Good afternoon, readers of greatness. As the NFL took last week off, so too did the WAQ. But fear not, we are back and better than ever, previewing the big game. Obviously the Steelers are the big favorites. As I type, the current line is Steelers (-7). Personally I like the Cardinals money line, but do I like them to win straight up? We’ll see.

The Steelers have the experience edge, having won the Super Bowl in 2006 in Detroit. However, they got the benefit of apparently having Tim Donaghy ref the game. It basically all comes down to whether or not the high-flying Cardinals’ offense can score on what statistically is one of the best defenses in NFL history.

The Cardinals come into the Super Bowl averaging 31.67 ppg in the playoffs. Larry Fitzgerald has been an absolute monster, with 419 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns, including a couple absolutely spectacular catches. What makes his postseason even more impressive is he’s had to do it while Anquan Boldin has been hampered by injuries. Speaking of Boldin, even though the spat with he and his offensive coordinator has faded, no one really knows how he will react in the Super Bowl after having a hissy fit during and after the NFC Championship game. I understand that Boldin was upset about not getting the ball, but cmon you’re on the same team as Larry Fitzgerald, what do you think is going to happen? Boldin is a great possession receiver, and I’d take him on the Vikings in a heartbeat, but he is just not as good as Larry Fitzgerald, so why would he think he needs the ball that often? I happen to think Boldin is fantastic and a bit underrated, which just goes to show you how great Fitz really is.

The Cardinals offensive line has played fairly well in the playoffs, but I wonder if they can keep it up. They generally pass block pretty well, but their run blocking is very suspect. As has been said ad nauseum here, neither Edgerrin James nor Tim Hightower offers much in the way of a running back. In fact, the spotty o-line play combined with the weaknesses of the two running backs means that the Cardinals should go to almost a Texas Tech style offense, throwing it most downs, and having their “running game” be screens and swing passes to JJ Arrington, who I think is their best option at RB.

And how can you talk about the Cardinals without mentioning Kurt Warner? I would pay billions of dollars to have him be the quarterback of the Vikings next season. Playing in the dome would allow Warner to hold onto the ball well, and he would have a good offensive line and running game to support him. Warner has gone through quite the career: As writer and fellow Fighting Sioux Chuck Klosterman recently said, Kurt has been old three times in his career. He was old when he first came into the league with the Rams after having played in the Arena Football League and working in a grocery store, then he showed his age in New York when he had problems holding onto the ball. And now he is old again as a rejuvenated QB in Arizona. It seems that the problem in his career was clearly the New Jersey Giants coaching staff.

I don’t want to fawn all over Warner like the media seems to, but his character warrants mentioning. Generally I absolutely hate it when players thank God after they win a big game or an award or something of that nature. It’s a bit insulting to think that God is focused on a football game. I also don’t like it when players try to jam their beliefs down everybody’s throats and trying to publically declare how full of faith they are. But Kurt Warner goes about it the right way. He’s very comfortable talking about his faith, but doesn’t go out of his way to try to lecture people about his faith. He lets his actions do the talking, and that is very refreshing. The fact that Kurt Warner feels his faith very naturally and doesn’t force it is commendable. (Hopefully Tim Tebow reads this paragraph).

Pittsburgh’s offense is, to say the least, not as good as Arizona’s. Ben Roethlisberger in my mind is one of the most overrated quarterbacks in football, and a colossal waste of $100 million. His offensive line hasn’t been much help either, surrendering approximately 1 billion sacks this season. Sure Ben is terrible, but very few quarterbacks could play well behind that kind of offensive line. Hines Ward’s injury could prove problematic for the Steelers, as even if he plays on Sunday he will most assuredly be hampered by his injury and it will take some pressure off the Cardinals secondary. They will be able to focus on doubling Santonio Holmes and taking his big play ability out of the game, a big boost to that defense. It will be up to Willie Parker to control the ball and keep the Cardinals offense off the field.

Defensively the Steelers are miles ahead of the Cardinals. Led by defensive POY James Harrison, the Steelers became the first defense since the Jack Youngblood era LA Rams to go 14 games into a season without allowing 300 yards of offense. The Steelers linebacker crew, led by Harrison and featuring players like James Farrior and Larry Foote, is one of the best units in all of football. The Steelers secondary has also been very good, led by safety Troy Polamalu. Stay tuned, as we’ll see Polamalu later in the WAQ. The secondary vs. Cardinals receivers will be a fantastic matchup to watch, and one that could determine the outcome of the game. The Steelers haven’t faced a truly great passing offense this year, so that only heightens the intrigue.

My pick? I’ve picked against the Cardinals in every round, and I’ve finally learned my lesson. Cardinals win it 21-10.

-The WAQ would like to give a quick shoutout to the 2008 college football national champion Utah Utes, along with this plea: Somehow can we PLEASE somehow recombine the WAC and Mountain West so that it features Boise State, Hawaii, TCU and Utah and then give that conference the Big East’s automatic BCS bid?

-College basketball three pointers update.

3 point percentage: 34% in 2009, 35.1% in 2008

3 point shots as percentage of total shots: 33.1% in 2009, 34.4% in 2008

-Flacco watch! Let’s check out what Joe Flacco has been up to since the Ravens got eliminated, shall we?

[stares hole into wall]Flacco………………………….

p1_polamalu

Oh, he’s still staring down Troy Polamalu. Way to keep an eye on him, Joe.

When the 2008 college basketball season began, everyone divided the country into two groups: North Carolina and everyone else. But I think there is only one group: everyone else. Last season there were 5 elite teams: Memphis, UNC, UCLA, Texas and the national champion Kansas Jayhawks. When they played well you could put Tennessee in there as well. But this year none of those teams are as good as any of the six above. Even UNC, who lost basically nobody from last year’s team, has taken a step back in my opinion. They seem much easier to guard this year, and for a Roy Williams team that is a problem. Speaking of Williams, you know that UNC will falter in a game in the tournament solely because of Benedict Williams’s coaching. It’s just up to their opponent to beat them.

I know everyone must groan when I talk college hockey, but this point has to be brought up. This weekend Michigan and Michigan State played in an intense rivalry series. Both schools are better known for their exploits in football and basketball, but at heart both are hockey schools, so naturally tensions run high. Perhaps you recall the story of Steve Kampfer, the Michigan defenseman who was assaulted by a Wolverine football player suffering head and neck injuries. He had just got back with the team, when this happened:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zslb7M83YIU]

So to recap: Steve Kampfer legally checks Corey Tropp. Then his teammate Andrew Conboy, just out of the penalty box, punches Kampfer from behind right in the fucking neck. If that wasn’t classless enough, Tropp slashes Kampfer while he was lying on the ice. That kind of garbage is absolutely despicable.

Both Tropp and Conboy have been suspended the rest of the season, but if I were MSU head coach Rick Comley I would kick them off the team permanently. Thanks to Kampfer’s earlier injuries, that could very easily have been a situation where the young man could have been paralyzed. Then, as a little cherry on top, Comley called the Wolverines classless because a couple players -gasp- swore at him in the handshake line. So, let’s get this straight: swearing is bad, punching people from behind and slashing them while on the ice is ok. Got it. I think for the rest of the year I’m going to have to refer to Michigan State as FYS. (might not want to watch that one with the sound on.)

Edit: Conboy has left school. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass, cocksucker.

Lets hit the links:

Former ND Miss Basketball isn’t, um, well let’s just say isn’t eligible for the award anymore. (Bismarck Tribune)

I feel sorry for this woman. (CNN)

Sad sad story about a guy who got fired. (CNN)

There are some pretty weird people on Hawaii’s most wanted list. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)

Bracketology, college hockey style. (The College Hockey Blog)

Interesting Twitter accounts. (Urlesque)

More people who hate their roommates. (College Humor)

Your babe of the week: Which is better, then or now?

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