The final two teams to play in Super Bowl XLIII will be set after Sundays NFC and AFC Championship tilts. The Arizona Cardinals look to be this year’s Cinderella team, the Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb still has something to prove, while the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens get set for a gladiator style battle that will make the movie Gladiator look like a child’s film. NFL oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com have the Steelers as +140 moneyline favorites to win Super Bowl XLIII. Point-Spreads.com expert NFL writer Scott Burgess looks into the future and gives his 2009 Super Bowl Predictions. Be sure to get your 2009 Super Bowl Predictions in now at Sportsbook.com
Philadelphia Eagles (-3) at Arizona Cardinals (Sun, Jan 18 3:00 PM ET)
The Eagles trumped the Cardinals 48-20 at home in Week 13. The Eagles were listed as -3 point home favs and they clearly covered. Both quarterbacks were pretty even, but the big difference was the Cardinals interceptions. Cardinals QB Kurt Warner made 21 of 39 passes for 235 yards with three touchdown passes with THREE interceptions. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb made 27 of 39 passes for 260 yards with three touchdown passes with NO interceptions. The other big difference on offense is the running game. The Cards were clearly outrun, even though they aren’t known as a running team, they had 10 carries for 25 yards and the Eagles had 40 carries for 185 yards. But in the Cardinals last two playoff games they’ve combined for 71 carries for 231 yards and they shut down the running game of the Panthers allowing 75 rushing yards.
On defense the Eagles have had the upperhand, during the regular season, but the Cardinals defense has been great. They allowed the Falcons 60 yards rushing and 190 yards passing. They allowed the Panthers 75 rushing yards and 194 yards passing. The Eagles defense allowed the Vikings 148 yards rushing and 153 yards passing. They allowed the Giants 138 rushing yards and 169 passing yards.
Cardinals QB Kurt Warner has 30 touchdown passes for 4,583 yards with 14 interceptions. He makes 67.1% of his passes for a 96.8 QB rating. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb has 23 touchdown passes for 3,916 yards with 11 interceptions. He makes 60% of his passes for a 86.4 QB rating.
The Bottom Line: I like the Cardinals right now, plus they are 7-2 SU at home compared to the Eagles 5-4-1 SU road record. QB Kurt Warner is hotter than McNabb. Click here for Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl Odds and Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Odds.
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (-6) (Sun, Jan 18 6:30 PM ET)
The Steelers beat the Ravens twice this season; in Week 4 they beat the Ravens 23-20, in OT, at home. The Steelers were listed as -6 point home favs and failed to cover the spread. Then the Steelers hit the road in Week 15 and beat the Ravens 13-9 in a game that ended in controversy. This time the Ravens were listed as -3 point home favs, and they failed! In their Week 4 game the Ravens held the Steelers offense to 11 first downs, while the Steelers allowed the Ravens 16 first downs.
The Ravens running game in Week 4, lead by FB Le’Ron McClain and RB Willis McGahee, had 29 carries for 105 yards with one touchdown against the Steelers second ranked rush defense. The Steelers running game, lead by RB Rashard Mendenhall and RB Carey Davis, only had 17 carries for a low 45 yards against the Ravens third ranked rush defense. Mind you RB Willie Parker didn’t play, but regardless he ended the regular season with only 209 rushing yards with five touchdowns. Now look at the Ravens RB Le’Ron McClain he ended the regular season with 202 rushing yards, but nine touchdowns. In Week 15 the Ravens outran the Steelers with 31 carries for 112 yards while the Steelers mustered up 27 carries for 91 yards. FB Le’Ron McClain and RB Willis McGahee combined with 29 carries for 105 yards, while RB Willie Parker and RB Mewelde Moore combined with 21 carries for 63 yards.
Now let’s compare the quarterbacks. Ravens rookie QB Joe Flacco has 14 touchdown passes for 2,071 yards with 12 interceptions. He makes 60% of his passes for an 80.3 QB rating. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has 17 touchdown passes for 3,314 yards with 15 interceptions. He makes 60% of his passes for an 80.2 QB rating. The big difference, I think, is that Roethlisberger is injury prone and fresh off a concussion. Facing the Ravens defense that had over 30 sacks, one good hit and he could get hurt.
The Bottom Line: I’m going with the Ravens, based on Roethlisberger unstable condition and the Ravens defense and offense. It’s harder to be a team three times in one season, eventually the losing team figures out the winning team’s strategies. Click here for the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl Odds and Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Odds.
Point-Spreads.com 2009 Super Bowl Prediction: Baltimore Ravens vs Arizona Cardinals (stay tuned)
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