11 Picks for the Super Bowl, Steelers vs Cardinals
Published Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 12:01:00 PM

This is it. The end of my season-long experiment of using 11 different people and methods to predict one crucial NFL game every week. I'm not sure exactly what we learned from this, but my analysis in all its small sample size glory will come when I do the final tallies after the Super Bowl.

For now, and for the last time this season, we're making our picks. The line on this game is Pittsburgh -7, but we're all just going to pick the game straight up.

  1. Accuscore favors Pittsburgh.
    Accuscore. (8-12 on the season) Accuscore, which bases its prediction off of tens of thousands of statistical-based computer simulations, likes the Steelers here, 68 percent to 31 percent. As always, one percent is missing (which makes zero sense here, as it's impossible for the Super Bowl to end in a tie).

  2. Former NFL star Eric Allen. (7-13) Every week I wail on Eric Allen for picking whatever team is favored. Every week I say that next season, I'm going to find a better ex-NFL player to pick games. Did Allen prove me wrong this week and go against the grain?

    Nope. He's obviously going with the Steelers.

  3. Random number generator. (5-15) I use Random.org's coin flipper, heads is home team, tails is away. In odd numbered years, the NFC team is designated the home team for the Super Bowl so, for this method, heads is Arizona, tails is Pittsburgh. The coin came up heads, meaning this method goes to the Cardinals.

  4. Homeless guy outside my office. (8-12) He wasn't sure, but I pressed the issue and he's going with the Steelers. I was just happy that he managed to be so reliable that I never had a problem tracking him down to get his pick in any of these 21 weeks.


  5. A steel worker beats out a cardinal any day.
    Battle of the mascots. (12-8) Cardinals and steel workers are not natural enemies. And while a cardinal could peck a steel worker's eyes out, in the end, I think a human wielding a blowtorch, sledgehammer or anvil takes out a sweet little bird every day of the week. This goes to the Steelers.

  6. Adam, the early '90s fan. (11-9) "Why do you keep asking me about the Phoenix Cardinals? I'm never going to pick them. They're terrible. The Steelers have Neil O'Donnell, Barry Foster, that defense. Versus who? The only person I can name is Aeneas Williams and he's way overrated. Steelers in a blowout."

  7. Fatter offensive line. (11-9) Pittsburgh's offensive line is large, at 1,621 total pounds. Arizona's line is a bit smaller, at 1,578 total pounds. So this one also goes to the Steelers.

  8. A model who may or may not know football. (12-8) Karmen, who's tied for first place, sent me a very poetic "Hmm Arizona" this week. So her final pick is the Cardinals. If she's right, she wins outright, because the other two contenders for the top spot both went with Pittsburgh.

  9. Just picking the home team. (9-11) The home team pick is a weaker method for the Super Bowl... because, ya know, it's at a neutral site... but technically it's the Cardinals, so we're going to go with them.

  10. "Sports Illustrated" legend Peter King. (12-8) Peter King hasn't been great during the playoffs. He's going with the Steelers, 24 to 21. He also sees the MVP being Willie Parker. (???)

  11. My pick. (9-11) Two weeks ago, for Eagles-Cardinals, every single method except just picking the home team and my pick went Eagles. And the Cardinals pulled it out. They've been doubted every single round and every single time they've won. I know they're an underdog but this is the NFL. And stranger things have happened. Almost weekly this season. So screw it. I'm dancing with the one who brought me and picking the Cardinals.

Next week, I'll break down the final standings. It's been a great season!

This list was published on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 12:01:00 PM under the category NFL Picks.
It currently has View Comments.

Did you enjoy this list?
11 Points is a one-man operation that relies on word-of-mouth & repeat readers.
So please consider sharing this list using the social media icons in the box, and/or joining the 11 Points mailing list, Facebook fan page and Twitter feed.


11 Picks for NFL Week 13, Steelers at Patriots

11 Picks for NFL Week 14, Redskins at Ravens

11 Picks For 2009 NFL Week 9, Steelers at Broncos

11 Picks for 2009 NFL Week 12, Seahawks at Rams

11 Picks For 2009 NFL Week 4, Jets at Saints

Archive of all NFL Picks lists

11 Points Live Blog - 2010 Emmy Awards
Published Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 06:57:00 PM under the category TV

11 Acronyms Whose Dirty Meanings Have Usurped Their Clean Meanings
Published Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 11:00:00 AM under the category Dating & Sex

11 Stars of The Expendables, Ranked By On-Screen Ass Kicking
Published Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 11:00:00 AM under the category Movies

11 Very Unfortunate Mistakes On TV News Graphics
Published Friday, August 20, 2010 at 11:00:00 AM under the category News & Politics

11 Thoughts On the WWE After Attending Monday Night Raw
Published Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 11:00:00 AM under the category Sports

11 Famous Sony Products, Ranked From Worst Failure to Biggest Success
Published Monday, August 16, 2010 at 11:00:00 AM under the category Web & Tech

Full Archive

11 Points is comprised entirely of (theoretically) humorous 11-item lists covering a giant swath of topics.

It's composed entirely by this stern-
faced goon to the right. His name
is Sam. Screw Flanders.
(advertisement)

Click Here
11 Points on Twitter
interaction, news, randomness

11 Points on Facebook
community, forum, public affection

11 Points RSS
instantaneous, confusing to the elderly


11 Points Mailing List
updates, contests, exclusives

(advertisement)


Friends, Bloggers and Well-Wishers
(Meaning they wish me no specific harm.)
Angie Greenup
blogarama.com
Bro Bible
Cobra's Casket
Comedy.com
Cracked.com
Don Chavez
Gorilla Mask
Jared's Cube
John Stone
Morning, Wood
Neatorama
Newser
OMG Blog
Panda Smash
Patrick Stack
Paul's Pond
Reality Blurred
Regretful Morning
Ritu B Pant
Smarty Panties
Wine and Gold Rush
Wise Brother Media
Wow, My Date Sucked!


11 Points is a collection of exhaustively-researched, meticulously-written, theoretically-humorous 11-item lists, covering topics ranging from TV and movies to the Internet and video games to food and dating to politics and race relations.

It's all written by Sam Greenspan, a Midwest-born, classically-trained journalist who now tries to make a dollar out of 15 cents in Los Angeles. (It's hard to be legit and still pay the rent.)

Read more about 11 Points and Sam here.

For information about reprinting 11 Points content, or for quotes/interviews for your newspaper, magazine, website, TV program, or radio show, contact Sam via e-mail at