Super bowl notes...

[DIRTYDOG1]

LAS VEGAS (AP) -Las Vegas oddsmakers aren't buying into the Arizona Cardinals, no matter how many times they win as underdogs this postseason.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were favored by 6 1/2 points in most sports books to win the Feb. 1 Super Bowl after beating the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday to set up the showdown for the NFL title, according to Las Vegas Sports Consultants.

``Beating Baltimore is a little more impressive,'' oddsmaker Jason Been said.

Las Vegas Sports Consultants provides betting lines for roughly 90 percent of sports books in Nevada.

The Cardinals - 45-1 longshots to start the season and 40-1 to win it all when the playoffs started - aren't getting much respect from oddsmakers but seem to be building a last-minute fan base among bettors, said Jay Kornegay, executive director of the race and sports book at the Las Vegas Hilton.

``I'm not sure how big this bandwagon can get, but it's growing by the minute,'' Kornegay told The Associated Press. ``The history of losing can really appeal to a lot of fans.''

Kornegay set the Hilton's line at 7 points, meaning Steelers bettors would need their team to win by more than one touchdown in order to collect.

The Cards - a No. 4-seeded NFC team playing in its first Super Bowl - are the first nine-win team to reach the big game since 1979, when the Rams lost to the Steelers. Arizona beat Philadelphia 32-25.

But even though the Cardinals have scored at least 30 points in each of three playoff wins against the Eagles, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons, oddsmakers largely feel they have yet to beat a defense as good as the one they face in two weeks.

``The AFC has a little more respect as far as the way they play power football,'' said MGM Mirage Inc. Race and Sports Books Director Jay Rood, who set lines in his books at 7. ``They just seem to be the better league at this point.''

Pittsburgh, which started the playoffs as the No. 2 AFC team behind the Tennessee Titans, had a first-round bye before beating the San Diego Chargers and Ravens.

``You got one of the more popular teams in the NFL versus a true Cinderella team, and that makes for a very intriguing Super Bowl this year,'' Kornegay said.

:wink:<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

 

[DIRTYDOG1]

Cards, Steelers have opposite histories

Arizona and Pittsburgh will play a historic Super Bowl in Tampa in two weeks: a team with a history as bad as any in the NFL against one that will try to win a record sixth title.

Pittsburgh opens as a 6 1/2-point favorite.

That's fine with the Cardinals, who have been laughingstocks forever and won all three playoff games as underdogs, including Sunday's 32-25 thumping of the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC title.

Arizona hasn't won a title since the NFL championship in 1947 and has had only 10 postseason games since meandering from Chicago to St. Louis and finally to the desert 21 seasons ago.

Still, it is impossible to write them off, mainly because of their 37-year-old quarterback, Kurt Warner, who owns two MVP awards and was the Super Bowl MVP with the Rams in 2000.

``I want to say Arizona Cardinals and Super Bowl in the same sentence,'' a jubilant Warner said. ``The Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl. How about it?''

Then there is Larry Fitzgerald, who used to practice in the same facility as the Steelers when he played at Pitt. In just three games, he has emerged as the best receiver ever in the postseason - with 419 yards, he broke the great Jerry Rice's record with the final game still to come.

``He's been here before,'' Fitzgerald said, referring to Warner. ``He's been where we're all trying to go. He's held that trophy up and we've leaned on him this whole postseason.''

Many of Pittsburgh's stars have been through this before, including Hines Ward, the MVP of the 2006 Super Bowl win over Seattle.

The Steelers' defense carried them past Baltimore 23-14 in the AFC title game. That's what it's been doing all season. The latest version of the storied Steel Curtain was the best statistically in the NFL and the most consistent.

Led by James Harrison, the defensive player of the year and another all-Pro, safety Troy Polamalu, it puts constant pressure on the quarterback. And that is where Warner is sometimes vulnerable. Injuries and turnovers cost him his job in St. Louis in 2002 and 2003 before he was shuffled off to the New York Giants and then to Arizona.

The Steelers have four title victories in six years during the 1970s and their fifth three years ago. No team has ever won six.

In an odd little twist, Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt has his roots with the Steelers, serving as offensive coordinator from 2004-2006, including the Super Bowl-winning team.

He was expected to get the Pittsburgh job when Bill Cowher stepped down two seasons ago. So was another Steelers coach, Russ Grimm, now Whisenhunt's right-hand in Arizona.

Instead, the job went to Mike Tomlin, who returns to Tampa, the city where he began his coaching career.

One other bit of cross-pollination.

In 1944, the Steelers and Cardinals were the same team - Card-Pit, combined into one because of World War II, when there weren't enough able-bodied men to fill out both rosters.

They finished 0-10.

They will finish a lot better this season, no matter what happens in Tampa.

:wink:

 

[DIRTYDOG1]

LAS VEGAS – Super Bowl XLIII doesn’t just pit Arizona against Pittsburgh. It’s also a matchup of the single biggest betting event in North American against tough economic times.

Every year, it seems, Nevada bookmakers predict the state will have its highest bet Super Bowl. Not this year, though.

“It will be interesting to see if the Super Bowl can overcome the economic times we’re facing,” said Jay Kornegay, race and sports book director for the Las Vegas Hilton. “It’s a question I can’t answer right now.”

Of the four possibilities with Sunday’s title matches, sportsbooks probably got the best matchup with the Cardinals and Steelers.

“No doubt we needed the Steelers in there,” Kornegay said.

The Steelers are one of the most public teams, hugely popular with recreational bettors. The oddsmakers at Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Pittsburgh minus seven with a total of 46 ½. The Hilton also opened the game at those numbers.

However, several places, including the Palms hotel, were down to 6 ½.

“I think seven is kind of an automatic take (with Arizona),” said Dan O’Brien, a linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants. “I think 6 ½ is the dividing line. If the line would drop to six that would be an automatic lay (with Pittsburgh).”

Early Sunday night money was on the Cardinals. This could be from sharps wanting to make sure they got at least a full touchdown. O’Brien didn’t anticipate the line climbing to 7 ½.

It remains to be seen if the public backs the favorite, which they often do. The Cardinals, though, have started to attract a following with their three-game playoff roll and exciting quarterback/wide receiver combination of Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald.

“We’re trying to project the popularity of the Steelers versus the appeal of the Cinderella team,” Kornegay said. “This is the one time where the line is made for the public and most of the time the public bets favorites.

“But from what I’ve seen, a lot of people are jumping on the Cardinals’ bandwagon.”

Despite a close proximity to Las Vegas, Arizona has never been popular with bettors in this town. The San Diego Chargers are, but not the Cardinals. This is just the Cardinals’ second winning season since 1984.

“It’s just because of their lack of success,” Kornegay said when asked why the Cardinals have never been a hit in Las Vegas. “The Cardinals have never been a winner.”

That may change if the Cardinals continue to get takeaways and Fitzgerald keeps making big plays. Arizona is 11-0 this season when winning the turnover battle. The Cardinals had a plus 26 turnover differential in their victories, compared to a minus 17 turnover differential in their last seven defeats.

Fitzgerald has been sensational in Arizona’s three post-season wins catching 23 passes for 419 yards and five touchdowns. Warner has been sacked just three times in the playoffs.

Of course, the Cardinals haven’t had to go against Pittsburgh’s top-ranked defense. The Steelers finished No. 1 in most of the key defensive categories, including scoring defense, total defense and pass defense. They also placed second in run defense and second in sacks with 51.

Given Pittsburgh’s dominant defense and Arizona’s high-flying aerial attack, making a total wasn’t the easiest thing.

“The total was tricky” O’Brien said. “But Super Bowl inflation mitigates Pittsburgh’s defense.”

The Steelers hadn’t had a total listed above 39 in their past eight games. They could be without star wideout Hines Ward, who suffered a knee injury against Baltimore in the AFC title game.

O’Brien said oddsmakers recognize Ward’s importance to the Steelers, but did not make an adjustment on their opening number because of his injury.

:wink:

 

[DIRTYDOG1]

SUPER BOWL HISTORY

XLII 2008 Giants 17 +12 Patriots 14 55, UNDER Glendale, AZ
XLI 2007 Colts 29 -7 Bears 17 47, UNDER Miami, FL
XL 2006 Steelers 21 -4 Seahawks 10 47, UNDER Detroit, MI
XXXIX 2005 Patriots 24 -7 Eagles 21 46.5, UNDER Jacksonville, FL
XXXVIII 2004 Patriots 32 -7 Panthers 29 37.5, OVER Houston, TX
XXXVII 2003 Tampa Bay 48 +4 Raiders 21 44, OVER San Diego, CA
XXXVI 2002 Patriots 20 +14 Rams 17 53, UNDER New Orleans, LA
XXXV 2001 Ravens 34 -3 Giants 7 33, OVER Tampa, FL
XXXIV 2000 Rams 23 -7 Titans 16 47.5, UNDER Atlanta, GA
XXXIII 1999 Broncos 34 -7.5 Falcons 19 52.5, OVER Miami, FL
XXXII 1998 Broncos 31 +11 Packers 24 49, OVER San Diego, CA
XXXI 1997 Packers 35 -14 Patriots 21 49, OVER New Orleans, LA
XXX 1996 Cowboys 27 -13.5 Steelers 17 51, UNDER Tempe, AZ
XXIX 1995 49ers 49 -18.5 Chargers 26 53.5, OVER Miami, FL
XXVIII 1994 Cowboys 30 -10.5 Bills 13 50.5, UNDER Atlanta, GA
XXVII 1993 Cowboys 52 -6.5 Bills 17 44.5, OVER Pasadena, CA
XXVI 1992 Redskins 37 -7 Bills 24 49, OVER Minneapolis, MN
XXV 1991 Giants 20 +7 Bills 19 40.5, UNDER Tampa, FL
XXIV 1990 49ers 55 -12 Broncos 10 48, OVER New Orleans, LA
XXIII 1989 49ers 20 -7 Bengals 16 48, UNDER Miami, FL
XXII 1988 Redskins 42 +3 Broncos 10 47, OVER San Diego, CA
XXI 1987 Giants 39 -9.5 Broncos 20 40, OVER Pasadena, CA
XX 1986 Bears 46 -10 Patriots 10 37.5, OVER New Orleans, LA
XIX 1985 49ers 38 -3.5 Dolphins 16 53.5, OVER Stanford, CA
XVIII 1984 LA Raiders 38 +3 Redskins 9 48, UNDER Tampa, FL
XVII 1983 Redskins 27 +3 Dolphins 17 36.5, OVER Pasadena, CA
XVI 1982 49ers 26 -1 Bengals 21 48, UNDER Pontiac, MI
XV 1981 Oakland Raiders 27 +3 Eagles 10 37.5, UNDER New Orleans, LA
XIV 1980 Steelers 31 -10.5 Los Angeles Rams 19 36, OVER Pasadena, CA
XIII 1979 Steelers 35 -3.5 Cowboys 31 37, OVER Miami, FL
XII 1978 Cowboys 27 -6 Broncos 10 39, UNDER New Orleans, LA
XI 1977 Oakland Raiders 32 -4 Vikings 14 38, OVER Pasadena, CA
X 1976 Steelers 21 -7 Cowboys 17 36, OVER Miami, FL
IX 1975 Steelers 16 -3 Vikings 6 33, UNDER New Orleans, LA
VIII 1974 Dolphins 24 -6.5 Vikings 7 33, UNDER Houston, TX
VII 1973 Dolphins 14 -1 Redskins 7 33, UNDER Los Angeles, CA
VI 1972 Cowboys 24 -6 Dolphins 3 34, UNDER New Orleans, LA
V 1971 Baltimore Colts 16 -2.5 Cowboys 13 36, UNDER Miami, FL
IV 1970 Chiefs 23 +12 Vikings 7 39, UNDER New Orleans, LA
III 1969 New York Jets 16 +18 Baltimore Colts 7 40, UNDER Miami, FL
II 1968 Packers 33 -13.5 Oakland Raiders 14 43, OVER Miami, FL
I 1967 Packers 35 -14 Chiefs 10 NL Los Angeles, CA

:wink:

 

[benchsplinters]

Cards can't be counted out

Super Bowl XLIII has to be considered a moment where the underdog can once again have a chance at winning. Last year it was the Giants and this year it could be the Cardinals. I can't see the Cards NOT covering the 7-point spread. Super Bowl betting will go heavy on the Steelers, but it's the Cards that are playing well on both sides of the ball. Pitt's offense is up and down, but not Kurt Warner and the Cards.

It's not always the better defense that wins, it's the defense that creates more turnovers that prevails -most of the time. 11 turnovers in three playoff games by Arizona's defense is the main reason they are in Super Bowl XLIII.

 

[TheChief+]

Super Bowl XLIII has to be considered a moment where the underdog can once again have a chance at winning. Last year it was the Giants and this year it could be the Cardinals. I can't see the Cards NOT covering the 7-point spread. Super Bowl betting will go heavy on the Steelers, but it's the Cards that are playing well on both sides of the ball. Pitt's offense is up and down, but not Kurt Warner and the Cards.

It's not always the better defense that wins, it's the defense that creates more turnovers that prevails -most of the time. 11 turnovers in three playoff games by Arizona's defense is the main reason they are in Super Bowl XLIII.

I don't think Arizona will win but I think they will put up a great fight.

 

[Snookslayer]

I don't think Arizona will win but I think they will put up a great fight.

Historically, most SuperBowls are blowouts. Probably because its usually one of the better teams in the league vs a mediocre team that squeaked in. That's certainly the case this year.