by: REX O’ROURKE
TAMPA – The big day is here.  Two weeks of hype is over.  We now know Mike Tomlin’s age to the day, the exact location of Big Ben’s motorcycle crash, how many groceries Mr. Warner bagged per hour, and the hourly condition of Hines Ward’s knee.  PLAY THE GAME ALREADY! Many factors enter into a Super bowl prediction. Although the Arizona O and the Pittsburgh D get most of the attention, I feel little things like field conditions and special teams will play a big factor.  The weather in Tampa is supposed to be sunny and a fast track definitely favors Arizona.  The Steelers play on the worst field in the NFL and in the worst conditions outside of Buffalo and certainly know how to “win uglyâ€.  If they were horses they’d be mudders. I’d eliminate that 7 point spread based solely on the weather and field condition factors. Forcing either team to start from inside their own ten yard line places more emphasis on kick coverage and punting.  Once again Arizona has the edge. In Pittsburgh’s favor is the fact that Willie Parker should be rested and ready and contribute just enough to keep pressure off of Big Ben.  Like Dan Marino, although not very mobile, Ben has the ability to slip the rush and buy time, and this will result in two or three BIG game changing plays.  Throw in one key Pittsburgh take away (probably a Warner fumble) and I see a close, if not classic, SB XLIII. Steelers 24, Cardinals 21.
 Enjoy the game,Â
Rex
WAIT. This just in! Rex’s Prop Bet Special, hot off the presses:
Bruce’s closing halftime song… go with Born To Run at 3/2
Over/under (1 min 54 sec) on Jennifer Hudson’s anthem - definitely over.
Gatorade bath color… yellow at 3/2.
Coin toss… TAILS.
Most NBC promos… 30 Rock at 5/2.
And finally, the number of cold guys consumed by this reporter by game’s end? My wife set the line at ten… take the over. Â
