I am ready to make my prediction for Super Bowl 43.
As stated in my previous article, I had to wait until the smoke cleared to see if there would be any player related issues before announcing my prediction. Much to my dismay, there was not even dust in the air.
These two teams must have tasers attached to every one of their players, and if they even think of producing a distraction to their team, or giving the opposition any “billboard” material, they will get juiced, tased or any other way you wish to put it. Both organizations have done a tremendous job in keeping their players as low-key as possible.
(Editor’s Note: Not coincidentally, Vinny Tresselini is not happy about this.)
If you seen an interview of any player, you know exactly what I am talking about. Every player interview is being conducted as if the player just left the public relations/press conference classroom. The interviewer attempts to “bait” the player into some form of smak-talk against the other team. And the player, well coached from the P.R. classes, refuses to engage into the specifically asked question, and redirects the conversation into a “safe” area of discussion. What I am saying is that media week is going to be boring as hell because there is no Shannon Sharpe or Joey Porter personalities who will let it fly regardless of the repercussions. So I will be safe in making my prediction.
If everything stays on it’s current course of “boring as hell”, I expect Arizona to cover the current spread of six and a half points. While everyone is not giving Arizona a lottery odds chance of winning, I think that they have a great chance to not only cover, but win as well.
I am not as confident as I was about going moneyline on Tom Brady’s first Super Bowl appearance against the St. Louis Rams, but I am confident about the Cardinals covering the spread.
Here’s why:
I, as well as everyone else in this world, wrote the Arizona Cardinals off after they threw in the towel against the New England Patriots in week 16, in the 47 to 7 Anderson “Spider” Silva beatdown of which they were on the receiving end. This game, however, turned out to be the much needed “reality check” that this team needed.
Since getting pimp smacked by New England, the Cardinals could not have responded better, and could not have peaked at a better time. This meltdown finally screamed the fact that Arizona needed a run game, and they looked to the more-than-well-rested Edggerin James for answers. Not only did they establish a running game, but their defense finally found the field as well.
This parlays into my next point: Arizona definitely had the more difficult road to the Super Bowl.
The Cardinals had to win against a very tough Atlanta Falcons team with a great running game. They then went into Carolina and absolutely dismantled a team which many thought was the total package with their running game and defense, and were mentioned on several occasions as being the team which would represent the NFC
in the Super Bowl. Arizona then held off a determined, veteran Philadelphia Eagles team which was playing at a very high level and has had a lot of success in the playoffs under the Andy Reid-Donavan McNabb tenure. More impressive than the win, was the fact that they lost the lead in the second half and were able to regain the lead against one of the best Defensive Coordinators in the NFL.
And finally…. Ken Whisenhunt. Who better to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers than their previous offensive coordinator. He is of the same school and mindset as Mike Tomlin, and knows what Tomlin’s defense does and is capable of. As long as Whisenhunt and the Cardinals offensive line can keep Kurt Warner standing on two feet, the spread will be the least of Pittsburgh’s concerns.
I think that the Cardinals have a great chance to not only cover, but win as well. I am confident about the Cardinals covering the spread.
What do you think?
Loading ...
Contact me at fraschetti@midwestsportsfans.com or post your thoughts to this site.
