← Bryan Paul’s Puzzling NFL Predictions: Conference Championships

Super Bowl XLVII analysis everyone can understand

January 31, 2013 1 Comment

Super Bowl XLVII

Baltimore Ravens (13-6) vs. San Francisco 49ers (13-4-1)-Feb. 3-6:30 p.m.-CBS

Perhaps you know the Baltimore Ravens, the AFC champions, will play the San Francisco 49ers, the NFC champions, in Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday. Perhaps you’ve heard brothers Jim and John Harbaugh will coach against each other, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis will be playing in his final game and that neither team has lost in the Super Bowl. Perhaps during the past two weeks you’ve seen commentators on television giving their “expert” opinions about what team they think will win.

You don’t need to know anything about football to figure out who will win Super Bowl XLVII. Bryan Paul’s Puzzling NFL Predictions presents 47 obscure Super Bowl, historical and pop culture facts with a running score that indicate the team that will win on Sunday. This unconventional method will be tested against Chuck Pollock of The Olean Times Herald, who will use traditional prognostication to determine his Super Bowl prediction.

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This is the 47th Super Bowl. Baltimore has won one odd-numbered Super Bowl. San Francisco has won three.

San Francisco, 1-0

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New Orleans, La. hosts the Super Bowl for the tenth time this year. The NFC champion is 5-4 in Crescent City Super Bowls.

San Francisco, 2-0

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III

Six of the nine New Orleans Super Bowls have been played inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The NFC Champion is 4-2 in Super Bowls played at the New Orleans Saints’ home stadium.

San Francisco, 3-0

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The Superdome opened in 1975, the year Saturday Night Live premiered on NBC. Since the show’s debut, the NFC champion is 22-15 in the Super Bowl.

San Francisco, 4-0

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Adam Levine, lead singer of the band Maroon 5, hosted Saturday Night Live last weekend. Since the band formed, the NFC champion is 10-9 in the Super Bowl.

San Francisco, 5-0

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Maroon 5 formed in 1994, the year Steven Spielberg won the Academy Award for Best Director for Schindler’s List. In years he’s been nominated for the Oscar, the NFC champion is 4-2 in the Super Bowl. This year, Spielberg received his seventh Best Director nomination for Lincoln.

San Francisco, 6-0

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VII

President Abraham Lincoln led the United States during the American Civil War. Louisiana, the state where Super Bowl XLVII will take place, was part of the Confederacy. The AFC champion is 16-13 when the Super Bowl is played in a former Confederate state.

San Francisco, 6-1

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VIII

Richmond, Va., the Confederate capital during the Civil War, is the birthplace of actor Warren Beatty. Since Beatty married actress Annette Bening, the NFC champion is 11-9 in the Super Bowl.

San Francisco, 7-1

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Beatty married Bening in 1992, the year the Washington Redskins, wearing white jerseys, defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-24 in Super Bowl XXVI. Since that game, the team that wears white jerseys in the Super Bowl is 13-7. Baltimore will wear white jerseys in Super Bowl XLVII.

San Francisco, 7-2

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The New York Giants wore white jerseys in their 21-17 Super Bowl XLVI victory over the New England Patriots last year. The NFC Champion is 2-1 in Super Bowls following a Giants championship season.

San Francisco, 8-2

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The Giants won their first Super Bowl in 1987 as quarterback Phil Simms won the Super Bowl XXI Most Valuable Player Award. After retiring following the 1993 season, he became a football commentator. The AFC champion is 4-2 in years Simms has been part of a Super Bowl broadcast team. Simms will provide color commentary for the CBS Super Bowl XLVII telecast.

San Francisco, 8-3

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XII

Jim Nantz will be the play-by-play announcer for the CBS Super Bowl XLVII broadcast. The AFC champion is 3-1 in Super Bowls that Nantz has had a role with CBS’ game coverage.

San Francisco, 8-4

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XIII

Nantz joined CBS in 1985. Ronald Reagan took the oath of office as President of the United States for a second time on Jan. 21, 1985. With President Barack Obama’s second inauguration taking place on Jan. 21 this year, it’s the second time in the Super Bowl era that Inauguration Day has fallen on Jan. 21. In 1985, the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers defeated the AFC champion Miami Dolphins 38-16 in Super Bowl XIX.

San Francisco, 9-4

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XIV

The 49ers made their second Super Bowl appearance in 1985. The Ravens are playing in their second Super Bowl this year. Teams playing in the Super Bowl for a second time are 11-7.

San Francisco, 9-5

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1996 marked the first season of the Baltimore Ravens franchise. In the team’s 17-year history, Baltimore is 3-1 against San Francisco.

San Francisco, 9-6

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XVI

Jonathan Ogden, the first player the Ravens drafted, played college football at UCLA. San Francisco doesn’t have any former UCLA players on its roster. Baltimore has one, linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo.

San Francisco, 9-7

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XVII

Ayanbadejo was born in 1976, the same year as basketball player Tim Duncan. The AFC champion is 9-6 in the Super Bowl since Duncan became an NBA player.

San Francisco, 9-8

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XVIII

The Spurs drafted Duncan in 1997. Madeleine Albright became the 64th United States Secretary of State in 1997. In years the United States Senate confirms a nominee to the Cabinet position, the AFC champion is 8-5 in the Super Bowl. On Tuesday, the Senate voted 94-3 that Sen. John Kerry will become the 68th United States Secretary of State on Feb. 1.

Tied, 9-9

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XIX

Since 1985, Kerry has represented Massachusetts in the Senate. While he served on Capitol Hill, the NFC champion was 19-9 in the Super Bowl. Luckily for Baltimore, Kerry will resign from the Senate before Super Bowl XLVII. When he hasn’t been a senator, the AFC champion is 12-6 in the Super Bowl.

Baltimore, 10-9

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The Democratic Party selected Kerry as its nominee in the 2004 presidential election. Louisiana State, coached by Nick Saban, won the BCS National Championship in 2004. The NFC champion is 2-1 in the Super Bowl when a Saban-coached team wins the championship. On Jan. 7, Saban guided Alabama to a 42-14 victory over Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game.

Tied, 10-10

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XXI

Ozzie Newsome, an Alabama graduate, became the Ravens’ general manager in 2002. Since he took the job, Baltimore is 108-72.

Baltimore, 11-10

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XXII

Newsome played for the Cleveland Browns for 13 years and in 1999, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In years a former Cleveland Browns player earns enshrinement in Canton, Ohio, the AFC champion is 10-8 in the Super Bowl. But no former Browns players are Hall of Fame finalists this year.

Tied, 11-11

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XXIII

Newsome retired after the 1990 season. The South African government released Nelson Mandela from Victor Verster Prison on Feb. 11, 1990. The NFC champion is 13-9 in the Super Bowl since Mandela received his freedom.

San Francisco, 12-11

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XXIV

South African voters elected Mandela president in 1994. In South African presidential election years, the AFC champion is 3-1 in the Super Bowl. But the next election will be in 2014. The NFC champion is 9-6 in non-election years.

San Francisco, 13-11

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XXV

Current South African president Jacob Zuma took office in 2009, the year the International Olympic Committee awarded the 2016 Summer Olympics to Rio de Janeiro. In years the IOC awards an upcoming Olympic Games to a city, the NFC champion is 10-8 in the Super Bowl. At the 125th IOC session in Buenos Aires this September, the cities of Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo hope to win the right to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.

San Francisco, 14-11

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XXVI

Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC, will retire this year. In years the committee elects a new leader, the AFC champion is 2-1 in the Super Bowl.

San Francisco, 14-12

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XXVII

Rogge became President of the IOC in 2001, the year Universal Pictures released The Fast and the Furious. In years an installment of the action film series comes to theaters, AFC champion is 3-2 in the Super Bowl. Fast and the Furious 6 premiers on May 24.

San Francisco, 14-13

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XXVIII

Paul Walker, who has played Brian O’Conner in five of the six Fast and the Furious films, was born in 1973. O.J. Simpson ran for 2,003 yards during the 1973 NFL season. In Super Bowls following a player rushing for at least 2,000 yards during the regular season, the AFC champion is 4-2. Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson ran for 2,097 yards this season.

Tied, 14-14

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XXIX

The Minnesota Vikings drafted Peterson in 2007. Atlanta, Ga. hosted the 2007 Final Four. In years the final three games of the college basketball season have been played in Atlanta, the AFC champion is 3-0. The city will host for the Final Four for the fourth time this year.

Baltimore, 15-14

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XXX

Atlanta hosted the Final Four for the first time in 1977, the year John Madden coached the Oakland Raiders to a 32-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI. John Harbaugh will coach the Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. Head coaches named John are 1-2 in the Super Bowl.

Tied, 15-15

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XXXI

Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, coaches the 49ers. San Francisco is 7-1 against AFC teams since he joined the team.

San Francisco, 16-15

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XXXII

Harbaugh became San Francisco’s head coach in 2010, the year Elena Kagan became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Since she joined the Court, the NFC champion is 2-0 in the Super Bowl.

San Francisco, 17-15

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XXXIII

Kagan is Harvard College graduate. In Super Bowls following a Harvard football team victory over its rival, Yale University, the NFC champion is 13-11. This season, Harvard defeated Yale 34-24 on Nov. 17.

San Francisco, 18-15

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XXXIV

Yale hasn’t beaten Harvard in football since 2006, the year the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League hosted Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game. When a National League team hosts the Midsummer Classic the NFC champion is 12-11 in the Super Bowl. The 2013 All-Star Game will be played at Citi Field, home of the National League’s New York Mets.

San Francisco, 19-15

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XXXV

Former Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey won the 2012 National League Cy Young Award. The AFC champion is 3-1 in Super Bowls following a season when a Met wins the honor given to the league’s best pitcher.

San Francisco, 19-16

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XXXVI

Tom Sever became the first Mets pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in 1969, the year quarterback Joe Namath guided the New York Jets to a 16-7 victory over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Joe Flacco will start at quarterback for the Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. Starting quarterbacks named Joe are 6-2 in the Super Bowl.

San Francisco, 19-17

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XXXVII

Flacco and Ravens offensive lineman Gino Gradkowski both attended the University of Delaware. Teams with former Delaware players on their roster are 0-3 in the Super Bowl.

San Francisco, 20-17

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XXXVIII

In 1980, Ivory Sully became the first former Delaware football player to play in a Super Bowl as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-19 in Super Bowl XIV. The Open Championship, one of golf’s four major tournaments, took place at Muirfield in 1980. When the course hosts the major, the NFC champion is 3-2. Muirfield, located in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland, will host the tournament for the sixteenth time this year.

San Francisco, 21-17

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XXXIX

Muirfield last hosted the Open Championship in 2002. Ernie Els, who won that tournament, became a professional golfer in 1989, the year the Cincinnati Bengals lost to the 49ers 20-16 in Super Bowl XXIII. The Bengals play in the AFC North and the 49ers play in the NFC West. NFC West teams have won six Super Bowls. AFC North teams have won seven. The Ravens are an AFC North team.

San Francisco, 21-18

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The 49ers and Ravens are champions of their respective divisions. Since realignment in 2002, the AFC North champion has played the NFC West champion once in a Super Bowl. On that occasion, the AFC North champion Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII.

San Francisco, 21-19

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XLI

After winning Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers failed to reach the playoffs following the 2009 regular season. The team missed this year’s playoffs. In seasons Pittsburgh has not qualified for the postseason, the NFC champion is 12-8 in the Super Bowl.

San Francisco, 22-19

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XLII

Art Rooney II became the President of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2003, the year Beyoncé Knowles released her first solo album, Dangerously in Love. She will perform at halftime of Super Bowl XLVII and Pepsi will sponsor the show. The last time Pepsi sponsored the Super Bowl halftime show, the AFC champion Indianapolis Colts defeated the NFC champion Chicago Bears 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI.

San Francisco, 22-20

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XLIII

Super Bowl XLI took place in 2007, the year Terry Francona managed the Boston Red Sox to victory in the World Series. The AFC champion is 7-5 in the Super Bowl when Francona is working as a Major League Baseball manager. The 2013 season will be his first as manager of the Cleveland Indians.

San Francisco, 22-21

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XLIV

Francona began his MLB managing career in 1997, the year the Washington Bullets changed their name to the Washington Wizards. In years an NBA team has changed its nickname, the NFC champion is 2-1 in the Super Bowl. On Jan. 24, New Orleans Hornets owner Tom Benson announced the team will become the New Orleans Pelicans starting in the 2013-14 season.

San Francisco, 23-21

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XLV

New Orleans’ previous NBA franchise, the New Orleans Jazz, moved to Utah in 1979. Actor John Wayne died in 1979. During his lifetime, the AFC champion was 9-4 in the Super Bowl. The NFC champion is 21-12 since his death.

San Francisco, 24-21

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XLVI

Wayne won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1970. The Detroit Pistons drafted Bob Lanier of St. Bonaventure University with the first pick in the 1970 NBA Draft. When a former St. Bonaventure student is playing in the NBA, the AFC champion is 15-8 in the Super Bowl. Andrew Nicholson, a 2012 St. Bonaventure graduate, currently plays for the Orlando Magic.

San Francisco, 24-22

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XLVII

The St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team defeated Temple University 81-78 on Jan. 19. In years the Bonnies have defeated the Owls, the NFC champion is 4-2 in the Super Bowl.

Bryan Paul’s Pick: San Francisco, 25-22

Pollock’s Pick: San Francisco, 31-17

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Based on these facts, the 49ers will win the Lombardi Trophy for the sixth time in franchise history on Sunday. But some questions remain. Will the Harbaugh brothers fight after the game? Will Ray Lewis cry regardless of whether the Ravens win or lose? Will Beyoncé sing “Crazy in Love” or “Single Ladies” to open the halftime show? That’s for the “experts” to figure out.

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Bryan Paul’s conference championship record: 1-1

Bryan Paul’s Postseason record: 7-3

Bryan Paul’s season record: 156-109-1

Pollock’s conference championship record: 1-1

Pollock’s Postseason record: 7-3

Pollock’s season record 178-87-1

Head-to-head matchups in conference championships: Tied, 0-0

Head-to-head matchups in postseason: Tied, 1-1

Head-to-head matchups this season: Pollock, 65-43

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