While most of the country is stocking up on chips, dip, and behemoth flat-panel televisions in anticipation of the upcoming Super Bowl, we here at the Internet Marketing Monitor are taking a look at how popular search engines are displaying information about the big game. A test search of the term "Super Bowl" in Yahoo! Search yields a surprisingly complete picture the world's favorite football game (and corporate America's favorite advertising time-slot).

Before we even get to the search results, there's actually quite a bit of useful information Yahoo offers. The search suggests more specific search terms if we're looking for tickets, history, or specifics of the upcoming game itself. My favorite feature of the Yahoo search, though, is the news headlines displayed between the sponsored links and search results. Both headlines that appeared on my mid-afternoon search had been posted within the hour. On an event like the Super Bowl, which occurs annually and garnishes big headlines each year, the news results are relevant, helpful, and likely to direct news-seekers right where they want to go.

Enough about the other Yahoo features. Let's get to the Top 10 results. As I mentioned, Yahoo's search offers a comprehensive profile of the Super Bowl, with the official site, three key sports news bureaus, the official sites of both Super Bowl contenders, two sites on Super Bowl history, user-submitted Super Bowl content via Wikipedia, and a site dedicated to the world-famous Super Bowl advertising. Take a look:

1. SuperBowl.com - This one is sort of a no-brainer. In fact, if anything except the "Official Website of Super Bowl XLI" was the top result, I'd probably be a little concerned. For someone searching a general term about the Super Bowl, the official site is probably the best place to start.
2. ESPN.com - As perhaps the nation's most recognizable name in sports-related news and information, ESPN's coverage of Super Bowl XLI is a perfect runner-up in search results. Despite a dated page header that reads "Playoffs 2006," the ESPN site is all geared up with stats, news, projections, and history of the two teams that will be facing off on Sunday.
3. Fox Sports - Another key name in sports news, Fox Sports also provides plenty of information dedicated to the 2007 Super Bowl. News, feature stories, and analysis of the game highlight Fox Sports' coverage.
4. Yahoo Sports - The design of Yahoo Sports doesn't have the graphic-intensive appeal of the other two news sites, the simple approach to providing news and updates on the upcoming game probably appeals to some folks - say, perhaps, those who are depending on their back-up dial-up accounts during those pesky January ice storms (believe me, it happens!!).
5. Chicago Bears - Someone like me, who, until today had no idea what teams were vying for the Super Bowl ring could find out by doing nothing more than searching Yahoo (I'm one of those people who suffer through the football to watch the commercials … sorry, guys!). Both teams appear next to each other in the search, giving us easy access to information on potential Super Bowl heroes, statistics, and other info.
6. Indianapolis Colts - Not to be outdone by their rivals, the Colts' official site ranks right alongside the Bears. Unlike the news sites, these two team sites give loyal fans the unbiased rah-rah-sis-boom-bahs that they're seeking.
7. Super Bowl at Wikipedia - While another Internet Marketing Monitor study is in the process of exploring Wikipedia's accuracy, the Super Bowl page here does give an excellent overview of the game, including details on the coin toss, advertisements, and history. And truth be told, some folks simply prefer to read user-submitted content at sites like Wikipedia.
8. Super Bowl History - This result offers a look at the history of the Super Bowl as featured on the official Super Bowl site. Two results from the official site adds a bit of credibility to the search results, don't you think?
9. Super Bowl History at About.com - My initial reaction to About.com articles is that they are often too riddled with ads and too sparse on information to be of much use. However, this particular result will link users with a graph that charts the history of the Super Bowl from its inaugural kick-off to the present game.
10. SuperBowl-Ads.com - While my male counterparts here at the Internet Marketing Monitor might rather get results about the upcoming plays, Yahoo catered this page just for me. Those of us more interested in what Coca-Cola's most recent ad will feature will be pleased to see this on the top 10 results.

I was actually pleasantly surprised by the wide breadth of results that appeared on my search, as these ten sites truly do represent what the Super Bowl is all about: American culture & history, team rivalry, and high-priced advertisements. Well, that, and eye-raising malfunctions at halftime.