How can you be the "underdog" when everyone expects you to win?

On Monday I was ready to jump on the Steeler's bandwagon and talk exclusively about "the Steel City toughness", "underdogs", "David and Goliath", Randy Moss being a premadonna and how the Pats can't run the rock to win a ball game. But, as it turns out...there is absolutely no room left on the bandwagon. From ESPN analysts to no-name-guarantee-making Steeler's CBs the Pitt wagon is so over crowded that the only thing left for it to do is bust at the seams.

Why am I the one playing devils advocate when I say..."Moss is still the best WR in the league" and "the Pats are clearly a better team"? Why am I the only one mentioning that Mike Tomlin is a rookie head coach who has already been out-smarted by folks in the desert? Isn't this the same team that missed the playoffs last year and then lost their best LB, the very same team who lost to the lowly Jets somewhere in the swamps of Jersey?

For me the Pitt/Pats game is simply a painful catch 22...I wanted everyone to hate the Pats. Hell, I spelled their name Patriots* for 3 weeks. I got what I wanted, football fans everywhere outside NE hate the Pats. The hate then became an obsession which has caused pundits collectively to blow NE's minor flaws out of proportion. America loves hearing about "the blue print" to beat the Patriots, the low red-zone efficiency and the lack of rushing yards piled up. Blinded by minor flaws and love for the "underdog" we expect the Steelers to win this game. As far as Vegas is concerned the Pats are still the "favorite" but it sure doesn't feel like it.