It's in the stars

Celebrities offer fearless forecasts of Super Bowl winner

Scripps Howard News Service

Friday, February 3, 2006

It's the big game as forecast by the big names.

For the 17th year, the Scripps Howard Super Bowl celebrity poll asks the rich and famous from movies, television, sports, politics and pop culture to predict the winner.

A star-studded sampling of predictions for the Super Bowl XL matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks:

BILL GATES, world's richest man: Seahawks.

JACK NICKLAUS, golfing legend: Pittsburgh 27-24.

SEN. JOHN KERRY, D-Mass.: Pittsburgh. It's going to be a high-scoring game. 31-28. Why? Five words: Pittsburgh's own Teresa Heinz Kerry.

SEN. JOHN McCAIN, R-Ariz.: Pittsburgh by 10.

ANDRE AGASSI, tennis star: Pittsburgh. It's hard not to get on the Pittsburgh train, isn't it? It seems like they have destiny on their side.

SASHA COHEN, Olympic figure skater: Seattle.

MARTINA NAVRATILOVA, tennis star: Seahawks 24-17. Because they have a better running game, because they will be so excited being there for the first time and because the Steelers will feel a lot of pressure wanting to win it for (Jerome) Bettis.

MARTINA McBRIDE, country star: Pittsburgh 31-10.

PLACIDO DOMINGO, opera star: Pittsburgh 31-21.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, NBA star: Pittsburgh 31-17, because it's Jerome Bettis' time!

KOBE BRYANT, NBA star: I'm such an Eagles man. Unfortunately, my Eagles aren't in it. No, you know what? Pittsburgh is in Pennsylvania.

LEBRON JAMES, NBA star: Pittsburgh by 17, because they are the best road team in the NFL right now.

MARIO LEMIEUX, former NHL star, Pittsburgh Penguins: Pittsburgh. It's the hometown team and I've become a fan.

BILL O'REILLY, TV host, Fox News Channel: Pittsburgh 24-17.

KEITH OLBERMANN, TV host, MSNBC: Pittsburgh. Ben Roethlisberger keeps getting better and better.

HALEY JOEL OSMENT, actor who has picked the past six Super Bowl winners: Pittsburgh 31-21.

BOB WEIR, Grateful Dead guitarist, 2004 Super Sage winner for being closest to predicting final score: I'm reluctantly picking Pittsburgh because brutal, blue-collar football almost always trumps high-end, sophisticated football. I do think it'll be a defensive game. 24-21.

ARNOLD PALMER, golfing legend, 2003 Super Sage winner: Pittsburgh 35-20. The Steelers have more depth, a great quarterback and "The Bus."

MICKEY ROONEY, actor: Pittsburgh 34-7. Great coach, great running backs and fullbacks.

PHYLLIS DILLER, comedienne: Pittsburgh is going to win by eight.

MAMIE VAN DOREN, legendary sex symbol: My fearless forecast is Pittsburgh 42-17.

ED ASNER, actor: Seattle 24-21. I think they're coming in to their own, I think they're hungry. They've been waiting for a long time - longer than Pittsburgh.

MISS AMERICA JENNIFER BERRY: Seattle 24-17.

MISS USA CHELSEA COOLEY: Pittsburgh 23-20. I can't root for the team that knocked my guys (Carolina) out of the Super Bowl.

RUSSELL JOHNSON, The Professor, Gilligan's Island: Seahawks, without a doubt, by six points.

DAWN WELLS, Mary Ann, Gilligan's Island: Seattle 24-21. I'm a University of Washington grad.

BOB COUSY, Hall of Fame basketball star: Pittsburgh has raised it to the next level. Seattle isn't tournament-tested. 17-10.

BOBBY THOMSON, former New York Giants baseball player who in 1951 hit the "Shot Heard 'Round the World": Pittsburgh 24-17.

RALPH BRANCA, former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher who threw the famous pitch to Thomson: Seattle 24-20.

MIKE ERUZIONE, captain of the 1980 U.S. Olympic gold-medal winning hockey team: Pittsburgh 24-21. They're so physical.

PICABO STREET, Olympic gold medalist in skiing: Pittsburgh 20-13. My mom would kill me if I didn't pick the Steelers.

AL OERTER, four-time Olympic gold medalist in discus: Seattle 17-10. They're due.

GARY STEVENS, Hall of Fame jockey: Seattle 31-17. I think they are the better team of the two.

KRISTINE LILLY, world-record holder for most international soccer games: Pittsburgh 24-17. I don't really know any of the players on the Seahawks.

JERMAIN TAYLOR, boxer, world middleweight champion: Pittsburgh 24-17. I fought twice in Pittsburgh while coming up through the ranks.

MARK CUBAN, owner, Dallas Mavericks/HDNet: Pittsburgh 28-17. When you have running, passing and the best defensive back in the history of the NFL, you are going to be tough to beat.

DICK VITALE, college basketball announcer: Pittsburgh 27-21. I'm a big fan of Notre Dame and I've always loved Jerome Bettis.

RYAN NEWMAN, NASCAR driver: Seattle 28-14. Seattle simply has the better team. There's a reason why Pittsburgh was the sixth seed.

MATT KENSETH, NASCAR driver: Pittsburgh always gets a lot of hype for running the football, but if you've watched these two teams play lately, Seattle runs the ball a lot more effectively. Seattle 20-17.

NATALIE COUGHLIN, Olympic gold medalist in swimming: Steelers 24-21. No team has ever made it to the Super Bowl from the last seed with every playoff game on the road. Very impressive!

NATE HOLLAND, 2006 Olympian, snowboardcross: Seattle, all the way baby! I was born and raised in the Northwest. I hope they crush Pittsburgh's Super Bowl dreams. 24-20.

SCOTT ADAMS, Dilbert cartoonist: Seattle, 35-24. The Seahawks, because their home field is closest to my home. If I've learned anything from sports fans it's that the team that's the nearest is the best one.

TY PENNINGTON, host, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: Pittsburgh 30-24.

RANDY JACKSON, judge, American Idol: Steelers by three. It is their destiny.

ANTHONY LaPAGLIA, actor, Without a Trace: I remember the Iron Curtain years back, and so I'm kind of pulling for Pittsburgh.

LAURA INNES, actress, ER: I have to go for Seattle.

JESSE L. MARTIN, actor, Law & Order: Pittsburgh 21-20, because of the defense.

TONY SIRICO, actor, The Sopranos: Seattle 24-21, because of their defensive backs.

WILLIAM SANDERSON, actor, Deadwood: Pittsburgh 31-17. I love Jerome Bettis, who reminds me of an 18-wheel truck looking for someone to hit.

MOLLY SIMS, actress, Las Vegas: Even though I'd like to see Seattle win because they've never even been to the Super Bowl before, I think Pittsburgh will ride the bus back home with the Lombardi Trophy! 20-17.

CHRIS WIEHL, actor, Love Monkey: Seattle 31-17. Seattle's explosive offense and hard-hitting defense will prove to be too much for Pittsburgh.

JUSTIN BERFIELD, actor, Malcolm in the Middle: Seattle 35-21. I am always the guy who goes for the underdog and they are really long overdue.

DAVID GALLAGHER, actor, 7th Heaven: The Steelers will win because of their quarterback. 24-21.

KEVIN SORBO, actor: Pittsburgh 31-21. I want the Seahawks but my gut says Steelers. They have the hottest team right now.

CHRIS KLEIN, movie actor: Pittsburgh 34-24. I would love to see Jerome Bettis win the Super Bowl in what may be his last season.

ISAIAH WASHINGTON, actor, Grey's Anatomy: Pittsburgh 27-17. I'm rooting for Jerome Bettis.

VINCE NEIL, Motley Crue lead singer: Pittsburgh 21-7. Toughest team, better defense.

JOAN JETT, rock star: Pittsburgh 31-14. Because I was born in Pennsylvania. I lived in Pittsburgh until I was 6. Go Steelers!

SUSAN ANTON, entertainer: The Steelers have been on fire these past few weeks, but in the end I have a feeling that the Seahawks are going to be triumphant in their first ever Bowl appearance. Seattle 31-28.

SCOTT TUROW, author: Pittsburgh 19-17. I guess I think they're a little sounder defensively.

CHRISTOPHER KENNEDY LAWFORD, author: Pittsburgh 27-24. I have been an AFC fan ever since the Patriots were the Boston Patriots.

SEN. MARIA CANTWELL, D-Wash.: The Seahawks have had an amazing season and fans have lived up to our legendary 12th-man status. I'm putting my money on the 'Hawks.

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER, R-Pa.: I agreed with (Terry) Bradshaw following the Steelers rout of the Denver Broncos when he said he didn't care whether it was the Seahawks or Carolina, the Steelers were going to (whip) them.

NEWT GINGRICH, former Speaker of the House: Pittsburgh 34-24. I was born in Harrisburg, Pa., and rooted for the Steel Curtain when they were dominant.

REP. JOHN MURTHA, D-Pa.: Pittsburgh 21-7. Why? Strength of the defense.

REP. TOM TANCREDO, R-Colo.: Steelers 27-16. If they beat the Broncos, they'll crush the Seahawks.

DR. JAMES DOBSON, Focus on the Family: Pittsburgh 33-21. Why? Demonstrated superior ability to run and pass - and the moxie to win.

DR. JERRY FALWELL, Moral Majority Coalition: Seattle. You can put your money on it.

TAMMY FAYE BAKKER MESSNER: Pittsburgh 28-21. Best coach.

GEORGE WALLACE, comedian: Pittsburgh 28-21. Because the hype is up for them because of Jerome Bettis. They're hot. But Shaun Alexander is going to put on a great show for Seattle.

LEROY NEIMAN, artist: Pittsburgh is on a roll but Seattle is putting together a dynasty. Seahawks 34-21.

ROB VAN WINKLE, aka VANILLA ICE: I am picking Seattle, even though Pittsburgh will be tough. I think this one will be an exciting game going all the way to the end - maybe overtime.

ROSHUMBA WILLIAMS, model/TV personality: I'd have to go with Pittsburgh 35-21. I was born in Pennsylvania and have to take it home.

PENN JILLETTE, Penn & Teller: Pittsburgh 21-17. My wife's family is from there and this is a cheap, painless way to get in good with them.

JUDY TENUTA, comedienne: The Steelers have the advantage, but the Seahawks have never won so I'm going to go for them. Besides, they have cuter butts. 24-21.

CARROT TOP, comedian: Pittsburgh 31-24. I would love to see "The Bus" win. And I would love to see the coach smile.