But I can't let Superbowl Sunday go by without my pick
First off, I'm suprised to see so much action on TB. One thing I didn't understand though, is that with all the Tampa action, the line is still going up.? That tells me that no matter what... Vegas wants the Tampa Bay $.
MY OPINION
Oakland seems like the easy play at 3 1/2, 4 1/2, whatever it is. Look at the points they've put up during the playoffs. You look at this game and say, "Hell, Oakland will win by at least 10....won't they?
Here's my reasoning for taking the points.......
Oakland is too 1 dimensional.
TB is too good of a defense to let them play a one dimensional (passing) offense like they're accustomed too. Garner is a helluva RB but he only had 7 rushes last week. Garner, Wheatley, Crockett...whoever will have to establish a running game to make the passing game effective and I don't think Callahan will try to do that.
Gruden's Team????
You may have heard people saying that Tony Dungy's "fingerprints" are all over this TB team...yeah, maybe they are but Chucky's prints are also all over the Raiders. They may have a different way of calling plays, but Jon built this Raider Nation over the past 4 years and he, more than anybody, knows this team. Even if you don't believe that... Callahan is Gruden's boy. Chucky brought him up through the ranks and knows his mind like no one else does.
Kicking Game
Even though Gramatica is a much smaller man, he has the better leg. Sea bass has improved this year but Martin, barring a hyperextension after making a PAT, is the better kicker.
Receivers
Brown, Rice, Porter....that looks easy. I say differently.
The difference in the receiving game will come with who's defending them. If I'm Gruden, I matchup Keyshawn vs Charles Woodson all day. I hate to say it, but Woodson isn't 100% and can't stay 4 quarters with KJ. Oakland has the better receivers but who will get open easier....I say TB's receivers.
Al Davis
If not for no other reason...because the NFL hates Al Davis. If you believe in "the fix" then this is the game the league would put it on!
That being said.....
TB+4
TB ML
UND 44
GL
TB 19
OAK 17
First off, I'm suprised to see so much action on TB. One thing I didn't understand though, is that with all the Tampa action, the line is still going up.? That tells me that no matter what... Vegas wants the Tampa Bay $.
MY OPINION
Oakland seems like the easy play at 3 1/2, 4 1/2, whatever it is. Look at the points they've put up during the playoffs. You look at this game and say, "Hell, Oakland will win by at least 10....won't they?
Here's my reasoning for taking the points.......
Oakland is too 1 dimensional.
TB is too good of a defense to let them play a one dimensional (passing) offense like they're accustomed too. Garner is a helluva RB but he only had 7 rushes last week. Garner, Wheatley, Crockett...whoever will have to establish a running game to make the passing game effective and I don't think Callahan will try to do that.
Gruden's Team????
You may have heard people saying that Tony Dungy's "fingerprints" are all over this TB team...yeah, maybe they are but Chucky's prints are also all over the Raiders. They may have a different way of calling plays, but Jon built this Raider Nation over the past 4 years and he, more than anybody, knows this team. Even if you don't believe that... Callahan is Gruden's boy. Chucky brought him up through the ranks and knows his mind like no one else does.
Kicking Game
Even though Gramatica is a much smaller man, he has the better leg. Sea bass has improved this year but Martin, barring a hyperextension after making a PAT, is the better kicker.
Receivers
Brown, Rice, Porter....that looks easy. I say differently.
The difference in the receiving game will come with who's defending them. If I'm Gruden, I matchup Keyshawn vs Charles Woodson all day. I hate to say it, but Woodson isn't 100% and can't stay 4 quarters with KJ. Oakland has the better receivers but who will get open easier....I say TB's receivers.
Al Davis
If not for no other reason...because the NFL hates Al Davis. If you believe in "the fix" then this is the game the league would put it on!
That being said.....
TB+4
TB ML
UND 44
GL
TB 19
OAK 17
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