( CNN ) -- A fumble on the goal line . An interception returned for a touchdown . A missed game-winning field goal in the closing seconds . Most view these as just part of the game of football . But could these things actually be the work of God ? Well , according to a new poll , 27 % of Americans believe that God `` plays a role in determining which team wins '' sporting events . That means about 80 million Americans believe that God will help one of the teams in this Sunday 's Super Bowl . If God influences which teams win championships , it 's clear that God likes certain teams more than others . And God 's favorite -- and I know many will hate to hear this -- is clearly the New York Yankees . The Bronx Bombers have won 27 world championships , far and away the most championships of any American professional sports team . Other teams high up there on God 's fantasy sports team include the Boston Celtics with 17 NBA championships , the Pittsburgh Steelers with six Super Bowl wins and the Detroit Red Wings with 11 Stanley Cup titles . And if God 's affection for your team translates into more championships , then God really hates the Chicago Cubs . OK , maybe `` hate '' is too harsh , but there must be a reason the Cubs have n't won a championship in more than 100 years . What did the team do to deserve this much pain ? Opinion : I hate , hate Super Bowl parties . Even the Cubs crosstown rivals , the Chicago White Sox , won a World Series in 2005 . And keep in mind that organization was involved in the infamous `` Black Sox '' scandal , in which some of its players took bribes in exchange for intentionally losing the 1919 World Series . But despite the Cubs ' horrible history , a special place must be reserved in God 's doghouse for the NFL 's Buffalo Bills . Not only have n't the Bills won a Super Bowl in 46 years , they made it to the Super Bowl four years in a row , from 1991-1994 , and lost every time . The most painful loss was in 1991 , when the Bills ' kicker missed a game-winning field goal in the closing seconds , resulting in a one-point victory for the New York Giants . ( Being a Giants fan , I was praying for the kicker to miss , so maybe God was involved on some level . ) Of course , if God is helping teams win , how do you explain the success of teams with names like the New Jersey Devils or Duke Blue Devils ? The New Jersey Devils have three Stanley Cup Championships and the Duke Blue Devils are consistently a powerhouse in NCAA men 's basketball , winning their last national championship in 2010 . Perhaps God has some evil competition in the area of sports ? In any event , let 's turn to Sunday 's Super Bowl . Are there any signs that might indicate which team God may support in the match between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers ? It 's truly a tough call . Both teams feature stars who have publicly declared their strong connection with the big guy in the sky . The Ravens ' Ray Lewis excitedly announced after his team 's victory propelling them to the Super Bowl : `` God is so amazing . '' While the 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick recently said : `` I think God watches over everybody . ... He has a plan for everyone . '' Amid 'storybook ' ending , Ray Lewis is still controversial . But public displays of devotion to God alone have not proven to propel an entire team to victory -- just ask Tim Tebow . He 's watching the Super Bowl on TV . Maybe we should look at which team has had more success in the past -- that could be a sign . Well , the Baltimore Ravens have won only one Super Bowl , the one played in 2000 . But the team has consistently made it to the playoffs , year after year . And while the 49ers have n't won a Super Bowl since 1995 , the organization won five NFL championships between 1982 and 1995 . So , which team will God be rooting for come Sunday ? As someone who believes strongly in God , I actually hope that God could care less which team wins . I 'd hate to think prayers were n't being answered because God was watching the Super Bowl . I 'd prefer that God be focused on helping people truly in need of assistance with bigger challenges than covering the point spread . To me , San Francisco 's Kaepernick had it right with his recent statement : `` I do n't think ( God 's ) cheering for one team or another . I think he 's helping everybody , just trying to keep everybody safe . '' God does , indeed , work in mysterious ways , so we will truly never know if certain teams are favored . But if they are , here 's praying that the New York Giants will be back in the 2014 Super Bowl . The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Dean Obeidallah .
Study : 27 % of Americans believe God plays a role in which team wins in sports . Dean Obeidallah : If God backs teams for championships , God likes the Yankees . He says pick for Super Bowl a tough call : Both teams have God-loving players . Obeidallah : San Fran QB Kaepernick said it right : `` I think he 's helping everybody ''