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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals NFL Odds & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

Steelers Cardinals Defense meets offense and the probable collides with the improbable in Super Bowl XLIII when the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Arizona Cardinals on February 1, 2009 in Tampa Bay, Florida in the greatest show on earth. While it has been a great run by the Arizona Cardinals to make it this far, NFL odds makers have their run ending here. But they have been wrong before. The Pittsburgh Steelers are listed as a 7-point favorite to win Super Bowl XLII with the total set at 46.5.

If defense wins championships, and if experience counts, then the Arizona Cardinals don’t have a chance. But this team was not given a chance heading into the playoffs and here it is one win away from pulling off the improbable. The Cardinals have opened as an underdog in each of their three playoff games and have defied the odds each team.

Arizona’s defense does not resemble that of Pittsburgh’s on paper, it has been improved in the postseason. Just as the Falcons, Panthers, and Eagles. But if Arizona is to win, I expect them to do it with one of the league’s best offenses. Arizona ranks in the top four in three major offensive categories. It is fourth in yards per game with 365.8, second in passing yards per game with 292.1, and third in points per game with 26.7. The Cardinals have scored 30 or more points in all three of their postseason games against defenses which combine to allow only 19.7 points per game.

Arizona has not even made the playoffs since 1998 and this franchise does not have an NFL title since the last 1940’s when it was in Chicago. How satisfying it would be for Arizona to win its first Super Bowl over the NFL’s most decorated franchise. While experience doesn’t appear to be on Arizona’s side, they do have experience at the position where it matters most. QB Kurt Warner has played in two Super Bowls and has won one, taking home MVP honors in Super Bowl XXXIV. He is the biggest reason why the Cardinals have made it this far.

Warner was sensational in the NFC title game, outshining counterpart Donovan McNabb. Warner was an efficient 21 of 28, while facing a barrage of Eagles blitz packages, throwing for 279 yards and four touchdowns. Also, how satisfying it would be for the so-called washed up Kurt Warner to win another Super Bowl against the NFL’s very best defense. If you think Arizona has one more upset in it, bet the Cardinals at +7 at BetUS and receive up to 145 percent in sign up bonuses.

While Arizona would like to live the dream, Ben Roethlisberger and many of the current Steelers roster already has. Pittsburgh won Super Bowl XL in 2006 with a dominant performance against the Seahawks. The Steelers defense was superb in that game, holding the Seattle and its All-Pro backfield to only 10 points. The Steelers defense will try to hold down another offensive juggernaut to capture its second Super Bowl title in four seasons and the franchise’s sixth.

Pittsburgh ranks No. 1 in the NFL in three major offensive categories and No. 2 in the league in the fourth. Pittsburgh ranked No. 1 in total yards, giving up just 237.3 per game. It was No. 1 in passing yards allowed, giving up only 157.1 per game. The Steelers were also the best in the NFL in scoring defense, relinquishing just 13.9 points per game. The Steelers ranked No. 2 in the NFL against the run, allowing only 80.2 yards per game on the ground. The Steelers have held their opponents to 14 points or less in seven of their last nine games.

While the Steelers offense was banged up throughout the regular season, with injuries on the offensive line and to QB Ben Roethlisberger, they seemed to be re-energized by the bye week and have averaged 29 points per game through two playoff games. It is worth noting that Ben Roethlisberger played one of his worst games as a pro in Super Bowl XL. His QB rating of 22.6 was the lowest by a winning QB in Super Bowl history. He was more than bailed out by the defense in that game but Big Ben is not going to want to put this one solely on the shoulders of the “D”. If you like Pittsburgh to improve on its 5-1 against the spread mark in Super Bowls, bet the Steelers at -7 at BetUS.

Do your Super Bowl betting with Jimmy Boyd of Locksmith Sports for winning Super Bowl picks come February 1st. It doesn’t get an easier than signing up with Jimmy to beat the Super Bowl odds.

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Written by Jimmy Boyd on January 22, 2009 · Filed Under NFL Betting Articles, News & Previews

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