NFL Picks - Super Bowl Sunday is Here!!!!

In My Humble Opinion
1

Well, I’m getting first dibs on the prediction thread this time, for the final game this season. [sub]though I suppose I might do the Pro Bowl just for kicks[/sub] And I’m saying this right now, if you don’t have an opinion, stay the hell out!!! Woo!!!

There’s a seriously underrated stress factor surrounding the Super Bowl. I mean, its worse than Xmas or New Years. I’m freaking out over which Super Bowl party to attend. I want to have a great time, and party and eat and drink, but I also want to see every second of the game. Frankly, its the most exciting day of the year.

Super Bowl XXXVII

Sunday, Jan. 26, 6:00 PM ET on ABC
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA

Tampa Bay vs. Oakland – (Raiders by 3½ - - Over/Under 43½)

OK, here’s the deal. The Bucs are seriously overlooked. I saw them coming last week, and everyone was on the Eagles bandwagon. Everyone thinks this Raider offense is unstoppable. Bullshit. Remember what Miami did to it? Tampa can do the same thing. I’d really like to see the Bucs come out in a tight man-to-man, since thats the way to stifle this control passing game of Gannon and the elders. However, I still think that the overall team speed of the Bucs will be nearly as effective. They won’t bother trying to blitz much, since Gannon gets rid of the ball so fast. But they’ll force the Raiders to be absolutely perfect in order to drive the field and put up enough points. In the Super Bowl, thats not usually a winning scenario.

Next, neither team can run the ball consistently. Both teams use the short pass instead of the run to control the clock and set up makable 3rd down distances. However, given the personel and the competition these teams have faced, one guy looks to have success on the ground. Believe it or not its Mike Alstott. A shifty speed guy like Garner won’t be able to outflank the TB D, or make gains between the tackles. Pittman can’t run against anyone, but the Raiders might wear down against a heavy pounding attack coming straight at them. Similar arguements could be made for Tyrone Wheatley, but the Bucs run support secondary is pretty vicious. Tough enough to make him ineffective.

Finally, I’m going to take the ex-coach knowing the opposition’s talent over the players’ knowing the ex-coach’s tendacies. Gruden will be better equiped to take advantage of the familiarity here than Callahan. He’ll know what routes Gannon throws well, and where is weaknesses are. He’ll know where Callahan might be likely to go on third and long, or what certain personel packages hint at. On the flipside, I don’t suspect that Gruden’s game plan is that similar with vastly different personel compared to last year. I don’t see the defense on the field having much success in reading formation for tendancies. Part of me likes the ability of the veteran Oakland players to adjust and handle the Super Bowl hype, but I just don’t think that’s good enough.

A few caveats. Keyshawn is horribly overrated, I know this isn’t new news, but the guy is a dick and a horrible teamate. I can’t think of anyone I’d want to count on less than him in a big game. Alstott might have a nice day running, but he also is known to fumble at inopportune times. Could kill him against a offense like this one. They can’t afford to allow the Raiders a short field at all.

No matter what happens, I believe we are in for another wonderful Super Bowl regardless of who comes out the winner. It will likely be close, and the matchup of #1 offense vs. #1 defense is very exciting!

I’m taking the Buccaneers to win and obviously cover, and I think it’ll be the over.
[sub]We’ll not mention the fact that Tampa has probably the second most (to the Titans) Illinois alums.[/sub]

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By necessity, I pick the Bucs.

3

Having lived in San Diego and hoping to move back there soon, I can but quote Edwardina on this one.

Avast ye Raider scum, throw down yer arms and prepare tae be boarded! :smiley:

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Ahh… here’s the thread already and it’s only Wednesday! Thanks Omniscient. These past few weeks of the playoffs have just really made me wish I’d been around here to read/post to this thread during the season. Looks like lots of great football chat.

So… onto the Super Bowl. I also saw Tampa coming last week. I had Tampa’s defense on my fantasy team this year and I also picked up Brad Johnson midway during the season. So I’ve followed Tampa quite a bit as the season has gone on.

I have to agree that Tampa gets an edge from Gruden understanding the personnel and capabilities of the Raiders. I mean, who better to know what their weaknesses are than the guy that was trying to get them over those weaknesses just last season? Advantage: Bucs.

Raiders Offense vs. Bucs Defense. I know it’s cliche, but how many times have we all heard that “defense wins championships”? I think it’s true here. I think the Bucs defense, when coupled with Gruden’s knowledge of the Raiders weaknesses, gives the edge in this matchup to the Bucs. Gannon has been fantastic this year; he’ll have to be perfect in this game. I know he’s capable, but I think the Bucs D gets an edge in this matchup. Advantage: Bucs

Bucs Offense vs. Raiders Defense. I think the Bucs offense has been vastly underrated this year. As the season has progressed they’ve shown they can put up some offense when they need to. They’ll need to this weekend. But I like Johnson’s chances to move the Bucs down the field with Jurevicius and even Keyshawn; I agree Keyshawn is overrated, but he’s still capable of coming up with a really big play every now and then and this weekend will finally be his shot to put up or shut up, I think he’ll actually put up for a change. When they get close I think Alstott will punish the Raiders around the goal line. I don’t think it’s a big advantage, but I give the Advantage here to the Bucs again; I think it’s at least a draw.

All in all I like the Bucs chances to win this one. I’ll also go with Omniscient and predict the “over.”

… man I can almost taste those little smokies in barbecue sauce already … super bowl munchies rock.

5

Bucs. Over.

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I can’t imagine how excited you guys must get over the FA Cup Final…

Normally I can think of some, however tenous, link or reason to support or not support one team, even if it’s just by virtue of being the underdog.
So I’ve decided on Oakland on the flip of a coin.
It’s an excuse to stay up and drink beers. My superbowl party will constitute me and a few beers sitting watching the game alone. From 11pm. With work the next day. In theory :wink:

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Raiders, 20 to 17.

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Raiders vs Bucs. I’ll be cheering for the Raiders for the first time in my life since I think they have the classier team (What? Did that just come out of my mouth? Raiders? Classy? It’s the apocalypse!!). I really don’t want to have to listen to Keyshawn talk after he’s actually won something. What a prick.

Now that I have that out of my system, I’d like to get on with my tradition of blowing every prediction I make in the NFL. Although, I’d like to point out that in the original playoffs thread, I predicted a Bucs vs Raiders Super Bowl. But then I picked the Bucs to lose to Philly last week. But we’ll ignore that and trumpet the fact that I got the original prediction right.

Here’s the deal, if the Bucs play a tight man coverage they probably win. If they play a zone they get bulldozed. It’s that simple, really. Now, you’d think that they would realize this obvious fact and play a tight coverage. But then, no one else has yet, so I don’t have much faith in the Bucs doing it. RB pretending to be a FB Alstott will probably pick up 40 yards or so on the ground.

In the end, I think that the Bucs will win. They have the defense and hopefully the intelligence to be able to contain the Raiders, as well as enough offense to be able to put some points on the board that way. I’m going to go with the over, to boot.

So that’s Bucs, over.

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I think the Raiders are going to win. I know that Tampa has the defense and good defense can shut down an offense but, the Raiders are strong in all offensive skill positions. They have possession receivers as well as Porter for the longer routes. Gannon is better than Johnson and will not make a dumb mistake. Brad Johnson has shown that he is capable of throwing key interceptions and that might be a factor. You are correct in pointing out that Keyshawn is over rated. He seems to be more talk than anything. On the other side the Raiders have Rice and Brown and they are definitely proven. The kicking game seems pretty even. It should be a very interesting game and hopefully close like last year. I pick the Raiders to cover the points.

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My heart says Raiders, my head says Bucs. (Gannon, Garner and Rice won me my fantasy football Super Bowl this year, so obviously I’ll be rooting for the Raiders myself.) For me, it comes down to superior offense versus superior defense. The Raiders have the most explosive overall offense in the league – great passing attack, decent running game (Garner’s quiet but he’ll surprise you sometimes). The Bucs have the shut-down defense. Against other high-powered and high-scoring offenses, the Bucs have shut them down cold.

But to heck with logic – my heart says Raiders, so that’s what I’m gonna stick with. Silver and Black win and cover. Go-go-gadget Gannon!

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Raiders 31 - 17

Don’t forget your 'roids Romo!

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Panthers…
what? Oh…the Raiders then.

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There are a couple of loudmouths on the Bucs, I’ll grant you that. But Bill Romanowski can almost singlehandedly make a case for any team that doesn’t have him on it as being classier. I can see Romo taking a cheap shot to knock Brad Johnson out of the game early just so the Raiders can win. In fact, his history almost dictates it. This guy is the most worthless piece of crap in a football uniform since Conrad Dobler. Add Frank Middleton, who is every bit as obnoxious as Warren Sapp, without the accolades, and it’s almost a wash. Sure, there are some very classy guys on the Raiders, but there are also some very classy guys on the Bucs.

FWIW, I also wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Keyshawn and/or Warren traded in the offseason. Maybe as a way to bring in some of those high draft choices that they’re missing.

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Who was it Romo spit in the face of several years ago? Wasn’t that a Raider?

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Just found it… J.J. Stokes of the 49’ers 3 years before Romo bought large amounts of Phentermine so that he and another player could “keep up with the *******.”

Gawd I hate that guy.

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People, people… how can you pick Bucs and OVER!!! the only (underline ONLY) way the Bucs win is if they keep the score low.

Raiders win by 14… and the score goes over the total.

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I think the Gruden factor will decide the game. He knows both teams intimately (I’ll leave this straight line for someone else) and he should be able to react to the game situations more efficiently than the Raiders’ rookie coach.

Bucs and under.
next year, though… :smiley:

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C’mon, even 27-17, which would be a low scoring game by Super Bowl standards, puts you over. And that’s not a far-fetched score in a Bucs victory. If the Raiders win they could shut out the Bucs and still go over.

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And while I’m at it, the Bucs beat the Rams 38-35 a couple of years ago with Shaun King at QB and Les Steckel at offensive coordinator. It was the penultimate Monday Night Football game of the 2000 season. So anything’s possible. Not probable, maybe, but possible, for sure.

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Can’t be the Raiders, can’t be the Raiders, can’t be the Raiders…
Bucs 27, Raiders 17