The Fantastic Four - Super Bowl Edition
by Michael Cooper
Radio Director/Senior Writer
1/31/09

The Fantastic Four sells out to Kurt Warner and the Cardinals…

Wow, after compiling a 7-2 record in the first two weeks of the playoffs we now stand at a humbled 7-5 overall in 2009. It was our worst week ever with Jeff Thitoff of the Columbus Dispatch picking the Steelers and laying six points as our only winner on Championship weekend (Ouch). Michael Abromowitz and I went down, taking the under in both games that went flying over, and Paul just believed a little too much in the magic of Donovan McNabb - forgetting the trick was for the receivers to catch his passes.  

Well, now we come to our final picks of the year. Do to the necessity of needing four picks we opened it up to the first half lines as well as the overall game. Plus, as an added bonus for the big game, we also cast our picks for the top gambling propositions available at Nevada Sports Books this weekend. Enjoy the Super Bowl and next week I’ll be back with a wrap up column boasting of our big 4 team Super Bowl parlay win and revealing which member of the Fantastic Four was the best prognosticator in the World this past season.  None of us consult with the others on our picks but boy did we all come together on the idea of The Cardinals covering the spread.

Arizona +7 for the game - Jeff Thitoff, Columnist with The Columbus Dispatch and Football Expert Guest Contributor
I'm not saying Arizona will shock the world, but the Cardinals are certainly good enough to be within a touchdown of Pittsburgh. Whisenhunt knows how to attack the Steelers, having been a coach there. I also like the way Arizona's offense has clicked lately, and I think the fact that Boldin is healthy will be a huge plus for the Cardinals. Look for a higher scoring game, and closer than the odds makers anticipate.

Cardinals/Steelers over 23.5 points First Half - Paul Eide Fantasy Football Director / Senior Writer / Radio Host
It takes 3 TD’s and a field goal between them in the first 30 minutes to win so obviously you know I think this game is going to be high scoring.  I predict a back and forth game with the Cards prevailing 28-24 in the end. Whisenhunt knows that defense better than anyone, outside of the Steelers organization, in the entire NFL. Whisenhunt has even employed a similar 3-4 style since coming to Arizona, so I think Kurt Warner and Co are prepared for the blitz schemes they are about to see… as prepared as any team could be.
 
The Steelers offense has sputtered at times, especially if opposing defenses force them into predictable passing situations. Big Ben has shown he can at times be careless with the ball over the last two seasons, and I think the Cards are able to force 2 or more turnovers from him.
 
Cards win, and suddenly the Bidwell's look like geniuses!

First Half Cardinals +4 - Radio Director / Senior Writer Michael Cooper 
This week Paul Eide and I spoke with Jets Linebacker, Calvin Pace, who spent 5 years with the Cardinals before leaving this season because he was tired of not making the playoffs – Oops! Our interview is posted here on the site and in it Calvin talks about how Ken Whisenhunt changed the mentality of the team and made it possible for him to finally show off his playing ability, which Calvin translated into a 22 million dollar guarantee with the Jets. He also spoke reverentially about what kind of person Kurt Warner is and, after that conversation, I was a believer in Arizona. Calvin picks the game 27-21 Cardinals and who am I to disagree.  Look for the Cardinals to come out fast just like they did against Atlanta, Carolina, and Philadelphia.  The Cardinals +4 in the first half is a Fantastic Four lock!

Cardinals/ Steelers Under 46.5 for the game - Michael Abromowitz
In 18 games, the Steelers’ games have only had a combine score greater than 46 points 4 times, and two of those games were 47 and 48 points.  The Steelers usually play low scoring games, and whenever a game is between an offensive and defensive power, I usually go with the defensive team dictating the game.  The Cardinals are a great offense, but even if they win I have a hard time predicting them scoring more than 28 points against a solid Steelers’ defense. 

Ok here’s our bonus propositions from the Las Vegas sports books that just add to the Super Bowl experience…

Odds	Coop	Paul	Michael	Jeff
over / under Larry Fitzgerald Catches  6.5	Over	Over	Over	Over
Total Receiving yards for Larry Fitzgerald over/under 93.5	Over	Over	Over	Over
over/under Hines Ward 5 Catches	Under	Under	Under	Over
over/under Hines Ward Receiving Yards 66.5	Under	Under	Under	Over
Will the First score be a TD or FG	Touchdown	Field Goal	Touchdown	Field Goal
Which player will score the first TD of the game (passes go to receivers.QB's can only score on a run)	Anquan Boldin	Edgerrin James	Tim Hightower	Larry Fitzgerald
over/under Willie Parker rushing yardage 80.5 (remember screens are passes)	Over	Under	Over	Under
over/under Edgerrin James rushing yardage  42.5	Under	Over	Over	Over
over/under Ben Roethlisberger  passing yards  238 1/2	Over	Over	Over	Over
over/under Kurt Warner passing yards 255 1/2	Over	Over	Over	Over