Cards 6½ underdogs in Super Bowl

[one...two...tree 2,762]

by Oskar Garcia

Las Vegas oddsmakers aren't buying into the Cardinals, no matter how many times they win as underdogs this postseason.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were favored by 6 1/2points in most sports books to win the Feb. 1 Super Bowl after beating the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday to set up the showdown for the NFL title, according to Las Vegas Sports Consultants.

"Beating Baltimore is a little more impressive," oddsmaker Jason Been said.

Las Vegas Sports Consultants provides betting lines for roughly 90 percent of sports books in Nevada.

The Cardinals - 45-1 longshots to start the season and 40-1 to win it all when the playoffs started - aren't getting much respect from oddsmakers but seem to be building a last-minute fan base among bettors, said Jay Kornegay, executive director of the race and sports book at the Las Vegas Hilton.

"I'm not sure how big this bandwagon can get, but it's growing by the minute," Kornegay told The Associated Press. "The history of losing can really appeal to a lot of fans."

Kornegay set the Hilton's line at 7 points, meaning Steelers bettors would need their team to win by more than one touchdown in order to collect.

The Cards - a No. 4-seeded NFC team playing in its first Super Bowl - are the first nine-win team to reach the big game since 1979, when the Rams lost to the Steelers. Arizona beat Philadelphia 32-25.

But even though the Cardinals have scored at least 30 points in each of three playoff wins against the Eagles, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons, oddsmakers largely feel they have yet to beat a defense as good as the one they face in two weeks.

"The AFC has a little more respect as far as the way they play power football," said MGM Mirage Inc. Race and Sports Books Director Jay Rood, who set lines in his books at 7. "They just seem to be the better league at this point."

Pittsburgh, which started the playoffs as the No. 2 AFC team behind the Tennessee Titans, had a first-round bye before beating the San Diego Chargers and Ravens.

"You got one of the more popular teams in the NFL versus a true Cinderella team, and that makes for a very intriguing Super Bowl this year," Kornegay said.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/...-superodds.html

Edited January 19, 2009 by Mister Fancypants

[Yoink 7]

The line will change as people start betting Arizona hard.

We do a playoff fantasy draft after the regular season to determine the draft order for next season and I still have Boldin going.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The line will change as people start betting Arizona hard.

We do a playoff fantasy draft after the regular season to determine the draft order for next season and I still have Boldin going.

This is what really has me fired up to watch the Superbowl. The Cards aren't just the underdog, they were the joke team of the NFL (a lot of it had to do with Bill Bidwell as the team owner). I really despise Bidwell for threatening to move his team if the state didn't build him a stadium, but I'm happy to see the players and the coach working so hard and being so determined to do the impossible...which is what they've done so far. Even if they don't win the Superbowl, they have far exceeded anyone's expectations.

[Jasman0717 9]

Go underdogs

[Yoink 7]

The line will change as people start betting Arizona hard.

We do a playoff fantasy draft after the regular season to determine the draft order for next season and I still have Boldin going.

This is what really has me fired up to watch the Superbowl. The Cards aren't just the underdog, they were the joke team of the NFL (a lot of it had to do with Bill Bidwell as the team owner). I really despise Bidwell for threatening to move his team if the state didn't build him a stadium, but I'm happy to see the players and the coach working so hard and being so determined to do the impossible...which is what they've done so far. Even if they don't win the Superbowl, they have far exceeded anyone's expectations.

indeed, including mine

But now the element changes when talking about 1 game. Warner can win.

[almaty 19]

kurt warner.....enuff said

[one...two...tree 2,762]

kurt warner.....enuff said

...and Fitgerald. That guy could catch a fish with his teeth without getting wet.

[almaty 19]

oh yeah....

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I don't think 6 1/2 pts is bad for an opening spread. The Steelers are going to be heavy favorites, I think. I think the spread will widen a bit by game day.

[dalegg 143]

I think the Cards present some problems for Pittsburgh. The quick accurate release of Warner with his skilled receivers is something the Steelers haven't had to deal with this season. The Blitz won't be as affective with them as it was with other teams. They won't be able to run against them but that doesn't matter.

Pittsburgh's offense on the otherhand is nothing special so it won't be that big of a deal for Arizona to manage. I like Arizona in this one. Fitzgerald is too good.

David vs Goliath. Finesse vs Brute Strength.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think the Cards present some problems for Pittsburgh. The quick accurate release of Warner with his skilled receivers is something the Steelers haven't had to deal with this season. The Blitz won't be as affective with them as it was with other teams. They won't be able to run against them but that doesn't matter.

Pittsburgh's offense on the otherhand is nothing special so it won't be that big of a deal for Arizona to manage. I like Arizona in this one. Fitzgerald is too good.

David vs Goliath. Finesse vs Brute Strength.

One of the sports analysts was saying that for the Eagles, the Cards gave them a match up problem. If Warner can get the pass protection he needs, I think the Cards have a real chance of an upset. Fitzgerald has been amazing in the last two games that I've seen.