I have reasons for why I'd like to see the Steelers walk off with the trophy. I like Ben Roethlisberger, I like Mike Tomlin and I think Willie Parker is one of the most under rated dominating backs in football. The Steelers have what Super Bowl teams should... A stud defense and a rugged battle-tested Quarterback. I can see how oddsmakers have Pittsburgh as a 6.5 point favorite.On the other hand, seeing Arizona win a championship wouldn't be all that bad. It appears more than ever like Kurt Warner has a been blessed by a higher power -- how can you bet against that? And who is going to stop Warner from finding Fitzy or Boldin?? Larry playing like Jerry has made me wonder if any defense, even the best in the NFL, can contain him. And don't underestimate the Cardinals defense who has played on another level this post-season.
That 46.5 over/under number looks pretty tight. Even though both defenses are playing great, I'm leaning towards picking the over. Both starting quarterbacks are Super Bowl champions and shouldn't have any first half jitters -- offenses will be flying from the opening kick. And from a fan's perspective, it's always better when the game has four quarters of back and forth scoring.
VEGAS LOVES THE SUPER BOWL: You can pretty much bet on anything related to the game -- and plenty of things unrelated. From betting on who will score more touchdowns, which team will score first and who will win the games most valuable player, you can put your money down on the coin toss, the game's weather conditions or if Bruce Springsteen is going to bring Courtney Cox on stage at halftime.
As for betting on the game, a safe bet is to take the Steelers. I'm taking the Steelers to win the game straight up, but I would choose the Cardinals with the spread because I think we will see a close game. With young coaches, big defenses, experienced quarterbacks and exciting wide receivers -- neither team will let the other get too far ahead.
MY SUPER BOWL XLIII PREDICTION:Pittsburgh Steelers 31
Arizona Cardinals 27
Even though I'm picking the Steelers, I'll probably be rooting for a Cardinals victory.
Roethlisberger and Warner have the best odds of winning the MVP, so betting on Big Ben might be a good decision. Hines Ward won the MVP when Pittsburgh won it all a few years ago, his odds are pretty bad because he's coming in with a questionable injury. Larry Fitzgerald and Willie Parker are the next best bets when it comes to winning an MVP. Troy Polamalu has the best odds of any defensive player to win the game's MVP. I am thinking that Willie Parker steals the spotlight, grabs some respect and win's the games MVP.
Leave a comment with your prediction...!
You are correct about one thing, Vegas does love the superbowl and I love online gambling.
ReplyDeleteLike the guy in “Casablanca,” I’m shocked to find gambling going on. I thought the Super Bowl was about sportsmanship and fair play.
ReplyDeleteNow I find out there are betting services, which--for a price--will let you in on their Super Bowl picks. The successful services are right about 60 percent of the time. For that, some of their customers are willing to throw them a parade. If they could hit 65 percent, they'd have streets named after them…maybe even an airport.
What if I told you that against the spread, there is a system that has been right 87 percent of the time? That’s right – 87 percent. And you wouldn't have to name a street after me. Or even throw me a parade. (I’m rather shy and prefer to keep a low profile.)
Instead of naming a street after me or listen to ramblings on who to take, I will simplify things.
In 34 of 39 (87%) previous Super Bowls, all you had to do to win your bet was pick the team that would win the game. Forget the spread. It was irrelevant. Now there's a trend worth writing about.
I know there have been 42 Super Bowl games (not 39), but three ended up in pushes and are irrelevant to this discussion.
In 33 of the remaining Super Bowls, the favorites covered 24 times. In ten games, the underdogs not only covered but won straight up, needing no help from the spread. (Remember last year?) That's what you call a pattern!
In fact, the dog has covered and not won the game only five times. That too is a pattern.
So now you know you don't have to spend half a New York minute handicapping the spread. Odds are the spread will have nothing to do with whether you win or lose your bet.
The only catch is you still have to pick the winner. That's not my problem. You take it from here.