Thursday, February 02, 2017

Super Bowl LI Pick: Guns Blazin'

Alas, it appears my pre-season prediction of a Patriots-Packers Super Bowl, while close, was not meant to be. Got one of two right last weekend, bringing me to 6-4 for the playoffs and making this final prediction relatively meaningless. I mean, if you don't count the fact that I picked the Patriots to win it all at the beginning of the year. Again.

The past year in the sporting world has seem some unlikely and historically long-suffering franchises finally win championships. So if you're buying into whatever worked for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Cubs working here, then the Atlanta Falcons are about to win their first title. That's certainly what I'm rooting for. Do I think that's what will actually happen though?

I've always had some kind of unexplained soft spot for pro sports teams in Atlanta. For the most part, it's just the Braves thanks to my childhood admiration of Hank Aaron and Dale Murphy. But I always rooted for the Falcons when they weren't playing the Bears and I remember doing the "Dirty Bird" with friends when the team last got to the Super Bowl what feels like just a few years ago but was actually nearly two decades.

We've been treated to what, one competitive game in these playoffs? The NFL is overdue for a barn-burner. Let's hope this season ends on a high note. 

New England Patriots over Atlanta Falcons

As frightening as that Atlanta offense can be, Bill Belichick with two weeks to prepare is going to figure out something to slow that Falcons team down. I'm guessing Atlanta will not be able to stop the Pats as many times as New England either gets a punt or even forces a turnover. We'll get our scoring, but the Patriots will end up scoring more.

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