SuperBowl XLII

Well, tomorrow is the Super Bowl. Cardinals and Steelers in Tampa for all the marbles. The Steelers are the favorite in Vegas while the Cards are being picked by most experts. So in a game where both teams are the underdogs, who will come out top dog? Clearly not you, since I just had you read that sentence. Sorry, couldn't resist.

Anyways, I wrote about this game before, and I hate the over analysis of the Super Bowl. I know it's the biggest game of the year, but we don't need two weeks of non-stop coverage leading up to the game. We just don't. There are too many stories, too many articles written, too many blog posts about the game.

There are two other professional sports going on, including one All Star game. There's college basketball (quick shoutout to UConn for having the top ranked team in each gender). Pat Summitt is about to win her 1000th game as a head coach (not in Oklahoma though). Not that the Super Bowl doesn't deserve all the coverage it gets, it just doesn't need to be jammed down our throat as much as it is.

Anyways, I honestly have no idea how this game will pan out. After last season, with the Patriots being considered the greatest team of all time in the over coverage of the Super Bowl losing, how can anyone be that certain? I wouldn't be surprised to see the Steelers rout the Cardinals due to their stifling defense. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cards rout the Steelers thanks to their fantastic passing game. But more likely, I see a game decided by 4-10 points.

I like the Cards so long as Warner doesn't have a terrible game throwing picks left and right. Larry Fitzgerald is unstoppable. He will have a monster game no matter what the Steelers defense does. But because of all the attention he will receive, Anquan Boldin will also have a huge game. I feel that both receivers could have hundred yard games.

Also, I'm just not feeling anything coming from Roethlisberger. He already set a record for having the lowest passer rating of any winning Super Bowl quarterback. Now, he doesn't have his best receiver at full health. Mike Tomlin is also the youngest head coach to ever coach a Super Bowl. The previous one? Bill Cowher in 1995, a Steelers loss.

I just feel the Cards will have a bunch of big plays and a bunch of 3-and-outs. However, I feel the big plays will lead to enough points to counter Roethlisberger's weak performance.

Steelers 17
Cardinals 23
Kurt Warner wins the MVP (and locks up a spot in Canton, though he probably should have already)