I know that it will be trendy to pick the Seahawks in this year’s Super Bowl because they won last year. The Patriots are old news. Their uniforms are prettier, etc., but it’s not going to happen. As much as I would like that to be the case, it’s just not going to happen.

Let me start off by saying that I am a Carolina Panthers fan. You probably don’t remember, but it was the Panthers who lost the Super Bowl to the Patriots—the most recent of the three won by Brady and the boys.

No one could blame you for not remembering since it was the Super Bowl that became known for Janet Jackson’s breast being exposed. Luckily, people have forgotten how our kicker kicked the kickoff out of bounds with a few minutes left and set Brady up with a short field to drive and score.

But I digress…

Needless to say, I would love for Russell Wilson and the gang to win another one, but this isn’t the year. The Patriots have the best coach in football—probably the best coach of our lifetime. Whether he cheats or not, he’s still good. “Deflate-gate,” whether real or imagined, will make great bulletin board material for the Pats as they get themselves even more fired up for the big game.

The Patriots are coming into the game healthy and clicking on all cylinders after a 45-7 beat down of the Colts. The Seahawks on the other hand needed several miracles to squeak by an injured Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

In the process of performing miracles, they also had two significant injuries with cornerback Richard Sherman’s strained elbow and safety Earl Thomas’s dislocated shoulder. They will both play in the Super Bowl, but will undoubtedly be hampered by pain, no matter how much Toradol and possibly Adderall, they are receiving.

Tom Brady will eat the Seahawks’ defense alive with short passes in the flat that will force Sherman to try to tackle with his bad arm. The Seahawks will try to prevent this by blitzing a lot, but it won’t matter. Brady completed more passes against the blitz this season than he did without any pressure.

As much as I’d like for it not to be the case, the Patriots will win this one by a touchdown and more.

Patriots 30, Seahawks 20.

Jason Green can be reached at the [email protected]

This time of year, a question always seems to catch fire in the midst of winter, who is going to win the Super Bowl? Despite the controversy looming around them and the missing two PSI  in the Patriots’ NFC Championship game balls, the Pats are still favorites in my book.

The three-time NFL champion Patriots are the boring pick because they always win—unless they play Eli Manning and the Giants, which they won’t.

With an offense as dangerous as the Patriots there is no question they are favorites. What the defense has lacked this season, they have made up in resurgence of players like Tom Brady and LeGarrette Blount.

The Patriots are too dangerous on offense for the Seahawks, especially when considering the Seahawks were all but going home after their game with Greenbay. The game was won for the Packers, who neutralized Russell Wilson and the Legion of Boom until around four minutes on the clock left, when everything went wrong for the Packers. The Patriots, who have put up at least 35 points in their last playoff games, are not going to give up a lead like the Packers did.

Don’t worry, I’m not forgetting about the Legion of Boom, who is at the top of the league in opponent passing yards. Tom Brady is just too dangerous when he runs first with Blount, and passes second with Julian Edelman and Gronkowski. If the Patriots can run the ball, there is no shortage of plays for a veteran like Brady, playing his sixth Super Bowl.

Edelman is always beating whoever is on him at the line of scrimmage.  He also provides the offense with yards after the catch, breaking tackles and gaining cheap yards that enable the passing game to continue. Add a physical receiver like Gronkowski and the Patriots can really put a beating on the Legion of Boom.

The Patriots are not just impressive offensively, their defense is not too shabby. A good secondary with the return of Revis Island could trouble Russell Wilson and a young receiving team. A good run defense with fan favorite Vine Wilfork could stop beast mode and keep the Hawks from running effectively.

Despite the controversy, Tom Brady as MVP, lifts the Lombardi, silences critics and cements his legacy as the top quarterback of his generation by a final score of 35-14.

Juan Carlos Navarrete may be reached at the [email protected].