Super Bowl Prediction

Only four days left until THE game. I capitalize THE, because, the game I'm referring to is the Super Bowl, between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks. First off, I'd like to point out that I reside in Omaha and am an Atlanta Falcons fan, so I have no bias toward either team in this game.

I think it'll be a close game, a lot closer than the blowouts two weekends ago in the NFC and AFC Championship Games, where the likes of Denver and Carolina decided not to show up at all. In terms of matchups, I like how the stingy Pittsburgh defense matches up with the often times one-dimensional Seattle offense a lot better than the other way around. If Pitt can contain Shaun Alexander, they'll be in great shape. Special teams is another matchup to keep your eye on. Neither team has a huge home run threat, like a Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss, or Terrell Owens, so field position will be critical in this game. Long, sustained drives that don't result in any points, but put the other team inside their own 10-yard line, will be extremely beneficial. Since I don't think the game will be a high-scoring affair, turnovers will play a huge role in deciding the Super Bowl champion. Because of that, keep an eye on the quarterbacks, Matt Hasselbeck of Seattle and Ben Roethlisberger of Pittsburgh. This will be the first Super Bowl for both quarterbacks and it'll be interesting to see how they take on the added pressure. Neither will need to pass for 300 yards or throw for 4 touchdowns to decide the game, but they will need to manage the team, manage the clock, and avoid the big mistake. If one quarterback has a 0 in the turnover column when the game is over, more than likely, that quarterback's team will be victorious.

Crowd many times doesn't play a factor in these type of games, but it could on Sunday. Pittsburgh will definitely hold the edge. Star tailback Jerome Bettis is from the Detroit area and which city is closer than the other to Detroit? Pittsburgh by many miles.

Motivation will also be a big factor and both teams should have plenty of it, considering this is the Super Bowl. But, I give a slight edge to Pittsburgh here. Both teams would like to win for their coaches, as Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren could be the first coach in NFL history to win Super Bowls for both an AFC and NFC team (he also coached the Packers to a Super Bowl win). Pittsburgh head man Bill Cowher has had a great tenure with the Steelers, but has one thing missing from it, a Super Bowl victory. Whoever wins this game, their respective coach will start being compared to some of the better coaches in NFL history (not the best, though). I give the edge to Pittsburgh, though, because of Jerome Bettis. This could be his last game in the NFL. He's hinted at retiring after the season. There's nothing that the Steelers would like to do more than to let "The Bus" retire and ride home with a Super Bowl victory.

Both teams have been playing well of late, but there is nobody playing better than Pittsburgh right now. They're a wild card team who has beaten Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Denver to get to where they are and have won seven straight overall. With all the factors I just mentioned, I can't pick against the Steelers in this one. Seattle should keep it close, but I like Pittsburgh to come out on top 21-17.