Another five days and the big game is upon us. As one commentator pointed out, Seattle leads the NFL or is number two in almost every offensive statistical category. They were the top seed in the NFC and yet, playing the sixth seeded Pittsburgh Steelers, they are still four-point dogs. Talk of momentum aside, Seattle does get robbed of its usual load hometown advantage in Detroit, but still, this team can play. Base10 thinks there might be a tinge of market inefficiency here. Steelers fans are more numerous than Seahawk fans. This is not to put down the 'Hawks, it's just a nod to the fact that the Steelers have a national fan base, while Seattle does not. Now if fans are much more likely to bet based on sentimental reasons, the mere fact that there are more of them would tend to skew the line favoring Pittsburgh. Base10 can understand this. If the Jets were in the Super Bowl, Base10 would probably lay a few dollars on the game, regardless of the line. (Of course, he would do this
legally by flying out to Vegas or using Tradesports.com). He thinks this is what's happening here. The line is the only way to adjust for the imbalance of money on each side.

Mike Holmgren will join the ranks of coaches that have gone to the big game with two different teams. Parcells was one. Are there any others? If Seattle wins, He will be the only coach to have won with two different teams.

On the sentimental side in Pittsburgh, Jerome Bettis is returning to his hometown Detroit for what is likely his last shot at a ring. He is the sentimental favorite, of course. A Super Bowl ring will only add to the resume of this future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.

In other sports news, long-time Met Mike Piazza has signed a $2 million dollar, one-year deal with the Padres. While we certainly wish Mike well, we are startled to see him sign with an NL team as anything other than a DH. Then again, if he can get fifteen homers and catch sixty games, maybe they have something.

- posted by Base10 @ 8:12 AM