The Supa' Bow'

Superbowl Sunday is probably number two on my list of things that I look forward to every year; Christmas takes the top spot because it has the benefit of plenty of family, a nice tree, a fantastic meal AND football.  Right now though it is not Christmas eve but rather the eve of the Supa' Bow' and I am excited about it.  In the issue of full disgression I am a Vikings fan that is bored and annoyed with the Steelers and their fan base so there is not a team that I want to win here.  My loyalties as a Vikings fan mean that it would be much worse to see the Packers win than the Steelers; if the Steelers win whatever I have to deal with a few loud fans but if the Packers win I am going to have to hear about it from every single media source for the next five years.  I am not rooting for the Steelers, but there is a very good chance I will have a solemn moment where I pray for a Packers loss.  Anyway, on to how I see things happening.

Quarterbacks
What's the word on the tip of everyone's tongue?  It is Aaron Rogers and his rise this season to an MVP type performance, solid play from beginning to end and how he has cast off the shadow of Brett Favre.  Well guess what? I am just not buying it, I'm not that impressed.  This guy has had a good year absolutely, but people are talking about how he is statistically the best quarterback in the playoffs and is going to shred the Steelers.  Correct me if I'm wrong but I dont remember him blowing out a questionable Philly defense, nor do I remember him slicing through Chicago save for the opening drive.  I still dont have the feeling that when the Packers need a play, need to convert a third down or something, that Rogers will get it done.  Time and time again when the Steelers need it, Roethlisberger delivers so I give the Steelers the advantage on this one.  The guy is huge and impossible to take down and just always seems to deliver.
Advantage: Steelers

Offense
Lets just call it like it is, the Packers offense has more talent on it than the Steelers.  They can make bigger plays and have more options at receiver whether or not they will be able to run the ball.  Even if they have more talent I dont see the Packers just burning down the field and connecting on every single pass.  That is not the way they have been playing (save Atlanta) and it is not the way I see them playing.  Now there is the debate about whether or not they are a dome team but I just think that they are an offense that can run hot at times.  Will today be their day?  I dont know, frankly I think the pressure of the Superbowl and a solid Steelers D will mean they will struggle for at least the first quarter.
The Steelers on the other hand will be running and I just dont see the Packers dominating the run of the Steelers.  I think they will move the ball and have a better shot of scoring first.
Advantage: Packers by a nose

Defense
Everyone is talking about BJ Raji and Clay Mathews on the Packers and Troy Polomalu on the Steelers.  In my mind that means that these three guys are basically going to be nullified from the game.  They will make their plays but everyone will have such a close eye on them that they wont be game changers.  Give me Harrison and his mean streak to hit Rogers and get him rattled, scare him a bit.  Nobody is saying how big before Mathews there was Harrison, why has everyone forgot about the one of the premier pass rushers in the league?  As the Packer drop back to pass for the 50th time, look for Harrison to be a consistent presence in the backfield either smashing up or cussing out Rogers.
Advantage: Steelers

Special Teams
Screw special teams.....uhhhh.....Packers?
Advantage: Packers....definitely the packers

Intangibles
Well here are just a couple of quick hit thoughts that I think about the game:

• I will always regret that the Vikings let Mike Tomlin leave, he is one of the best coaches in the game and I think he gives a mental edge to the Steelers.
• Woodson might have a good game but I havent heard his name called a lot this year, I dont know where I stand with him but the Packers secondary is solid.
• Clay Mathews sucks, he has no skill and ability they just let him rush the passer.  He is the beneficiary of a good system and I do not see him doing hardly anything next year.  He is not the next Freeney.
• For some reason I would feel more comfortable if Jeff Reed was still on the Steelers, this Suisham guy is going to shank one I think.
• If the Packers win it will continue the trend of low seeds winning but buck the trend of the AFC's most recent dominance.
• I like how the Steelers are the underdog, I think that is just going to play to their advantage and really give them a boost so they play angry out there.
• When it comes to the Packers, everyone is talking about Lombardi but nobody is talking about McCarthy.  I dont think he is going to pull a move that takes a lot of onions today.
• Both teams have had a lot of injuries, I dont think it is a big factor.

My Bet
Well at the time of writing this the spread has dropped to Packers -3.  I like the Steelers in this game and I like them to win outright by a touchdown because the Packers score something in garbage time followed by a failed onside attempt.  I think the Steelers will be up from beginning to end, the Packers just unable to make the one or two plays that they need to really get into it.  The over under is at 46 and I like the under even though the last time these two played it was a shoot out.  I am seeing two good defenses and a big ass stadium, that spells the under to me.