It's Friday, which means, finally, Super Bowl week is nearly over. We're drawing closer and closer to the start of Super Bowl XLV (official start time is 6:29 p.m. EST), and ya know, actual football. But not before some Super Bowl predictions!
The Green Bay Packers remain 3-point favorites at Bodog (where you can also wager on Super Bowl prop bets, like how many times Fox will mention "Brett Favre," and how long it will take Christina Aguilera to sing the National Anthem), but ignoring the spread and just picking the game straight-up, SB Nation's NFL bloggers are split.
Joel Thorman of Arrowhead Pride is picking the Steelers, 27-24. The pro-Pittsburgh prognosticators also include Jason Brewer at Bleeding Green Nation, Brian Galliford at Buffalo Rumblings and John Bena from Mile High Report. The bloggers predicting a Packers' win include Brandon at Acme Packing Company (obviously; he's our Green Bay blogger, after all), Matty I at The Phinsider and Greg Knopping at Pats Pulpit who foresees a final of Packers 24, Steelers 20.
But enough about what educated football experts think! Who are the celebrities picking?!
The Scripps Howard News Service caught up with a few dozen celebs to get their thoughts and Super Bowl XLV predictions.
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, NBA star, Boston Celtics: Pittsburgh, 24-17. Big Ben is a friend of mine, has been for several years. He has regained his focus afterthe beginning of the season in turmoil.
If you say so.
MARK WAHLBERG, actor and producer: Not the Patriots, so I don't care.
RACHEL MADDOW, MSNBC host: The Patriots will rise from the dead andsurprise everyone.
DONNIE WAHLBERG, actor, "Blue Bloods": Green Bay, 27-20. The Packers playa similar style of game to the Patriots, which matches up well against theSteelers.
Wait. Donnie's a celebrity?