Expert picks: Who wins Super Bowl XLVII
Like always, our NFL experts agree to disagree on which team will come away with a victory in Super Bowl XLVII.
Just as it must be hard to go against your brother in this epic clash, it's also difficult to go against your brethren with three colleagues favoring San Francisco, and three others picking Baltimore. We'll let you cast the tie-breaking vote for Sunday's game in New Orleans.
And it case some of you might be questioning our choices or football expertise, we've included our original Super Bowl predictions from our Sept. 5 edition previewing the NFL season. Of the six teams we thought would make it to New Orleans, two of them did, but no one picked the perfect combination.
Mike Imrem
Ravens 24, Niners 23
Comment: Yeah, like I have enough guts to pick against retiring Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. No way. Struggling 49ers placekicker David Akers will miss a short field goal with no time remaining in regulation. “Yeah,” he'll explain, “like I have enough guts to beat Ray Lewis in his last game. No way.”
My preseason pick: Packers over Patriots
Bob LeGere
Ravens 24, Niners 20
Comment: As sick as I am of Ray Lewis and his phony sanctimony, it appears the Ravens are on a mission from God. They won't win this game because of Lewis, though. Joe Flacco, Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith and Ray Rice will have more to do with the outcome. However, Colin Kaepernick is good enough to win it for the Niners.
My preseason pick: Niners over Texans
Barry Rozner
Ravens 31, Niners 27
Comment: Niners are the better team, but Baltimore just beat two superior teams. Besides, after picking the final four in my preseason selections, akin to nailing Powerball, and coming within an eyelash of having the last two standing, I'll stay with Baltimore. It's not a good reason, but who said I needed one?
My preseason pick: Ravens over Falcons
Joe Aguilar
Niners 31, Ravens 20
Comment: Younger brother wins, bro. His young QB, former Cubs draft pick Colin Kaepernick, will fire pinpoint fastballs and use his young legs to speed past the old legs of Ray Lewis. And watch young Aldon Smith (see his HOF effort vs. Bears) stomp around in the Baltimore backfield. Steve Young will be smiling.
My preseason pick: Packers over Patriots
Mike Spellman
Niners 44, Ravens 28
Comment: Eventually all this “Do it for Ray” stuff has to end, doesn't it? Yes it does. And it will conclude with the younger, stronger, faster 49ers simply wearing down Baltimore to cap off a dream run in San Francico — first a World Series championship, and now a Super Bowl title.
My preseason pick: Niners over Texans
John Dietz
Niners 23, Ravens 20
Comment: People who know I work as a sportswriter / sports copy editor have been asking me for weeks who I think is going to win all sorts of key games from the BCS title game to a host of playoff games. Anybody who has listened and placed money down based on what I've told them is deep, deep into the red. So take that into consideration when you read this: Colin Kaepernick will run for 80 yards and throw for 250 more during an epic Super Bowl that isn't decided until the final play.
My preseason pick: Packers over Texans