Super Bowl XLV

Green Bay -2.5 Pittsburgh 44.5

After two weeks’ worth of boring talk, the teams finally kick off in what appears to be an intriguing matchup (on paper, anyhow). Neither team exactly bowled over their opponent in the Conference Finals, so it’s really hard to say whether the teams will come out and play at the top of their game. Defense generally wins championships but experience playing at the highest stage also helps. We’re openly rooting for a Packer victory on Sunday, but it’s a tough sell. The Steelers are a tough, veteran group that has a wealth of experience playing in the Big Game. Their defense is also somewhat better than Green Bay’s (not by a long shot, though better nonetheless). The primary concern about the Packers is whether they’re more prepared for the “event” and less prepared to play an actual football game. We’ve seen this happen many times in the past when an all business veteran football team dominates a team that was simply thrilled to get to a Super Bowl. We’re not suggesting that Coach McCarthy’s team will show up in Dallas like a bunch of star-eyed kids in wonder, but this crew of Steelers has been there and done that—twice. There is undoubtedly added pressure in playing a Super Bowl and it’s a fact that some players crack. Aaron Rodgers is a terrific quarterback and the Packers had a great season. We just don’t know how this younger team will perform under such pressure whereas we know that this group of Steelers hasn’t been fazed by the pressure. The heart says “Packers”, the head says…

Projected Final Score: Pittsburgh 24, Green Bay 21

GO PACK GO!