Pros' Super Bowl predictions weren't far off the mark

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Kenny Perry lost out on his Super Bowl prediction, but he got a pretty good consolation prize.

When Super Bowl Sunday rolls around each year, there's no shortage of predictions as to what the outcome will be.

On paper, it looked as though it would be the Pittsburgh Steelers putting a whooping on the Arizona Cardinals like Tiger Woods put on the field at the 2000 U.S. Open.

Thankfully for all of us, the games aren't played on paper.

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Sure, the Steelers -- as difficult as it is for this New England Patriots fan to write -- were partying it up Sunday night after a 27-23 win for an NFL-record sixth title in franchise history, which had to be more than satisfying for the TOUR's biggest Terrible Towel waver, Jim Furyk.

As part of the build up to the big game, PGATOUR.COM was lucky enough to get an astounding 57 players to weigh in with their predictions.

Of the 57, 26 had the Steelers hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, which left 31 in favor of the Cards. It might have been the only place in the world where Pittsburgh was the underdog.

Coincidentally, the PGA TOUR just so happened to be in Phoenix last week for the FBR Open. Coincidence? I think not. The TOUR guys aren't dummies, especially when it comes to facing the rowdies at the daunting par-3 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale.

Nick Watney said the Steelers would win 24-17, but his reasoning was sure to save him from a boo-fest at No. 16.

"I think Pittsburgh is going to win, but I want Arizona," Watney told us. "I think Pittsburgh is just too good, all around. I'd like to see the Cardinals win because I enjoy pulling for the underdog, and I like watching Larry Fitzgerald."

Surprisingly, Pittsburgh-area native Rocco Mediate was rather diplomatic with his prediction.

"I don't follow it enough to know scores, but coach Wiz (Ken Whisenhunt, Cardinals head coach) is a good buddy of mine so I have a big dilemma," Mediate said. "I want Pittsburgh to win, but I'll be really happy if he wins. I think it would be really cool.

"He really should have gotten the Pittsburgh job a couple years ago, sorry. No disrespect to (Mike) Tomlin (Pittsburgh's head coach), but he was ready, he was groomed for that job. He and Russ Grimm did a great job, and he got turned down and now, just look at him. It's funny that they're playing the Steelers.

"I can't lose. If one wins, I'm happy, if the other wins, I'm happy. It would be cool for him to win but the Steelers are so tough on defense, and Big Ben is so steady. It'll be tough for coach to win, but I can't wait to see what happens."

Rookie Matt Bettencourt was almost the most impressive in assessing the game. He correctly predicted the winning score, but incorrectly predicted the winning team.

With that, Lucas Glover takes away the bragging rights from Super Bowl XLIII. Glover, a Pittsburgh fan, had the Steelers winning 27-21.

"I'm a Steelers fan," Glover said. "I have been my whole life. My grandfather, Dick Hendley, played for the Steelers in the 1950s. He was a blocking back in the old single-wing formation. Traditionally, when it is defense against offense, the defense usually wins. Pittsburgh's defense is pretty good I'd say."

What about Kenny Perry? Aside from the Steelers, he had the most Super Sunday of all, edging Charley Hoffman in a three-hole playoff at the FBR Open to earn his 13th career win and the 10th in his 40s. That brings Perry within a touchdown and a successful extra point from his goal of 20 career victories.

Well, he didn't weigh in on our poll, but his attire spoke volumes as the Kentuckian went with the Cardinals-red shirt all weekend long, making Perry one of the few so-called Cardinals fans in the Phoenix area Monday morning with a smile on his face despite the outcome of the big game.

T.J. Auclair is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the PGA TOUR.