Picking the Packers:
John Anderson, SportsCenter anchor and Green Bay native: 30-24: “The Lombardi Trophy’s rightful home is 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay, Wisconsin.”
Michelle Beadle, Co-host, SportsNation: 17-10: “A defensive powerhouse show. Aaron Rodgers has a lot of people to prove wrong.”
Jon Barry, NBA analyst and former Milwaukee Bucks player (1992-95): 27-17: “They remind me of the Giants a few years ago. They are a hot team and Aaron Rodgers is a beast.”
Chris Berman, Host, Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown and NFL PrimeTime: 24-23: “A classic matchup so why wouldn’t we have a one-point game? Late heroics on both sides.”
Aaron Boone, Baseball Tonight analyst: 23-20: “It’s the start of a great run from a great Packer team.”
Tedy Bruschi, NFL Live analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion: 31-27: “Defenses dominate first half, yet get worn down in the second. The bulk of scoring will be done with the Packer defense finding a way to get to Roethlisberger and force turnovers.”
Colin Cowherd, Host, ESPN Radio’s The Herd: 31-27: “Quarterback duel is a draw. Packers defense actually comes up big in this one.”
Trent Dilfer, NFL Live analyst: 23-20: “The big five become the big six, with Aaron Rodgers finding his rightful home among the elite quarterbacks.”
Mike Ditka, Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown analyst: 21-17: “The Packers’ strengths will match up better against the Steelers’ strengths and their receivers will match up well with the corners and they’ll be fine.”
Herm Edwards, NFL Live analyst: 27-24: “The Lombardi Trophy goes back with the team that he once coached. Why not?”
Mike Golic, NFL Live analyst and co-host of ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning: 24-21: “I picked them to win at the beginning of the year. It’s about me looking good.”
Jon Gruden, Monday Night Football analyst: 27-20: “Aaron Rodgers, Dom Capers and Mike McCarthy’s finest hour.”
Tim Hasselbeck, NFL Live analyst: 23-17: “On paper I see so many areas where the matchup favors the Packers, like Clay Matthews on Flozell Adams or the Packers’ ability to put five legitimate wide receivers on the field. Green Bay is set up with a great opportunity to bring home another Lombardi Trophy.”
Orel Hershiser, Baseball Tonight and Monday Night Baseball analyst: 27-21: “I love Aaron Rodgers and how the game will be played in a controlled environment. The Packers are based on speed and Pittsburgh on power. It will be a fast track favoring the Pack.”
Gary Horton, ESPN Scouts Inc.: 28-24: “When this offense plays on a fast field, they’re a different unit and with the weather not a factor on Sunday they will be at full speed.”
Kenny Mayne, Sunday NFL Countdown contributor: 31-24: “I’m expecting big things from Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews is every bit as handsome as Fabio.”
Matt Millen, Monday Night Countdown analyst: 27-24: “The difference will be in Green Bay’s offensive line, their ability to protect.”
Chris Mortensen, NFL senior analyst: 30-27: “This game truly has a chance to be a classic. The expectations of offensive fireworks and a duel of great quarterbacks should come with a warning — there are game-changing players on both defenses. In the end, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers under a roof will bring back the Lombardi Trophy to Green Bay.”
Andy North, ESPN golf analyst and Wisconsin resident: 21-17: “It has the makings of being a really good game, but it’s certainly not always that way. I’m going with the Packers.”
Sal Paolantonio, NFL correspondent: 28-27: “Green Bay comes back to win in a thrilla.”
Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints head coach and guest analyst: 34-20: “Aaron Rodgers has the time to throw and will spread out the Steelers’ defense.”
Ryen Russillo, Scott Van Pelt Show co-host: 28-21: “The Steelers are so good against the run, but the Packers just don’t run the football, and they’re not going to here. They’re going to spread the Steelers out and make Polamalu as ineffective as he’s been in any game because when he’s in coverage it’s a problem.”
Bill Simmons, ESPN.com columnist: 37-27: “The Packers pulled a fast one on us this year. They probably should have been a 14-win juggernaut, but injuries and bad luck knocked them down to the wild card. I’m not going against Aaron Rodgers indoors, not this year, anyway.”
Adam Schefter, NFL Insider: 28-24: “Green Bay blew out Atlanta in the playoffs and at that time Aaron Rodgers commented on how much he loves playing indoors – which is where Sunday’s game will be.”
Mark Schlereth, NFL Live analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion: 27-23: “The Green Bay Packers will play with little personnel – three, four and five wide. They will spread the Steelers out and take away what they do best which is physical hard-nosed football.”
Sage Steele, SportsCenter anchor: 28-20: “So much of the talk has been about Aaron Rodgers, and rightfully so, but his numbers wouldn’t be anywhere close to what they are without the stellar play of his offensive line. I do love this Steelers team, especially considering the experience factor in the Super Bowl, but I am going with my gut…the Packers!”
Michele Tafoya, Monday Night Football reporter: 31-24: “The Steelers have the experience and a great defense, but the Packers are peaking at the right time. Aaron Rodgers has been playing phenomenal football.”
Mike Tirico, Monday Night Football play-by-play commentator: 26-20: “Aaron Rodgers and their receivers will be able to do enough against the Steelers secondary.”
Steve Young, Monday Night Countdown analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion: 31-27: “In the Super Bowl I expect both to play their best and if that’s the case, that’s the score.”
Jeff Van Gundy, NBA analyst: 27-17: “They’ve proven they can score on a fast track.”
Darren Woodson, NFL Live analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion: 31-24: “The Green Bay Packers will say to the Vince Lombardi Trophy, ‘There’s no place like home, Vince.’”
