Don’t Forget About Pitt’s Wide Receivers When Handicapping Super Bowl 45

Football betting handicappers should not forget about Pittsburgh’s receiving corps when making their Super Bowl pick against the spread for the Feb. 6th game.

The Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh’s opponent for Super Bowl 45, has the more respected wide receiving corps in this game, mainly because of how deep they are and QB Aaron Rodgers, but Pitt’s pass-catchers are no joke.

In fact, some football fans regard Hines Ward as a Top 5 wide receiver in the league and Mike Wallace turned into a fantastic deep threat for QB Ben Roethlisberger during the season.

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Super Bowl XLV

Where: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas

When: Feb. 6th, 2011

TV: FOX

Current Super Bowl XLV Betting Lines

Pittsburgh Steelers +3 -120 O 45 ½ -110

Green Bay Packers -3+110 U 45 ½ -110

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Wide Receivers

Analysis: Pittsburgh’s wide receivers haven’t been given their just due for most of the season. Although Hines Ward is well-respected by defensive coordinators, the Steelers’ wide receiving corps is not the reason that football handicappers believe Pitt has a shot versus the NFL Super Bowl line spread.

Most gamblers are looking to Pitt’s rushing game. Although the Steelers’ running game is ultra-important, the passing game will have be as equally important as the running game if the Steelers are going to cover the odds in the sportsbook.

To simply disregard Pitt’s wide receivers could lead to a mis-handicapping of the actual game. That doesn’t often happen to truly astute pigskin players, but when it comes to the Super Bowl, so much unprofessional money is bet on the game that regular weekend handicappers could get caught up in looking only at a couple of stats in determining the team to back.

My feeling is that eventually Pittsburgh will end up as the favorite in this game. Partly, I suspect, because in the coming days more and more will be written and said about their stellar receiving corps.

Hines Ward caught only 59 passes this season for 755 yards and only 5 touchdowns, but he shines in the Super Bowl. Mike Wallace caught 60 passes during the regular season for 1257 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Wallace can obviously stretch the field for the Steelers in Super Bowl 45 and has to be considered a major Super Bowl proposition long shot to win the games MVP ala former stretch the field WR Pitt, Santonio Holmes.

Pitt’s tight-end, Heath Miller, is regarded as one of the best in the NFL and had 42 catches for over 500 yards and 2 touchdowns this season. It all starts with Big Ben Roethlisberger, of course. Big Ben never puts up flashy numbers during the regular season but he is undefeated in Super Bowls with two Lombardi Trophy victories on his resume.

The Super Bowl XLV betting line for the February 6th game has gone down from Green Bay -3 to Green Bay -2 ½. I have to believe that one of the reasons Super Bowl bettors are jumping all over Pitt is because a closer look is being taken at their wide receiver corps.

Those pigskin handicappers that haven’t made up their minds yet, and that should be about 80% to 95% of the gamblers out there, should remember Pittsburgh’s wide receivers when making their wagers and take a hard look at how Pittsburgh’s pass-catchers might affect what defenses that Green Bay employs in the game.

The information will only help handicappers make the most logical decision come game day.

Super Bowl betting odds are up in the sports book! Log on and bet on Super Bowl XLV!