Super Predictions

The biggest game of my life as an NFL fan is nearly upon us. Who's going to win? How does the game break down? What's going to happen? Let's see. . .

 

Cardinals Offense vs. Steelers Defense

Both are among the best in the league. The Cardinals haven't faced a defense this talented. The Steelers haven't faced an offense this explosive. The Cards may have a slight advantage here, but I'm going to call it even.

Advantage: Push

 

Steelers Offense vs. Cardinals Defense

The Steelers' offense is average. The Cardinals' defense is playing great ball right now and has some scary playmakers. They have forced twelve takeaways and shut down some of the better offensive teams in the league.

Advantage: Cardinals

 

Kicking Game

Neil Rackers and Josh Brown are both excellent kickers. The Steelers have a slightly better punter than the Cardinals do. Rackers has more of an advantage over Brown, though.

Advantage: Cardinals

 

Special Teams Coverage

The Cardinals' kickoff and punt coverage tends to give up two bad returns per game. In a game that will be as close as this one figures to be. . .eesh.

Advantage: Steelers

 

Intangibles

The Cardinals have been playing the "No one believes in us" card quite well. Now that many people DO believe in them, and that so many fan bases are rooting for them, will they continue their magical run? I say yes. They're hungrier and so is their fan base.

Advantage: Cardinals

 

Prediction: Cardinals in a close one.

 

Bring on the Steelers!

Some Rivalry Advice

After last week's Arizona-Arizona State basketball game I dared to venture into the viper's pit known as The Commenting Zone on azcentral.com.  Wow.  All I can say is . . . wow.  Civility and logic seem to be a thing of the past on there.  Plus, the amount of people who just spew inane drivel is mind-boggling.  And I can't BELIEVE how many people on there try to be experts.

Look, I have no love for ASU at all.  AT ALL.  I plan on telling my children that they can go to any university whose chief color isn't maroon.  I have called them Scum Devils on a regular basis, and have occasionally referred to the institution as "Scum Devil High School," but of course it is all in jest.  I also have to know my audience.

Here are some helpful pointers to all posters in the comment zone.  I hardly expect many people to follow them, since, like I said before, civility is left at the door, but here goes.

1.  It is OK to call your rival school by its actual name.

Arizona fans, please refrain from spelling ASU with two esses.  Seriously.  It just looks dumb and makes you look like a buffoon.

Arizona State fans, "AU" stands for Auburn University, whom you haven't played in much of anything in your school's history.  Before you go saying "well, it's not the only university in Arizona," spare me.  It doesn't change the fact that ASU is a university, and is a fine institution at that.  All that the "AU" nonsense does is make it look like you have an inferiority complex about your favorite school.

2.  It is also OK to refer to them by their actual mascot name.

Look, like I've said before, I've referred to ASU as "Scum Devils" on several occasions.  But leave it out of posts.  It just looks dumb, and stops being funny pretty quickly.

ASU fans, calling UA the "Kitties" doesn't even show creativity.  It got old a long time ago.

3.  If your team has been a doormat for decades and is suddenly having a good season, you have no right to talk!

ASU has never won the Pac-10 Championship in men's basketball.  EVER.  ASU is also the only Pac-10 team to have never made the Final Four.  Furthermore, they have never advanced past the Sweet Sixteen since joining the Pac-10 in 1978.  They do have three appearances in the Elite Eight, but those came in 1961 (when they only invited 25 teams, not 64 like they do today), 1963 (again -- only 25 teams), and 1975 (when they invited 32 teams).  In the past 20 years, they have made the NCAA Tournament a grand total of three times.  They've appeared in the NCAA Tournament a grand total of 12 times in their program's history.

Arizona has won 13 Pac-10 Championships.  The last time they failed to make the NCAA Tournament was 1984, making 24 straight appearances (out of 27 overall), giving them the longest active tournament streak in college basketball -- and I know that this year, it looks like the tournament streak is in serious jeopardy.  They have made the Sweet Sixteen twelve times, the Elite Eight a total of eight times, the Final Four four times, the National Title game twice, and won the championship once.  Honestly, when one program is a doormat FOREVER and the other program has consistently won, and then in one season the roles reverse, trash talk rights have not been earned yet.

ASU fans, when the Devils get past a Sweet Sixteen, then you can talk SOME.  If they get to a Final Four, then you can start talking.  Until then, keep your mouth shut.

4.  When arguing about your team's merits in a particular sport, do not bring up another sport as a comeback.

ASU fans, if Arizona fans are taunting you about their basketball supremacy, mention your team's play this year.  DO NOT bring up the Rose Bowl or football.  It is irrelevant in the conversation.  All that does is make you look like a total moron.

Arizona fans, if ASU is taunting you about football, mention the fact that Arizona still has an overall edge in the all-time series.  Mention The Streak, how Arizona did not lose to ASU from 1982 to 1990.  Mention the win from this year.  DO NOT mention basketball.  Again, you'll just look dumb.

Mind these tips when posting and you'll avoid looking like a complete fool.  Thank you.