Record For playoffs (6-4)
Record Against the Spread (6-4)
Packers vs. Steelers, 6:30 p.m. (Packers favoured by 3)
I keep hearing how this is going to be a great game, and how the teams are evenly matched. I don't think they are. I think the Packers are much better.
But I do believe that this being the first Super Bowl for most of the Pack's players is going to hurt them at the beginning. I could see them being a bit flat and making some mistakes early.
Every time I've seen the Steelers this year, though, I haven't been impressed. They win, and that's like important and stuff, but winning games and winning Super Bowls are different things entirely. They'll definitely stay in the game - this is a tough team to blow out - but remember that they were outscored 19-0 in the last 30+ minutes of the AFC Title game win over the Jets.
The key to the game is Aaron Rodgers, who's clearly elevated himself into the Top 2 or 3 quarterbacks in the NFL conversation. Watching him play is a thing of beauty, and it's not just the skills. You can tell it's the preparation. He never ever ever looks confused, and he never ever ever looks like he's panicking when the play breaks down. Giving him two weeks of preparation - despite the Super Bowl hype-ochondria - is just too much for me to bet against him. Quarterbacks are like girls. The great ones should have rings, and if they don't, they're probably not as great as you thought.
Of course, Ben Roethlisberger has two of those rings already, and he's pretty great even when he's harried. He wins despite a poor - and injury-burdened - pass blocking offensive line. I believe not having their starting center will hurt the Steelers in doing what they really want to do, which is run the ball well. It's not that Big Ben can't win this game, I just don't think he will. I think that these are two good defenses, but there's going to be scoring. And most of it is going to be from passing.
I like the Packers a lot in this game, and I think they'll pull away with a late touchdown. Today, Vince Lombardi would be proud to hear me say that I believe in God, I believe in my family, and on Super Bowl Sunday, I believe in the Green Bay Packers.
Packers 31, Steelers 20
