The Modern Day Cynic's Super Bowl Prediction

[SammyBlue]

Seattle Seahawks (15-3) v. Pittsburgh Steelers (14-5)
Ford Field
Detriot, Michigan
2/5/06
6 PM EST
FAVORITE: Pittsburgh Steelers (-4)
Over/Under: 47

This season, I was 184/72 during the season picking winners. That gives me a 71.9% winning percentage. In the off-season, I am 21/30 (victor, spread, over/under) for a 70.0% winning percentage. 2005-06 was my year picking winners!!!

Okay. . .now! Let's examine the biggest football game of the year. It has come down to this game. And the verbal hyping and sparing has been fierece. Pittsburgh Linebacker Jerry Porter needs to shut up though. Jamal Anderson could shut up when the Falcons faced the Broncos, and Atlanta got spanked! Now, Porter has been running his mouth. I am sure the Seahawks will use that as a way to stick it to Pittsburgh.

So, let's examine the game! Pittsburgh is looking for the thumb Super Bowl, failing in 1981 and 1995 to earn their fifth Super Bowl win in their storied history. Bill Cowher needs the ring to cap a Hall of Famer coaching career! Big Ben is looking hungry and has found his groove. Jerome Bettis wants the ring to cap his Hall of Fame career! Pittsburgh is focused, healed, hungry and determined!

Seattle is in their first Super Bowl EVER! The Seahawks, always the doormat, is on top of the NFC, built by a Hall of Fame coach in Mike Holmgren! Led by QB Matt Hasselback on offense and a young, determined defense, the Seahawks have rattled over 14 straight wins! Linebacker Lofa Tatupu will be one of the best Linebackers of the next 15 seasons. The running game of Mak Strong and MVP Shaun Alexander has not been stopped yet! Seattle is stacked and ready to roll!

Both teams are most ways. Pittsburgh has the advantage of the stiffest defense in the NFL, but Seattle has a coach who as own it all once in Green Bay: Let's examine position by position

1. QB: EVEN. Ben and Matt are a bit different. Hasselback is small and quick, Rothelisberger is big and smart. It's a push.
   
2. HB: EVEN. Willie Parker/Duce Staley/Jerome Bettis v. Shaun Alexander/Mack Strong. Another push
   
3. WR: EVEN. Both teams have 3 receivers that can burn the defense and a 4th go to guy with sure hande. Another push.
   
4. TE: EVEN. Both teams have TEs that a big, strong, can block and can catch. Push.
   
5. OL: EVEN. Neither lines makes the QB worry. Both lines are like walls. Another push.
   
6. DL: Slight edge to PITTSBURGH. Pittsburgh's DL can reek havoc on any O-Line in the NFL. They beat up Carson Palmer, stopped Peyton Manning and made Jake Plummer run for cover.
   
7. LB: EVEN. Pittsburgh's LBs are old and experienced, Seattle's are young and hungry. Push!
   
8. DB: Slight edge to SEATTLE. Both are fantastic, but Seattle's secondary has come up with more big plays in the post season.
   
9. Special Teams: EVEN. Both teams have returners who can take it to the house, and kickers/punters that are clutch.
   
10. Coaches: EVEN. Holmgren v. Cowher. Holmgren may have a ring already, but no one, other than Mike Shanahan, has been more successful over the past 15 years than Bill Cowher.
    
11. Intangibles: Slight edge to PITTSBURGH. If the Steelers have a lead in the 4th quarter, they DO NOT LOSE!!!

See how hard this Super Bowl is? I spent the week thinking about this prediction. The spread will not be broken. And go for the UNDER as this will most likely be a low scoring contest. However, I will go with the favorite and pick Pittsburgh to win Super Bowl 40. Seattle has three quarters to build a lead. If they are down by 8 or more going into the 4th, Pittsburgh's ball control offense will just bleed the clock down. I doubt that will happen though.

My reason for going with Pittsburgh: He who makes the last mistake loses. I trust Rothelisberger over Hasselback with the ball. The RBs will not fumble, but Hasselback has a history of making crappy decisions. Big Ben was one of the highest rater passers in the NFL this season.

SCORE PREDICTION
PITTSBURGH 23-------SEATTLE 20
MVP: SS TROY POLAMALU

I am choosing a defender because the defenses will come up big in this game. My second choice is QB Ben Rothelisberger.

I hope this will go into OT. The teams are that even! And, before I die, I want a OT Super Bowl.

Understand as well, I don't care who wins. My team, Buffalo, laid a huge egg this year. I want a good game. I don't care who wins.

* WINNER: PITTSBURGH
* SPREAD: WILL NOT BEAT THE SPREAD OF -4
* OVER/UNDER: UNDER

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

1. I hope you're right. A question for you:

I love football but know very little about betting. Is seems like the Steelers favored by 4 has stayed the same since the end of the AFC/NFC playoff games. Is that unusual or does it just show that it was and continues to be predicted as a close game?

Here we go Steelers...Here we go! *clap*clap*

[SammyBlue]

2. it was and continues to be predicted as a close game

eom