Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers Vs. Green Bay Packers Predictions

We are about two hours from game time. Time to get some thoughts on who will win and why. First, the staff of MileHighReport give their thoughts. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments! We'll have another open thread for the game:

Tim Lynch: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Green Bay Packers 24 - I wouldn't be surprised if either team wins, so if I had to choose one I'd have to go with the team that has been here before and knows what it takes to win the biggest game of the year. I secretly like the Packers more than any other team in the league (besides the Broncos of course), but I can't go against the best defense in football. The only thing I am certain of is that this is going to be one excellent football game!

Kaptain Kirk: Green Bay Packers 16 - Pittsburgh Steelers 13: Super Bowl XLV will come down to Field Goals.This is going to be a hard fought battle and trench warfare at it's finest. It won't be an edge-of-your-seat back and forth scoring affair and I expect the commercials will be more exciting than the game.

Troy Hufford: Pittsburgh Steelers 20, Green Bay Packers 17: I'm worried about the Packers running game. I don't expect them to be very effective against the Steelers front seven. As much as I'd love to see Aaron Rodgers and Donald Driver win a ring, I think the best defense in football wins this one... And the commercials won't be more exciting than the game.

Colby Mueller: Pittsburgh Steelers 28 - Green Bay Packers 24: This years Super Bowl is interesting to me and my pick could go either way. From one side of the ball I could say I think Green Bay will win based on the numbers of how well Rodgers plays in dome games. Also the Steelers are missing four starters on the line which could lead to a day by Clay Matthews. But on the other hand, the Steelers run defense will stuff Green Bays run game and we all saw this season how average Green Bay was without a run game. I think that could be the difference. One Turnover could make the difference.

Jeremy Bolander: Pittsburgh Steelers 28 - Green Bay Packers 17: In a contest closer than the score indicates. Their defenses are a draw, and their QB factors are even. Pregame blither-blather is pretty much equal for them, and while the Steelers may be missing the linchpin of their offensive line, the Packers have suffered equal or greater amounts of attrition throughout the course of the season. In the end, the Steelers have Been There, Done That, and I suspect they will do it again.

John Bena: Pittsburgh Steelers 31 - Green Bay Packers 27: In 2009 the Packers and Steelers met during the regular season. The results - the teams combined for over 900 yards, over 70 points. Ben Roethlisberger threw for over 500 yards himself. So much for defense. While I don;t expect that many points to be scored today, I do expect plenty of scoring. Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers are both playing at a high level - as are the receiving corps - and I think it is going to be hard for the defenses to slow them down.

While Super Bowl experience is likely overrated - see Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints in 2010 - there will be a moment during the game that Aaron Rodgers will realize he is playing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. That moment, in a game between two teams so evenly matched, could be the difference. Until a team other than the New England Patriots take down Big Ben and the Steelers I cannot bet against them.