Guest analyst: Jerome Bettis

Experienced receivers give Raiders the edge

Jerome Bettis has a unique perspective on Sunday's Super Bowl. The Pittsburgh Steelers running back played against both the Raiders and Bucs this season. The Steelers defeated the Bucs 17-7 and lost to the Raiders 30-17. Bettis is in San Diego and took time out this week to give the Times his perspective on Sunday's game.

After playing them both, I think Oakland offensively creates a lot of problems for Tampa. Although Tampa is the one team that really has a good chance of stopping them, I really think that (Oakland's) passing game is going to be a little too much to stop.

I think it's going to be a good game. It's going to be a lot better than people think. But I think at the end, Tampa just won't have enough to get it done.

I think one of the key matchups is (Oakland) left tackle (Barry Sims) against Simeon Rice. But the Tim Brown matchup is going to create a lot of problems because you don't know where he's going to be. And (Jerry) Porter is definitely going to create mismatch problems because Ronde Barber goes in the slot and his athletic ability will get him by, but the problem becomes where does your second defender go? Does he go over to Jerry Rice? He should because of the productivity (Rice has had). Then Tim Brown is a problem because the third cornerback is going to have to cover one of the best receivers in the game.

As for the Raiders' experience, I think it's going to play a huge factor in terms of them coming out poised. I think you can come out early and shoot your gun and, for lack of a better word, get tired in the fourth quarter. And I think that may cost Tampa.

Oakland is going to win by 10, that's my prediction.