The Wake

The Super Bowl turns forty this year and what better way to celebrate, than with a halftime show featuring The Rolling Stones, a band that’s been rockin’ for over forty years. In terms of on the field action, The Wake will show trends from the past and apply them to this year’s match up between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks.

The History

To understand what will likely happen in this year’s game, it is necessary to look at the past. Historically, the NFC has had a slight edge over the AFC, winning 21 of the 39 Super Bowls. However, teams from the AFC dominated recently and won six of the last eight Super Bowls. Also, the team that won the Super Bowl has had the NFL’s league MVP ten times. With these stats in mind, it’s time to breakdown the teams.

The Teams

Pittsburgh comes into the Super Bowl having won its last 7 games. During their current winning streak, Ben Roethlisberger has scored 12 touchdowns (nine passing, three rushing) and thrown only three interceptions.

The Steelers’ defense has been amazing this season as well. They have only allowed one running back to gain 100 yards (Edgerrin James). Their defense features two Pro Bowlers, Joey Porter and Troy Polamalu. These two players disrupted offensive game-plans all season. Pittsburgh’s 3-4 defense and their complex blitz packages will be able to put pressure on Matt Hasselbeck.

The Seattle Seahawks bring the NFL’s leading rusher (Shaun Alexander) who follows one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. The Seattle offense has five starters in the Pro Bowl this season.

The Seahawks’ defense is led by Michael Boulware and Lofa Tatupu. Tatupu is a rookie who has played like a seasoned veteran. He had four sacks, three interceptions and a team-high, 104 tackles.

The Party

Buy beverages early in the weekend because liquor stores are closed on Sundays in Minnesota. Don’t watch any of the pre-game festivities; by the end of them, you won’t feel like watching the game. But once the game begins, the Super Bowl is roughly five hours of constant entertainment.

If you’re not a football fan, put some money on the game. Yes, gamble. The reason is that whether its one dollar or one hundred, betting always makes the game more exciting. Finally, everyone can enjoy the multi-million dollar commercials that make us think, make us laugh and at times, confuse the hell out us.

The Prediction

My pick is the Seattle Seahawks. While the scenario has worked out so that Bill Cowher and Jerome Bettis can finally get their Super Bowl rings in Bettis’ hometown of Detroit, the Seattle Seahawks will walk out victorious. Matt Hasselbeck has proven critics wrong this postseason. He stepped up when league MVP Shaun Alexander left the game against Washington early with a concussion. Hasselbeck has thrown for 434 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions this postseason. He also ran for a touchdown. His play coupled with their rushing attack will be enough to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Seattle’s first Super Bowl appearance.