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Your 2013 Super Bowl Guide

Chris Shellcroft — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 18:24:35 +0000

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

What: Super Bowl XLVII

Who: Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers

Where: New Orleans Superdome, kickoff at 3:30 on CBS

Odds: 49ers (-4), Over/Under 48

Super Bowl Drinking Game: FanSided.com

Complete Coverage of Ravens: Ebony Bird

Compete Coverage of 49ers: Niner Noise

50,000 Super Bowl Simulations Tab 49ers As Champions

Chris Shellcroft — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 17:01:53 +0000

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Can’t wait until Sunday to know how the Super Bowl will go? Or are you like me and your only rooting interest is directly tied to the amount of money you’re prepared to lose with every bet you’ve made on Super Sunday?

No matter your level of interest in the game you might want to have an idea how things will unfold so as to save yourself the trouble of chasing your bad bets with even more degenerate prop bets. The prop bets we’ll breakdown tomorrow.

Today let’s talk about the big game. Specifically let’s talk about PredictionMachine.com’s 50,000 simulations of Super Bowl XLVII all of which indicate the San Francisco 49ers will defeat the Baltimore Ravens by the final score of 28-21.

But that’s just the tip of this betting iceberg. Statistical analysis whiz Paul Bessire developed and built the Predictalator a mathematic construct too complex for this gambling degenerate to understand. But I do know success when I see it and Bessire has correctly picked seven of the last nine Super Bowl winners.

Not just that but the Predictalator has even generated a box score for Sunday’s clash. Obviously it’s impossible to account for flaps such as injuries or even wardrobe malfunctions but in Bessire’s estimate Colin Kaepernick (who could have/should have been a Raider) is the favorite to win the MVP award on average going 17 of 28 for 231 yards, throwing for one TD while rushing for 38 yards on 6 carries.

Now keep in mind nothing is guaranteed. Don’t come crying to me on Monday if your bets leave you with the need to get some serious OT from your boss in February. That’s a YP, not an MP. None the less 50,000 simulations agree that there is 67% chance the 9ers will win, a 60% chance they’ll also cover the -3.5 spread and a 54% chance the game will go over its total. Bet at your own risk and enjoy the game responsibly. Be sure to get all your info now from PredicitonMachine.com.

Oakland Raiders will Rely on Palmer and Passing Game in Baltimore

Jim Ling — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 20:43:40 +0000

Hopes were high to start the season in Oakland. Hue Jackson had brought a bully’s swagger back into the East Bay. After the exciting addition of a new GM and a young coach, Raider Nation was ready for the post season. How could the Raiders fail to make a playoff run? The offense was coming off a red hot season lead by explosive running back Darren McFadden, the once weak and feeble defense gained the advantage of having two veteran corners with something to prove, and a defensive minded coach to lead this squad in stopping the run. However, the Football Gods had other plans for the Raiders. Two games into the season the Raiders once feared run game was exposed as a fraud, compliments of Offensive Coordinator Greg Knapp. The season of the offense was immediately thrust onto the shoulders of Carson Palmer. Palmer faced the almost impossible task of keeping up with opposing offenses who confidently stomped on the Raider’s injury plagued defense.

As is the cruel nature of the NFL, the Raiders must travel to Baltimore and face a real playoff contender. The Ravens running game is not hindered by an insane offensive coordinator, the passing game is supported by a solid offensive line, the defense is built around stopping the run, and the secondary doesn’t crumble like Michael Huff when he tries to tackle. With that said the Ravens are a beatable team. Their quarterback Joe Flacco makes Palmer-like mistakes in the clutch and the defense has also been bitten by the injury bug. The Raiders will have to be able to move the ball offensively with Taiwan Jones getting the start at running back.

With the injuries to Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson, the Raiders find themselves in a rough situation. They had been clinging on to life in the AFC West with a crippled defense, and now must deal with a just as crippled offense. The Raiders will most likely go to a no-huddle pass happy game right out of the gates. Once again Carson Palmer will be given the responsibility of throwing the ball 40-60 times against this Ravens defense. Taiwan Jones will also have a chance to show himself as a NFL running back. With any luck Taiwan Jones will come out playing like he has something to prove, but this contest will most likely be decided by the arm of Carson Palmer.

A loss on Sunday against a Baltimore Raven’s team will be the final nail in the Raider’s coffin. This is a must win game for Oakland. The Raiders will have to earn this one on the road as they travel to the east coast to face the Ravens. It wont be easy by any means, but if they find a way to pull off a win then they will keep themselves clinging to life in the ever changing AFC West.

Aug 25, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Taiwan Jones (22) during the game against the Detroit Lions at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE