Of all things that define America – from the cheeseburger to Uncle Sam to cowboy boots – one thing is certain: football as a sport is engrained in the American psyche. And every year, without any doubt, millions of us find ourselves glued to our couches on Super Bowl Sunday watching two heavyweight teams tackle it out on the field for the championship ring.  

Super Bowl XLVI will be no different as the New York Giants will face its neighbor and foe The New England Patriots in Indianapolis, approximately four years after New York stunned previously undefeated New England 17-14. But, while this year’s team matchup may mirror the 2008 championship games, the preparations for hosting a Super Bowl party this year are in a whole new league.

Thanks to an always-evolving technology landscape, particularly in how we use gadgets and tune into real-time events, this year’s Super Bowl party hosts will have to be sure to serve up a side of technology with their nachos, wings and beer. So, if you haven’t yet thought about how you plan on obtaining your up-to-the-minute stats and play-by-plays, or perhaps how Siri can help you with your last-minute beer run, it’s time to hustle. Alas, here’s our game-winning checklist for watching the Pats and Giants duel it out on Feb. 5:

Round up your guests

While relying on eVite or text message to spread the word about your Super Bowl Sunday get-together will certainly ensure guests show up to your door on game day, why not spruce up your solicitation for your beer-drinking, wing-eating party-goers? This year, turn to a voice broadcasting app, like Ifbyphon Voice Broadcast or One Call Now, to record and send a message out to friends that’s guaranteed to get all guests pumped for the big game.

What’s on the menu?

The typical Super Bowl Sunday party is sure to be replete with all the goodies like nachos, wings, beer and chips (Did we mention, beer?). To get the ultimate game-day menu together – whether it’s a classier soiree with hors d’oeuvres or a quick call to the nearest pizza delivery joint – there is a whole world of apps ready to help you satiate the appetites of all your guests. Perhaps try the Domino’s Pizza USA app to swiftly order pizza on-the-fly, or get elegant with the free Must-Have Recipes from Better Homes and Gardens app for all the best tasty party bites.

Forget something?

Amongst the veggie dip, the frozen potato skins, and the 12-back of Diet Coke, you’re bound to forget something at the grocery store. So, why not use the lovely Siri, the iPhone’s voice assistant, to help you remember every item on your list. By simply recording a request like, “Remind me to pick up extra salsa,” you’ll be sure you don’t leave anyone out of the chip bowl.

The big screen

If you don’t plan on frequenting your local bar to watch the game, let’s hope you have a big enough screen on your home turf to accommodate your rip-roaring guests. (Remember, there’s bound to be party goers rooting for opposing teams.) On its list of the best TVs on today’s market, Yahoo News includes the Insignia NS-51P680A12, a 51-inch plasma offering a stunning picture and full 1080p; the Westinghouse LD-5580Z, for those who prefer LED-like vibrancy; or the Samsung (News - Alert) UN55D642OU, for fans looking to get their 3D fix. Of course, as many football coaches would tell their players, “go big, and go wide.”

For the thirsty guests

Afraid of missing an amazing play by Brady during that run to the fridge? No problem. Now you can let the beer come to you. Perhaps the perfect gadget for the typical couch potato, R/C Cooler from Interactive Toy Gadgets can hold up to six beers at a time and bring the drinks to you, so you can keep your eyes on the game. But, this nifty robot-like gadget will cost you a good $60. On the bright side, there is always TiVo (News - Alert).

Follow game coverage on Twitter

Considering that last year’s Super Bowl took the record for the highest number of tweets per second on Twitter (News - Alert) for a sporting event, you have some homework to do before you take your spot on the couch on Super Bowl Sunday. In the event you have to walk away from the TV to, say, take a bathroom break or make a quick run to the store, Twitter is the No. 1 way to get up-to-the-second updates on the game. Here’s a few suggestions for kicking off your own social media command center on Super Bowl Sunday, complements of friend and sports junkie Bryan Mapes (Follow him at @Mapes4FanCave).

For the Pats fans, try following ESPN’s (News - Alert) Bill Simmons, a self-proclaimed New England fan, @SportsGuy33; or Mike Reiss, Patriots reporter for ESPN Boston, @MikeReiss. We can’t forget Patriots wide receiver Ocho Cinco, @Ochocinco.

You can hop on the Giants Twitter train by following Antonio Pierce, ESPN football analyst and former Giants player, @AntonioPierce; or Michael Strahan, Fox football analyst and former Giants player, @MichaelStrahan. Also make sure to follow @JaneSports and @BobGlauber, two renowned Giants reporters.

For general NFL coverage on the big day, make sure to follow ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, @AdamSchefter; RichEisen, NFL Network host, @RichEisen; or Jay Glaer, football insider for Fox, @JayGlazer. There’s also CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell, who is known to tweet a ton of fun facts during the game, like how many wings will be consumed on Super Bowl Sunday. We also suggest following the official page of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl, @superbowl2012;

So, with this “Super Sequel,” as many NFL commentators are calling it, only two weeks out, we have to ask: “Are you ready for some football?”

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO East 2012, taking place Jan. 31-Feb. 3 2012, in Miami, FL. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. For more information on registering for ITEXPO registration click here.

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Tammy Wolf is a TMCnet web editor. She covers a wide range of topics, including IP communications and information technology. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Carrie Schmelkin