NEARLY A SWEEP COWBOYS WILL TAKE IT.

Byline: Associated Press 

Super Bowl picks by AP sports writers covering Sunday's game between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Dave Goldberg: The Steelers will beat the Cowboys for two reasons. The first is that nobody expects them to, leaving Dallas a bit too cocky. The second is Yancey Thigpen, their Pro Bowl wide receiver.

Had Thigpen held on to a last-second pass in the end zone at Green Bay, the Steelers would be coming in with an 11-game winning streak and the Cowboys would be favored by one touchdown instead of two.

Any team that should have beaten the Packers in Green Bay can stay with the Cowboys on a neutral field. Particularly when the Cowboys are cocky.

STEELERS, 29-28.

Barry Wilner: The Pittsburgh Steelers should have no trouble extending the AFC's futility streak to a dirty dozen. They've displayed no convincing evidence in the postseason that they can beat the Cowboys.

Pittsburgh has played well in spurts during the playoffs, particularly in the first half against Buffalo. But a spotty effort against an Indianapolis team that, despite its surprising run, doesn't measure up to Dallas in any area, bodes poorly for the Steelers.

To win, the Steelers must shut down Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and the rest of the formidable Dallas attack. It could happen on the ground, where Pittsburgh allowed 88 yards a game in 1995. It could happen in the air if Greg Lloyd and Kevin Greene can produce some pressure.

It won't. The Cowboys broke out of their funk at the end of the season and have been impressive in the playoffs. Their line is big, strong and can handle what the Steelers try defensively.

The Steelers will score some points; everybody does on Dallas. They won't score enough.

COWBOYS 31-17.

Hal Bock: Because Neil O'Donnell is not Terry Bradshaw and because Troy Aikman might be Roger Staubach, the Cowboys will beat the Steelers in the drive for five Super Bowl titles.

Remember that the Cowboys beat Philadelphia and Green Bay convincingly to get here. Remember that the Steelers almost let Buffalo off the hook and came ever-so close to losing to Indianapolis in their playoff games.

The Steelers are a nice team, not a great one. The Cowboys overcame controversy and adversity to win and they still have the core of the team that won two straight titles before losing last year.

Dallas becomes the first team to win three Super Bowls in four years.

COWBOYS 37-14.

Denne H. Freeman: The Cowboys won't beat the point spread of 13-1/2 points but they'll hang on to beat the Steelers in the best Super Bowl since the Giants-Bills.

Dallas has enough firepower to outscore Pittsburgh's production against a very average Cowboys defense.

COWBOYS 31-27.