Students in a Sports Journalism class give their Super Bowl LIII picks. What do you think? Respond in comments.
By NOAH PORTER
The LA Rams and the New England Patriots face off in Super Bowl LIII Sunday in Atlanta.
I have watched every Super Bowl since 2004, when the Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers, 32-29. Sunday’s game is the hardest I have tried to pick.
The Patriots are a 2.5-3 point favorite. However, the Rams have been a (surprisingly) great team this season. Once the Rams put together a defense featuring Aaron Donald (defensive end), LA had the potential for a great season. But the domination that ensued was not expected and I think that doubt lingered until the last minute of overtime against the Saints in the NFC Championship game.
Now, we have a matchup between one of the youngest quarterback/head coach combos – (Jared Goff, 24, Sean McVay, 33 of the Rams) versus the, Tom Brady, 41, Bill Belichich, 66) of the Patriots.
Will the experience and knowledge of Brady and Belichick be enough for the Patriots to beat the vigorous and talented youthful Rams? I don’t think so. Give me the LA Rams in a close one. The Rams are more balanced and they have a playing style that I do not think Belichick will be able to adjust to.
Pick: LA Rams 28 New England Patriots 17
By MALCOLM VANHANNEGEYN The great fairy tale story? The LA Rams are coming into the Super Bowl coming off an outstanding season. Quarterback Tom Brady, the GOAT, and the Patriots play the Rams with its young bull quarterback Jared Goff.
Brady’s offense will have possession in the last two minutes in the game, score tied 36-36. A short slant pass to his tight end will seal the win. Another game-winning drive gives Brady six wins in nine Super Bowl games played. Pick: Patriots 43, Rams 36
By NYAA MILLER Super Bowl LIII is an interesting matchup with the New England Patriots playing in their third straight NFL Championship game.
The New England Patriots have won the Super Bowl five times with quarterback Tom Brady. The Rams have won in 2000 when they were the St. Louis Rams.
My prediction is the New England Patriots will win based purely on statistics.
The Rams’ win in the NFC Championship game was a glorious mess. A no-call by the officials in the Rams-New Orleans game may have cost the Saints a trip to the Super Bowl. Had the official ruled correctly, according to the NFL, New Orleans would have had a first down, a new set of downs and plenty of time to burn clock – with the game into overtime. Brady led the Patriots to an overtime winning touchdown.
The Rams won’t have any such luck Sunday. Pick: New England Patriots
By MALIK MOORE
The New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams both have high scoring offenses and have a lot of weapons to win Super Bowl LIII.
The Patriots are fourth in points per game (27.3), fifth in total offense (393.4 yards per game), eighth in passing offense (266.1 yards per game) and fifth in rushing offense (127.3 yards per game).
The Rams, offensively, are second in points per game (32.9), second in total offense (421.1 yards per game), fifth in passing offense (281.7) and third in rushing offense (139.4).
The Patriots have the key to the game, quarterback Tom Brady and a powerful offensive line that’s protects him and allows arguably the best quarterback ever to play football to be comfortable passing. He doesn’t look like he has lost a step.
Brady plays his best football in the playoffs, winning five Super Bowls. No matter the situation in the game he appears to find a way to win.
Bill Belichick, arguably the best head coach ever in the NFL (291-134), has won five Super Bowls alongside Brady, including nine AFC championships. Belichick is the third winningest coach – behind Don Shula (347 wins) and George Halas (324). He has a brilliant strategic mind.
The Rams will have to make extraordinary plays to win the game and try to startle Brady.
The Rams have a great pass rush led by Aaron Donald one of the best defensive ends in the NFL and his side kick, Ndamukong Suh. They are a handful to deal with and can cause havoc in the backfield. If these two can get their hands on Brady the game will have a different outcome.
Few teams have had that kind of success against Brady. Prediction: New England Patriots win by 7-10 points.
By RYLIE PARKHURST
The Los Angeles Rams (13-3) square off against the New England Patriots (11-5) Sunday in Super Bowl LIII. Although the Rams have the better record, they are considered the underdog.
I am picking the Patriots to defeat the Rams, 30-27.
A Super Bowl win for the Rams would mean bringing down an experienced Patriots squad. Quarterback Tom Brady is in his 18th season with the Patriots. He is the winningest quarterback in NFL history.
With a postseason record of 29–10, Brady is first all-time in playoff wins and appearances for an NFL player. It is hard to imagine that a player of his caliber would let another Super Bowl slip through his fingers after a loss last season.
The Rams offer a QB/head coach duo that is much less experienced. Rams head coach, Sean McVay is only in his second season as an NFL head coach. A victory on Sunday would make McVay (33) the youngest head coach ever to lead a team to a Super Bowl victory. Pick: Patriots beat the Rams, 30-27. By DONNCHARAZ XIONG
The New England Patriots will beat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday in Atlanta.
The Patriots, five-time Super Bowl champions, are playing in their third straight NFL championship game. The Rams are appearing in their fourth overall and first since losing to the Patriots in 2002.
Tom Brady has led the Patriots to nine Super Bowls and most wins (5) by a starting quarterback, and most Super Bowl Most Valuable Player awards (4). Brady has made more Super Bowl appearances than every team in the NFL outside of the Patriots.
The Super Bowl begins at 6:30 p.m. with the game televised on CBS.
Pick: Patriots
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