Michele knows the score when it comes to sideline preparation

In 1993, Michele Tafoya was a 28-year-old sports talk radio host in the heart of US college basketball country.

A propensity for fearlessly forecasting game results earned her a devoted following, and before long she gained a reputation as one of the best-prepared hosts in the business.

Making sure she knows what she's talking about has been the driving force behind Tafoya's rise to sideline reporter for NBC at Sunday's Super Bowl LII between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles in Minnesota.