To all my
rowdy football friends ,
Celebrating
my 50th Super Bowl and 15 years around this joint ! So Cheers ! And I’m proud
to say that my SB record here is 12-2 ats. I’ll drink to that !
The SB is
really the easiest game to figure because there is no home field advantage,
coaches have more time to focus and both teams are rested equally, unlike most
bye weeks. I see the SB as a game of chess, no not chest, chess. ( please
concentrate ) I look for the weakness and move in.
Taking an
overview, as usual. I asked myself, where is the weakness in this game ? Both
teams have good defenses. Both have a good coach, not great but good, no
advantage there. Running game is about equal, Receivers, tight ends, about even,
no advantage. Quarterback’s, yes a weakness ! Namely, the age and passing
accuracy of Peyton Manning vs. the youth, mobility and the relentlessness of
Cam Money Newton, who is playing lights out this year.
Surely, you
must have noticed that Peyton’s accuracy has been off on 25 to 35 yard passes.
He is pretty good in the red zone but he has a hard time getting there. ( that’s
me ). His passes flutter like female batting eyes and he cannot throw a long
accurate ball anymore. ( he probably can’t see that far) Manning knows it and
the Patriots realized it last week too. Peyton looks frail and unenthusiastic
and it shows in the stats, 17 interceptions this year in only 10 games and
passing rating of 68%. That’s not the Peyton we once knew.
Did you see
how the Patriots played Peyton in the 2nd half of the last game ? He
could not move the team, and only scored 3 points at home
! Peyton didn’t win the game, New England lost the game. And hey, the
Pats were a one dimensional team, they had absolutely no running game after they
lost 4 excellent running backs this year. Remember this.... when Denver barely
beat Pittsburgh Antonio Brown didn’t play, De Angelo Williams didn’t play,
still no L. Bell, and Big Ben had a bum shoulder.
Meanwhile,
Carolina hung 31 points on Seattle at halftime, whoa ! and if not for the
scrambling of Wilson in the 2nd half, it was over. And the Panthers scored 49
points on Arizona’s defense ? C’mon man. Oh, and Palmer couldn’t scramble
either. Keep in mind, those 2 playoff wins were against teams with very good
defenses. In fact, Seattle’s banged up defense was better than Denver’s all
year, they gave up less points during the regular season.
In my mind,
the Panthers record is really 18-0 this year because the only loss they had was
a laydown game to give players a little time with the ladies. Before playing
Atlanta, Carolina was 14-0, Coach Rivera said he was going to
consult with Coach Belichick ( and that’s no easy task ), about the pressures
of an undefeated season. Carolina averaged 37.7 points a game over their last 8
games home and away, excluding the Atlanta game. So they obviously had a good
time partying because Carolina only scored 13 points @ Atlanta, a team with a
3-8 record over their last 11 games.
So for the record, my official 15th Super Bowl pick is Carolina –
6 (checked flag please)
I have a
hunch that the score will be around 34-19, Carolina wins.
Superbowl History, closing odds Trivia.
Only 4 times in SB history was there a -6 point favorite. They all covered .
1993..Dallas - 6.5 ..Final score, Dallas
52 Buffalo 17
1978..Dallas – 6.....Final score, Dallas
27 Denver 10
1974..Miami –6.5...Final score, Miami 27
Minnesota 7
1972..Dallas – 6.....Final score, Dallas,
24 Miami 3
Last year I
posted a great 4-way teaser play, and won. ( you probably didn’t listen then
either ) In any case, if you’re concerned about a back door Or if you have
already placed a play on Denver and they won’t let you trade for air miles,
here’s a fantastic way out.... A 2-way teaser, Carolina -pick, and Over
39.5 Because I believe chances of a blow out game is far greater than
a Denver win.
After you
win, give a little to homeless people working on the corner.
Good Luck
fellas, see you next year, God willing,