Vikes also have a potential MVP in running back sensation Adrian Peterson also boosts their cause, and there is a school of thought that suggests if Peterson gets more touches than Jackson they will be well on their way!

Finally, the perennial NFC West champs of Seattle also have their believers (especially those who believe that division would struggle to win the Soup Bowl, let alone the Super Bowl), insisting they just need to avoid another blizzard in Green Bay to cap Mike Holmgren's final year with a second Super appearance.

The Nearly Men

After that Legs Eleven of serious contenders, it is possible to identify another slightly-less-than-great-eight who all have reasonable credentials not to at least be written off among the Dead Men.

The Giants (who Kevin Cadle has already pointed out have received surprisingly little respect as defending champs) are first among a group that also includes improving Houston, defence-heavy Washington, and a who-knows-what-to-expect New York Jets outfit that will have Favre firing off at least a gazillion passes before the end of December.

Add in Carolina, who have a lot to prove after their miserable showing last term, ditto for Denver (especially for the still-unproven arm of Jay Cutler) and the almost literal wild cards of Tennessee (if Vince Young can finally show he knows what it takes to be an NFL quarterback instead of a college livewire), plus a rebuilding Pittsburgh and you have a bunch who could all do some damage along the way.

The Blue Square Conference

OK, this is a little unkind (on the Blue Square Conference), but these final 'unlucky 13' all have no backers (outside their own locker-rooms) to make any serious impression this year.

You can start with the disaster areas that were last year's Atlanta, Oakland, San Francisco, Miami and St Louis train wrecks, and include Baltimore, Arizona and Chicago, all of whom seem to think they are likely to improve with little change to the cast who had them floundering for most of last year.

And finally, this year's 'wild cards' to be the Dysfunctional Class of '08 number the likes of Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Kansas City and Detroit.

In fact, the media in many of these cities are already warming their toasting forks at the prospect of impaling the unlikely dreams of their no-hopers.

So, we're all ready for a season of highs and lows; victories and tragedies; from Washington State to the Sunshine State; and from Cleveland to fantasyland.

Let the games commence...