Super Bowl XLVII Preview

The biggest day of the sports year is almost upon us once again, Super Bowl Sunday. The Niners and Ravens face off in one of the most feverishly anticipated Super Bowls in recent memory. San Francisco and Baltimore are both expecting a win, and it’s Ray Lewis’s last ride. Everyone had their opinion, so I once again had some fun with polling of my followers on various Super Bowl topics just like in prior year. Pretty much same questions, let’s do it! 162 readers voted, here are the results:

• Who’s a better QB, Joe Flacco or Collin Kaepernick?
• Flacco: 54%
• Kaepernick: 46%
• My Take: The quarterbacks are a toss-up this year. Flacco has surprised me in these playoffs with his decision-making. Kaepernick can make plays dual-threat, and that’s why I disagree with my readers on this one. He ran all over Green Bay and has the potential to run all over Baltimore if he has the right running lanes. Slight edge to Collin Kaepernick for me.
• Who has better running backs?
• Ravens: 54%
• 49ers: 46%
• My Take: I’m a big Ray Rice fan, and he is an incredible rusher and pass-catcher, but I think with how physical this game is going to be you the physical back, Frank Gore, will have a bigger impact. I give the edge to the Niners, but it’s really a tie.
• Better WR core?
• Ravens: 69%
• 49ers: 31%
• My Take: Wow. We have our first big difference in percentages! Is the Raven receiving core really that much better than San Fran’s? I don’t necessarily think so. But Torrey Smith, with his length and speed and pure ability to catch the football, is the main reason Baltimore gets so many votes here. Without Smith or Anquan Boldin, the Ravens would not have gotten this far. Boldin was the star in the AFC Championship, and if he could catch a touchdown or two the Ravens have a monster edge. The Niners will make it competitive with Michael Crabtree and Randy Moss, though. Crabtree has gotten past the sexual assault allegations and can now focus on the big game. Moss, who raised some eyebrows calling himself the best wideout of all time on Media Day, is in search of that elusive ring, the one missing piece in a legendary career. If you call yourself the best receiver of all time in San Francisco, where a guy named Jerry Rice helped lead the team to some Super Bowls in his prime, you better back it up in a big game. Straight cash, homey.
• Better Tight Ends?
• 49ers: 71%
• Ravens: 29%
• My Take: You can’t go wrong with either one, but I’d much rather have All-Pro Vernon Davis over the young Dennis Pitta.
• Better Offensive Line?
• 49ers: 54%
• Ravens: 46%
• My Take: I love San Fran’s offensive line. Joe Staley, Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis (no, not that Anthony Davis) anchor an incredible front. Baltimore’s line isn’t going to be letting many ends through either though, and Michael Oher has a chance to go from Blind Side to Super Bowl. Now that’s a story. Slight edge to the Niners.
• Better defense?
• Ravens: 59%
• 49ers: 41%
• My Take: Readers, I love you and all, but really? I’ll take Justin Smith rushing the passer, Aldon Smith, NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis making tackles, and Carlos Rodgers battling Anquan Boldin anyday. It’s a more complete defense, and I know Ray Lewis is swaying people (probably a little too much).
• Better Coach?
• John Harbaugh: 52%
• Jim Harbaugh: 48%
• My Take: In the Harbaugh Bowl, the first Super Bowl to feature brothers as the head coaches of the opposing teams, you’re going with Ravens coach John over Niners coach Jim, by a slight margin. To me, the coaching matchup matters much less than people are obviously hyping it up to be. Both coaches made season-changing decisions but in game, the best team wins, not the better coach.
• Who Do you Want to Win?
• Ravens: 54%
• 49ers: 46%
• My Take: No surprise that the Ravens have some more votes. People want Ray to finish his career with a Super Bowl title. You can root for him, no one’s stopping you.
• Who Will Win?
• Ravens: 59%
• 49ers: 41%
• My Take: My prediction at the end.
• Game or Commercials?
• Game: 72%
• Commercials: 28%
• My Take: What can I say? I have knowledgeable football fans reading this.
• Favorite Food for the Game?
• Pizza and Wings: 83%
• Other: 17%
• My Take: What’s better than pizza and wings on Super Bowl Sunday?
• Thank you fans, that’s always fun. Now, for the prediction.
• The Score: Ravens 24, Niners 13. Ray Lewis gets his ring on his last ride, Joe Flacco gets his title to boost his credibility as an elite player, and John wins the Harbaugh Bowl.
• MVP: Joe Flacco, Ravens

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