It’s Super Bowl Sunday, which means… it’s ROUNDTABLE TIME! Make sure you check out Nick’s preview of the big game here, then scroll down and check out the predictions of some of Inside Pulse’s Sports writers, and a few guest Roundtable contributors!
Widro (BOSS): An interesting matchup for the Super Bowl this year, with unlikely 6th seed Pittsburgh taking on the Seahawks, who make their Super Bowl debut. Despite the cinderella story of the Steelers, i see the Seahawks offense turning it up and taking the game 24-14
MVP – Shaun Alexander
Winner – Seattle, 24-14
Matthew Michaels (Overall Sports Editor): Unfortunately the “big game” doesn’t seem very big to me this year. “Small” market teams in the mix? My lack of football enthusiasm since the Jets dissappeared way too early in the season? The fact that GoDaddy.com’s commercial will likely be a downer after all the hype over the past few weeks? Either way, I don’t know anyone who cares about Seattle, and one of my close friends is all Steelers, all the time, so I’m going to go with familiarity here…
Co-MVPs – Jerome Bettis & Ben Roethlisberger
Winner – Pittsburgh
Aaron Cameron (Sports Co-Editor): The most overplayed story in the last two weeks is NOT Jerome Bettis, believe it or not. It’s the whole “we don’t get no respect” card that’s been drawn from both teams’ camps. I normally roll my eyes and ignore such nonsense, but The Seahawks may have a point. Everything HAS been “Bettis goes home” or “Big Ben’s bar photos” or “Bill Cowher’s redemption”. Are the Hawks the better team? Nope. Do they have the Steelers’ momentum? Nope. Is this Seattle roster more experienced in the so-called “big game”? Nope. But, Seattle will still win.
MVP – Shaun Alexander
Winner – Seattle 27, Pittsburgh 17
Trent Pusey (Boxing Columnist): With two weeks between the Conference Championships and the Super Bowl, we’ve all heard over 100 reason why both Seattle and Pittsburgh will win the big game. The bottom line is that Seattle is not any better than the three teams that Pittsburgh defeated to reach the Super Bowl. That seems like reason enough to pick the Steelers. And with all the hoopla surrounding Jerome Bettis, Cowher will make sure to give him a couple of goaline TD plunges. That will be enough to give The Bus the sentimental MVP award. But what do I know? I’m just a guy with a funny last name that watches boxing.
MVP – Jerome Bettis
Winner – Pittsburgh, 34-10
Omar Padilla (Hockey Columnist): The Steelers will win because several weeks ago I said that they wouldn’t even make it to the Conference Finals.
MVP – Ben Roethlisberger
Winner – Pittsburgh
Eric Szulczewski (Wrestling Writer): Yes, I said I didn’t care about the game in the Short Form. Yes, I said that my viewing of it would be sporadic. But it’s still the Super Bowl. Considering the nature of both teams, we’re going to have a rarity: a relatively high-scoring defensive struggle. Both teams will capitalize on turnovers and shutdowns deep in the opponent’s field. Thus, the offensive numbers won’t be so great, but there’s going to be a lot of scores put up. This puppy may go to overtime. What it’s going to boil down to is who has the best defensive player on the field, and we all know who that is. It’ll be so obvious that the writers will have no choice but to give him the Disney Line.
MVP – Troy Polamalu
Winner – Pittsburgh, 27-24 (and, yes, PGH winning and SEA covering is wussy of me, but the game is that close)
Dan Hevia (Wrestling Writer): As much as I would like to see the Seahawks win this just because it took them so long to actually get to a Super Bowl, I don’t think they can pull this off. Pittsburgh is hot, regardless of the ridiculous two week layoff. It may be close, but the Steelers are taking this one.
MVP – Out on a limb, Joey Porter
Winner – Pittsburgh, 27-17
Mark Neeley (Wrestling Writer): Anyone has to admit, this Super Bowl is at least a breath of fresh air compared to recent years, where it’s Patriot-mania. We’ve got a franchise going to the big game for the first time in their history. We’ve got a team who, well, hasn’t been there since 1995 when they lost to the Cowboys. The teams are playing with two different styles. The Steelers play a more conservative game, but that doesn’t make them less of a threat. After all this is the SIXTH SEED who knocked down arguably the best teams coming into the playoffs, the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, and Denver Broncos.
– Just look at the different statistics in the passing game. Matt Hasselbeck has 3,459 passing yards compared to Big Ben’s 2,385 passing yards, with Hasselbeck throwing seven more touchdowns.
– The teams are fairly even in the rushing game, as Seattle came in with the third best rushing game, and Pittsburgh with the fifth, but Pittsburgh has more than one threat, unlike the Seahawk’s Shaun Alexander.
– If Seattle is able to jump out to a fairly convincing lead early, like they did against the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh will have no chance of winning, because they aren’t a team that has a comeback mentality. That is why I think Seattle’s offense will be able to overwhelm Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh’s defense will be able to hold back Shaun Alexander, it will be Matt Hasselbeck who will put up huge numbers. Darrell Jackson, who has been putting up big numbers lately will come through majorly.
MVP – Matt Hasselbeck
Winner – Seattle, 31-18
Tom Pandich (Wrestling Writer): As much as we would all love to see the Steelers get their win for Bettis and Cowher and Steelcity USA, it isn’t going to happen for one reason and one reason alone. Seattle’s defense is superb. Not only that, but Seattle has made a habit out of tearing out the heart of a team in these playoffs (see Steve Smith and the Carolina Panthers). This game will ultimately be a defensive battle where Seattle will be able to dominate with their defense that led the NFL in sacks this season while Seattle’s offensive line matches up nicely against Pittsburgh. It’ll be a close game, no doubt, but Shaun Alexander will open up the passing game for Hasselbeck. Expect the Steelers to keep it close (especially with the crowd) but I say the Seahawks have too many weapons, have played too consistently great this season, and have less emotional investment in this game to allow them to not to blow routes or make “heroric” pass plays that result in interceptions. Benny boy will get picked at least twice trying to force it to Hines Ward and the Steelers will go down because of it.
MVP – Marcus Trufant
Winners – Seattle Seahawks, 24-13
“Ssquared” Shawn M. Smith (Music Writer) – Let’s be honest: this game is as much about Jerome Bettis as it is the NFL Championship Game. A silent, stoic ambassador for the great city of Pittsburgh, it’s been long rumored that this will be his last game, and it should be. No need for the three back rotation; it was a bad idea to begin with. Willie Parker should get the ONLY touches of the game, and Bettis should only be used as a decoy on third downs. Once Pittsburgh has the game in hand, then give the old dude some play.
Secondly, Shaun Alexander was NFL MVP? That’s a joke. Yeah, he had great numbers this year, but look at who they played. Did he have an Emmitt Smith or Barry Sanders-type year, in which he dominated other good teams? Nope. He’s a bum…even if they win this game, he was still only the third best RB on the field behind Parker and Duce Staley. To say otherwise would be a blatant lie.
Anyone who is jumping on the Seahawks bandwagon, but saying they have been supporting them all season is a liar. No one thought they were going to be here. You all picked Indy-Philly at the beginning of the year. It’s okay, we can’t all be that awesome. The same can’t be said for Pittsburgh, as Big Ben Roethlisberger is the best thing to happen to their great state since Sesame Place! He WILL bring Jerome a championship in his hometown, and then he will shave that terrible, terrible beard.
MVP – Willie Parker
Winner – Millworkers 17, Grunge Rockers 14
Jon Sevastra (Music Writer): Though I have always been a football fan, College ball is much higher on my list. I have always dismissed the superbowl as just another game due to fact that there are always teams playing whom i care not too much about. i have been a Steelers fan but after all these years i don’t think i could tell you why. What i do think is that as far as the playing itself, this will be one of the best superbowls in recent history. both of these teams are in a position of genuine want. neither of them truly expected to get this far. this is going to be a game based on the intangible stat of “who wants it more.” when it comes to true statistics, i haven’t paid attention so i can’t comment on that but in the end i don’t really care. i think this is going to be a good football game period. i can’t even pick who will win. i’ve always liked the steelers so i can root for them. but i think it’s great that the seahawks have actually made it this far and i will root for them just for the sake of crowning a “new champion.” i guess i’m truly indifferent and just want to see a good game for once that doesn’t get lost in all the hooplah of superbowl sunday. now it’s off to my favorite watering hole with the whole crew for free food, cheep beer, and hopefully a great football game.
MVP – Probably whoever looks the best out there. not necessarily who puts out the best performance. i mean, it’s the superbowl, gotta look good right?
Winner – I would imagine that one team will score more points than the other by the time the clock runs out. If I actually pick a team, I’ll disappoint myself either way. I WANT A TIE!
And last but not least…
Dwayne2cool19 (IP’s #1 Cheerleader): LETS GO STEELERS! LETS GO! THE STEELERS WILL DESTROY THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS THROUGH THE POWER OF THE BUS AND BIG BEN! MY MVP IS EITHER HINES WARD, BIG BEN, OR THE BUS! STAND AT ATTENTION, RAISE YOUR YELLOW STEELER TOWEL UP IN THE AIR AND LOOK ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE SOLDIER!!!
I think that says it all. Enjoy the game! (Or at least the commercials, beer, wings, pizza, salsa and good company…) What are your Super Bowl thoughts? Click over to our reader forums and post your comments now!
