It’s 1:20 p.m. as I begin my final blog before the big game. It’s absolutely beautiful outside. PFW roomie Eric Edholm, who has worked his butt off this week, is taking a well-deserved power nap as I sit at a desk pounding away with my final predictions for SBXLIII. Thankfully, Eric’s snoring is down a few amps. 

As for me, well, I’m just ready to get it on, friends. In our PFW pre-Super Bowl issue, I predicted a final score of Steelers 31, Cardinals 20. I wrote that I suspected the Arizona defense would implode in the second half the same way it did against the Eagles in the NFC championship, when it allowed three TDs on three straight possessions. 

Of course, last year I predicted the Patriots would win rather handily over the underdog Giants, because I thought their offensive line would be more than up to the task of handling the Giants’ pass rush, and I couldn’t have been more worng. 

My thoughts at the moment? Well, the last I saw, the spread was at seven points, with a total number of 46.5. Back home I’ve been involved all season in a handicapping pool with my longtime buds. We all start off with $20,000 of fake money and make our weekly wagers. Parlays. Teasers. The works. At the moment, I am in third place with $46,000 after hitting on a three-team parlay two weeks ago – Arizona, the over and (thanks to Troy Polamalu) the Steelers. 

Yesterday, I made my final pool pick: a $20,000 2-team parlay on the Steelers and the under, which goes against my PFW 31-20 prediction. I am now thinking more along the lines of Steelers 25, Cardinals 17. I just think defense will be more of a factor than I originally predicted. 

Just for fun, here’s one last little prediction. Every year I like to do a prop bet on the first player to score points in the Super Bowl. Three years ago, I actually had money on Seahawks WR Darrell Jackson – a $20 buc wager with odds of 8-1. Sure enough, Jackson did appear to start the game’s scoring with, I believe, an 8-yard TD catch, only to have it nullified by what I will always maintain was a very bogus offensive pass-interference call. 

This year? If I had some disposable income, which I don’t, I’d throw a few bucks on Steelers TE Heath Miller, who I think might emerge as a key offensive weapon for the Steelers. You heard it here first, friends. 

To echo the words of Eric, who just did his final pre-Super Bowl blog before taking his nap (the snoring is getting louder!!!!!), we all appreciate you reading our efforts and hope you’ve enjoyed our content, which I know in my case has been a little bit on the quirky side.  

This has always been a true labor of love for me -- even when my computer betrays me!!!! Here’s hoping for a great game – and a rollicking halftime show by the Boss!!!!!!! 

I might be back for a blog or two after the game, depending on the progress I make on my Post Super-Bowl print assignments.