Capitol Hill Lawmakers Talk Trash, Place Bets on Super Bowl

When it comes to showing support for the Indianapolis Colts or the New Orleans Saints, who are meeting in Sunday's Super Bowl, some congressmen are putting their money where their mouth is.

Indiana's Dan Burton, a Republican, and Andre Carson, a Democrat, are placing friendly bets with Republicans Joseph Cao and Steve Scalise of Louisiana.

One is a surf and turf bet: Burton wagered five pounds of prime Indiana steak that the Colts would win, while Cao put up five pounds of Louisiana Gulf shrimp on the Saints.

"We like our steaks medium rare," Cao said.

Meantime, Scalise offered alligator sausage and blackened redfish, assured of the Saints' success, while Carson showed his faith in the home team by betting doughnuts from Long's Bakery and corned beef sandwiches from Shapiro's Deli in Indianapolis.

"I'm sure it will be good. But it sure won't be as good as Louisiana cuisine," Scalise said.

Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, was equally confident in the Saints -- but not as kind as Scalise to Indiana's cuisine.

No bet.

"I couldn't think of any food that Indiana has that was worth staking crawfish etouffee on," Cassidy said..

But Rep. Baron Hill, D-Ind., countered that plenty of Cajun food depends on corn products, and "without Indiana growing corn, their recipes down there wouldn't be nearly as good."

And the trash talking on Capitol Hill over the Super Bowl was more than a food fight. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., even suggested that Saints wouldn't even be in the Super Bowl were it not for Indiana's higher education system.

"I have great respect for Drew Brees," said Pence of the Saints' quarterback. "He learned everything about his football at Purdue University."

A reporter asked House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., if had a Super Bowl pick.

"With all due respect, I must admit I have a bias," Hoyer began. "In the dead of night, without any notice, the Colts were stolen out of Baltimore."

The Maryland Democrat, of course, referred to the scene in March 1984 when the Baltimore Colts hired a fleet of Mayflower 18-wheelers to move the team to Indianapolis in the dead of night.

He's betting on the Saints.

"What a story New Orleans will be," Hoyer said.

Fox News' John Brandt contributed to this report.