As I finish layering up and loading up the station vehicle for the pre-game show that I co-host on our sports sister station WNFL, I’ve been keeping a close ear to the thoughts and analysis of the experts, both local and national, and I continue to be amazed at the overwhelming edge being awarded to the Pack because of the present 25ish degree temperature at Lambeau Field.

By game time, we’re going to be staring down mercury in the low 20’s, steadily declining under starry skies.  It was a beautiful day around here, quite sunny and pleasant. We clamor for the sun in the long Wisconsin winter months, but our nearest star tends to make a mockery of our allegiance from December through February, for when the sun is shining, we’re generally more violently shivering. 

It’s going to be cold tonight.  And I don’t think that necessarily favors the Packers.

Cold is cold.  And actually, 20 degrees isn’t bad for a January night in Green Bay.  But cold is cold. 

We love to talk big, love to lower our voices, John Facenda style, and speak confidently of the “frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.”  We love to convince ourselves that this is exactly how our guys want it, how we want it, that we’re a cold weather team and chill is not a concern.  We love to believe that temperature will be a greater issue for the guys from the dome.  After all, they haven’t won outdoors this year: 0-4.  There is something to be said for the psychological impact of that stat, but as far as the temperature is concerned, like I sad...cold is cold.  There’s no real “getting used to it.”  When the temperature drops, for those of us who live here, the human body doesn’t just go into some “been there, done that” assimilation mode.  It’s still cold.  It still frosts the skin.  Eskimos still wear coats.

The Vikings live in this stuff, too.  They also practiced in it this past week.

I think the Packers have a number of checkmarks in their column tonight, but I just don’t believe that the weather is one of ‘em.  Nobody would rather play in the cold.  At least, nobody I know.