NFL Super Bowl XLIII Pick

Super Bowl XLIII – Tampa Bay, FL

Raymond James Stadium

Sunday, February 1, 2009 @ 6:00pm EST on NBC

#2 Pittsburgh Steelers(14-4) Vs. #4 Arizona Cardinals(12-7)

The Line –Steelers -7 / Cardinals +7 Over/Under 47

With the Steelers leaving behind the bitter cold north and the Cardinals setting the desert in their rear views, both teams will be making their way to the sun and surf that is Florida. The media is a buzz over the Steelers 7^th Super Bowl appearance and can’t say enough about the Cardinals making their very first. So who will make the most of this year’s trip to the Big game? Will the Steelers show us why they’ve been so many times before? Or will the Cardinals light up the night with their electric offense? Of course, there’s always the question of first time jitters and the overwhelming ambiance that is the World Championship. Who will have the drive to lay it all on the line all 3600 ticks of the game clock? And who will prevail at the final whistle as the Vince Lombardi Trophy is carried out onto the field?

The Steelers

Known for their dominating defense, the Pittsburgh Steelers showed nothing less than the NFL’s best. Stifling offenses around the league with an NFL low of 13.9 points and a measly average of 237.2 yards per game the Steelers have kept their tradition of smash mouth football alive. They even ranked second in NFL sacks at 51. To combine such a suffocating defense with offensive talents like two-time pro bowl running back Willie Parker on the ground, and the Steelers all-time receiving leader Hines Ward through the air and the Steelers pose a frightening threat to overcome.

The Cardinals

The underdogs and this years surprise appearance will go to the Cardinals who have just won their first ever NFC Championship since the merger in 1960 and have become only the second NFL team in history to do so with seven losses. But much can be said about the re-emergence of Arizona’s 37-year old quarterback Kurt Warner. Given the unbelievable down field talent of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, Warner has reincarnated the MVP Super Bowl Champion of Super Bowl XXXIV and will be looking to bring home another ring. Unite that with a defense that has come alive late in the season to give this team the boost they needed, and Super Bowl XLIII just might have the upset that entertainment is made of.

The Showdown

Come six o’clock on Sunday evening in Tampa, these two teams will face off for the title of World Champions. While Kurt Warner has taken advantage of the electrifying Larry Fitzgerald and served up a world of hurt through a phenomenal Anquan Boldin, the Steelers defense has been shutting down teams’ week in and week out. Will Warner be able to call upon the magic he once showed in St. Louis to lead the Cardinals down the rough and rocky road that Pittsburgh lays out before them? He may need the Arizona defense to keep their fire lit while lining up against Big Ben Roethlisberger and attempt to shut down his favorite receiver Hines Ward, all while containing Willie Parker’s quick feet. The numbers would favor the returning Pittsburgh Steelers, that’s why they are the favorites on every sports book’s board, but the momentum of the Cardinals, as they seek to cap a franchise dream with a championship title, could just be enough.

Cardinals shock the NFL, make history and win their first ever Championship

Vince Lombardi Trophy will be lifted for the first time ever for Arizona

(Cardinals +7 / Under)

NFL Conference Playoff Picks

Better late than never. Times have been hectic in the Dragon’s Den and time is something I just can’t seem to get enough of, but you know I can’t go a week without any picks, so here they are.

ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN

Sunday, January 18^th, 2009

NFC Conference

#6 Philadelphia Eagles(11-6-1) at #4 Arizona Cardinals(11-7) 3:00PM (FOX)

The Cardinals are hot in all the right places at all the right times. Anquan Boldin will return for this game and although he may not be the big playmaker, he’ll take enough heat of Larry Fitzgerald to allow Kurt Warner and the offense to put points up on the board. Add the fact that the Cardinals defense has been stout and Westbrook is nicked up and it just might equal the Cardinals first ever appearance in a Super Bowl game!

Hell freezes over and the Cardinals advance to the Super Bowl

(Cardinals +4.5)

AFC Conference

#6 Baltimore Ravens (13-5) at #2 Pittsburgh Steelers (13-4) 6:30PM (CBS)

Pittsburgh has taken both match ups in the regular season, but you can’t keep winning for ever and the odds are stacking up. Both match ups this season have been decided by 4 points or less and it’s just about time for the Ravens defense to get the best of Ben Roethlisberger. The Ravens offense will struggle, but will do just enough for their defense to bring them back into a Super Bowl match up.

Ravens defense give just enough to place them in the Super Bowl

(Ravens +6)