The Post-Gazette has a huge list of predictions by ESPN analysts, an overwhelming number of whom predict the Packers will win the 2011 Super Bowl. Their reasons for doing so vary from person to person (and there are some who don’t really matter, like former Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser – that scoreless innings streak was awesome, but I don’t care what he has to say about the Super Bowl). But here are a couple:
Tim Hasselbeck:
On paper I see so many areas where the matchup favors the Packers, like Clay Matthews on Flozell Adams or the Packers’ ability to put five legitimate wide receivers on the field. Green Bay is set up with a great opportunity to bring home another Lombardi Trophy.
Ryen Russillo:
The Steelers are so good against the run, but the Packers just don’t run the football, and they’re not going to here. They’re going to spread the Steelers out and make Polamalu as ineffective as he’s been in any game because when he’s in coverage it’s a problem.
Several analysts predict the Steelers to win as well, and those include some good ones, like Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge. Here’s Hoge:
Both defenses are outstanding but the Steeler defense is more seasoned and has more flexibility within pressures and coverage. The running game is going to be a factor in this game one way or another and the Steelers have the ability to control the tempo with theirs, and the Packers do not.