Well, now that just about everything has been said about the Super Bowl matchup, it's time for the cajone parade, when everyone (including you) puts their game predictions on the line.Predictions are popping up on the major media sites in waves now. In FOX's Super Bowl predictions extravaganza, 51 random know-it-alls, in various stages of headuptheirassia, submitted their picks and score predictions for the big dance. As expected, the the Steelers remain the favorite by a vote of 34-17.
But that's the boring part. Just out of a whim, I decided to add up the predicted scores from these brain farts. The result? The average predicted score of the Seahawks was 20.82353, while the Steeler's came to 24.82353. That's a difference of exactly four, the nationally accepted point spread for the game.
Does this validate the notion that Pittsburgh is a slightly more dominant team? Not hardly. A quick browse through the stated reasons for the Steeler's picks reveals a plethora of tragically underinformed points of view. It's pretty similar to asking Saddam what God is like.
Another interesting but useless prediction comes from SportSims.net. Aparrently these guys have played Madden, Colecovision, or the like 40,000 times to determine this year's champion.
""This will be an 'edge-of-your-seat' Super Bowl," said Dave Holt of SportSims.net. He continued, "We may see the first ever Super Bowl overtime. The results of the simulation show amazingly close scores." The average points scored: Seattle-25.2, Pittsburgh-24.6.
"In 40,000 simulations, the Seattle Seahawks won 53% of the time. When the Seahawks won, they outscored the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24. In the 47% of the games where Pittsburgh won, they outscored Seattle 24-21. "
40,000 simulations, and they only came up with two different scores? Give me a break.Bottom line is this: Predicitions are a bunch of projectile defecation. (A crap shoot). Which is why I prefer a good analysis any day over three sentence predictions.
But they are fun. Which is why I'm starting this blog's official Super Bowl prediction thread.
Seahawks 30, Steelers 23.
Other sites' picks:
USA Today
SI.com
GO SEAHAWKS!!!
27-16 Seahawks. As usual the ocmpetition will have to settle for too many field goals to keep up with our offense. Our Red Zone Defense will continue to do what it has all year, and Lofa will have at least one sack AND one pick.
ReplyDeleteAlexander WILL get over 100 yards, on around 30 carries, but it's Hass who will come home with the Superbowl MVP for his BRILLIANT game! Bet on it!
BTW, I read that analysis that you linked before, and thought that it was the single best pregame breakdown done by anyone anywhere, (though only slightly better than another terrific breakdown found on the blog 12 Seahawks Street titled; min-KEYS to the Game).
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, that breakdown is so sweet.
i must of missed the 'minkeys'!
ReplyDeletemy prediction...i dont like dishing out before the game...but heres a hint: exact prediction i had in the last game
i cannot wait to see Pittsburgh's faces when they drive downfield with their first possession only to get a glimpse of the most consistent bend dont break defense I have ever seen.
if we can manhandle the great Colts in the redzone...pittsburgh is gonna be helpless
we should win this by 2 TDS...but im not gettin cocky, i just want to win...so im keeping my mouth shut from here
I always pick 37 for the Seahawks, in honor of the MVP, and since we scored 37 a few times this season.
ReplyDeleteFor the Steelers, I'll give them two TDs and 3 FGs, for a total of 23.
Mike AND Mike both picked us this morning, as did Mark Schlereth and Chris Berman.
All I can say is, Got Milk?
Posted by alba
yeh i saw 3 of those 4...I figured if Berman didn't pick us, noone would...of all the national guys feelings towards us...he was the only constant under 'like them'
ReplyDeletei heard the two Mikes are always wrong...which scares me
Posted by adp
I don't like predicting scores, but I think this might be the first Super Bowl where we see OT. And as worried as I am about the game, I take heart that most people think the Steelers will win. As anyone familiar with Ibsen can tell you, the majority has a long track record of being wrong.
ReplyDeleteBluefoot - when I was watching ESPN while getting dressed this morning, hearing everyone nuzzling up to the Seahawk teet, I said "I gotta post a picture of some suckling pigs when I get in the office on a topic regarding the pundits' predictions."
ReplyDeleteThen I get in and see your post, with a VERY appropriate and outstandingly customized picture of Einstein, and was relagated to putting my suckling pigs pictures in the comments, so as not to compete with such as awesome graphic.
But, as one comic pointed out, if everyone knows the rule is "I before E except after C", how come he's considered to be such as genius when Einstein got it wrong TWICE in his last name alone!
Posted by alba
Golick picked first, with a 24-23 score.
ReplyDeleteGreeny, every the waffler, really felt that Pittsburgh will win, but just so he didn't put the "Greeny Curse" on the Steelers, his "official" pick was the Seahawks, so in essence, he really doesn't want us to win.
(yea, CitK, I just said "US"...we're in the freakin superbowl man, and I'm feeling like part of the team!)
Posted by alba
Neat post - found you while searching for results of the Madden Bowl, which I just blogged about at Hail To Pitt! .
ReplyDeleteI'm a born & rasied Pittsburgh'er currently living in metro Detroit. I snagged myself a ticket and I'll be at the game this weekend - can't wait.
I agree with you that most prognosticators are just jumping on the Pittsburgh bandwagon - Pgh is a great team, but one can not presume victory just because they've been underdogs for the past X weeks.
But I do believe the Steelers will win - and would I admit if I didn't? It will be close, which means the Steelers could easily lose on the last possession - they stink when they go into their prevent defense. I predict the Steelers in 24-17. Tough defense is the only way we win.
Posted by PittCaleb
the biggest problem for Pitts is...
ReplyDelete4 ways to win.
Sea blowout
Sea close
Pitts blowout
Pitts close
3 of those 4 are capable of happening...Pittsburgh has absolutely no chance to blow us out...none whatsoever...if they did, it would be a supernatural occurrence...not to knock them, just the Seahawks are too good for that...and their offense is explosive enough of scoring on them almost at will...
Big Ben is the key, our run defense is in the top 5...BUT most run defenses were shredded in the playoffs...ours wont be because our rotations are great, our LB coverage in the run and pass are superb...this is gonna come down to Big Ben...and his stats are misleading...defenses dropped several easy picks against him---hes a risk taker...and Seattle plays their defense to avoid the big play...
3 players, the ONLY 3 players im worried about: Polamalu, Cedric Wilson (yup you read that right), and Randel El (yes im excluding Ward...Trufant will shut him down like he did Smith...Trufant is just too hot right now on playng great, I dont see how it ends here)
(keep in mind the Ravens game 2 years ago, one of the best defenses of all time, a 3-4 defense, and we put up 49 points on them, 426 yards, and 5 TD passes...so the Dallas game this year is moot...PLUS our team was younger and even more inexperienced then)
I think Pittsburgh, and more importantly, the world, is gonna see what we've seen the WHOLE YEAR...this team is ridiculously consistent...
I just hope this is not the ultimate letdown, the only one us Seahawk fans have not experienced yet in the last 3 years...crazy things can happen...but I do feel we should win this game
Posted by adp
hey Pitts Caleb...might wanna tell Joey Porter to shut up, hes making Walter mad...
ReplyDeletethose who make Walt mad...
...they pay the price
theres a reason why he is secretly the best player in football (unless you pick 'skill positions')
33 - 17 Seahawks win. Cuz I'll win $500 with 3 NFC, 7 AFC at a bar board. NFC 8 AFC 9 also wins money. But I really think it will be 38 - 17.
ReplyDeletePosted by JoSCh
I disagree, ADP. I think any of those four are possibilities. A freak turnover or two in the first half could lead to a two-score (or more) lead for either team, which might force the team playing catch-up into abandoning the run too early, which makes the offense more predictable, and the spiral goes from there.
ReplyDeleteNow, I don't THINK this will happen. But I wouldn't rule it out as impossible, either.
Posted by Uff
ESPN has their picks posted now...
ReplyDeleteGroup total picks Steelers 23-9
Posted by Bluefoot
I made my prediction, but just to do a karma check I went to google map:
ReplyDeletehttp://maps.google.com/
check their satellite image of each team's respective home field...
Lo and behold... The Seattle picture was taken while a game was going on! A crowded stadium and the visting team is backed up into their own end zone. You can almost hear the crowd
Heinz Field... Empty. Not a soul in the place.
That tipped it for me
Seahawks 31
Steelers 17
Posted by maomatt
81-3 Take That Skip Bayless.
ReplyDeleteLets do a Pennsylvania 2 step 42-0 Hawks beat Pittsburgh just like they did Philidelphia,
No my real prediction i will go with 34-24 Seahawks win.
Big Ben can't handle the pressure it and Hines Ward can't handle the TRUF!!
Rob Schneider (i hope i spelled his last name right) said that the Seahawks would win by 3 grandslams 12 points on Yahoo Sports but i don't have the link.
Posted by meezy
well didnt mean it was impossible...just saying the odds of that happening are slim to none...keep in mind that the Jaguars forced a million TOs against us, and still didn't destroy us (i consider a beatdown 14 points or better)
ReplyDeleteoh, and the cats outta the bag, Maomatt nailed my prediction on the money...
Posted by adp
Pittsburgh's starting a new zoo in town, In week one we got Bengal's, week two the Colt's, week three we got Bronco's, and on the 5th of Feb, we get to add the Seahawk's to it!!
ReplyDeleteLIVE THE STEELERS NATION
p.s. 27 Steelers / 20 Seahawk's
Posted by Anonymous
Hey Bluefoot, I do have to say, I do love the picture of bigfoot you have! Are things crazy out there like here?
ReplyDeletep.s. this will be the best superbowl in history, and I am glad that you guys made it with us!
Posted by huba03
best super bowl in history? could be.
ReplyDeletesorry i cant say the same about the Steelers...i wanted Denver in the super bowl for the sole purpose of annoying the media with two teams they havent watched AT ALL this season.
huba---not to smack talk, but some advice...look up stuff about the Seahawks on your own, ignore the main media...we're in the super bowl and they still don't know the correct facts about this team...i could only hope the Steelers underestimate us like most of the world is
and tell Polamlu to suck up his injury---i dont feel like hearing 'Polamalu wasnt 100%' excuses clouding our victory, should we win.
Posted by adp
Hawks by 10
ReplyDeletePosted by bokonon
as a well documented skimmer, I can really appreciate that post Bok! short and sweet.
ReplyDeletePosted by alba
lol...im guessing thats along the lines of what ur wife said to u on your wedding night?
ReplyDelete(sorry couldnt resist the immature humor)
Posted by adp
Steelers...42 Seahawks..3,
ReplyDeleteput your money where your mouth is..
Seahawks 34 Steelers 13
ReplyDeletePosted by eastern_hawk
Joe Tafoya: 69.
ReplyDeletePittsburgh: 0.
Posted by Tomcat
Something is going to happen tomorrow. Seattle will win one for all. Go get them.
ReplyDeletePosted by Fixwhatsbroken Creative