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Jobu predicts the winner of Super Bowl XLVII.

As of press time, the Las Vegas Oddsmakers have the Baltimore Ravens favored over the San Francisco ’49ers by 3.5 points. While I am not a betting man, I’m sure many of you readers are, so I’m going to do my best to try to help you win a lot of money. I haven’t actually done that well these playoffs, so you might want to bet the opposite of what I have to say. Either way, here’s why I think the Ravens will win the Super Bowl.

The Ravens have had a tougher road to this game. Yes, the ’49ers beat the Packers and the Falcons. No, that’s not an easy road, but is is harder than taking down the Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots? I don’t think so. The Falcons were bound to choke at one point or another. They almost did it against the Seahawks in the second round, so the fact that they blew a 17-0 lead to the ’49ers in the NFC Championship game is no surprise to me. I’m not saying the ’49ers had an easy road, but it’s hard to argue that they had it tougher than Baltimore.

Offensively, the Ravens are better than San Francisco. As amazing as Colin Kaepernick has been in these playoffs (namely his 181 rushing yard performance against Green Bay), he’s still a young player. He’s started both playoff games this year quite shakily, throwing a pick-six early against the Packers and helping his team to that 17-0 deficit against the Falcons. If I had to pick Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce or Frank Gore, I’m taking Rice and Pierce. Don’t get me wrong, Gore has been solid this season, but the two-headed attack of the Ravens has chewed up defenses during these playoffs. This has let Joe Flacco pretty much throw the ball at will and with ease, and he has really stepped up his game in the post-season (51-93, 853 yards, 8 TDs, 0 INTs).

Flacco has really stepped his game up this January. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
Flacco has really stepped his game up this January. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)

The ’49ers might have the better defense on paper, they don’t have Ray Lewis. Lewis seems to have elevated his game to another level. He knows that, no matter what happens, he’ll be retired after Sunday, and he’s been playing with an unmatched fervor the last few weeks because of it. He’s led the Ravens in tackles in all three playoff games, and you can tell he’s just hungry for his ring. As great as the ’49ers have been, I feel like Coach Jim Harbaugh is the only real emotional leader of this team. Maybe the ’49ers are just less outspoken than Lewis and the Ravens, but do they even have a story? Other than the Brother vs. Brother angle, I feel like the ’49ers have no extra story motivating the team to win. Do professional football players need a heartfelt story to motivate themselves to win? Probably not, but you want to see some fire and passion from somewhere. I haven’t seen it at all from San Fran.

Like the oddsmakers say, I think this will be a close game. It’s hard to tell if it will be a close 19-14 defensive battle, or a 41-37 shootout, but the Ravens will cover the spread and win the game. A few things are guaranteed though. Joe Flacco is going to win this game for the Ravens, and there will be no doubt about it. He’s been playing too good to not be directly involved in this win. Another thing you can expect to see is something ridiculous from Colin Kaepernick. The kid has come out of virtual obscurity to become one of the more exciting quarterbacks in the league. He’s got a cannon arm and machine gun legs, and both will be on display come Sunday.

The Ravens will win their second Super Bowl on Sunday, 28-20 and Ray Lewis will win his second Super Bowl MVP (although Flacco will probably deserve it more).

Martin Stezano

About Martin Stezano

Uruguayan born and American raised with a unique perspective on the domestic and international sports scenes. It will both tickle your funny bone and enlighten your mind. Love it or hate it...just read it.