Super Bowl opinion poll
The San Francisco 49ers are 4-point favorites over the Baltimore Ravens and the total is 47½ in the Super Bowl today in New Orleans. Here is a survey of opinions from Las Vegas Review-Journal staff members and professional handicappers:
Mark Anderson, Review-Journal: Ravens, 21-17
It seems more and more that Super Bowls are becoming about the team that is playing the best football at the moment, and the Ravens are that club this year. They also won't be intimidated by the moment, and will make fewer mistakes than the 49ers, crucial in a close matchup.
Jim Barnes, Review-Journal: 49ers, 27-16
San Francisco showed throughout the season that its best game was better than any other team's. With two weeks to prepare, expect the 49ers' best. The Ravens will kick too many field goals, and Colin Kaepernick will break at least one long run.
RJ Bell, Pregame.com: 49ers, 27-21
San Francisco has been a leading "yards-per-play" team all season. Baltimore was below average away from home most of the season.
Steve Carp, Review-Journal: Ravens, 31-28
Controversy? In New Orleans? Gee, what a shock. Ray Lewis may think it's all about him, but his Baltimore teammates will have his back, much like the Raiders had John Matuszak's back in 1981 and the Bears had Jim McMahon's in 1986. Joe Flacco will silence the critics once and for all in an entertaining, high-scoring affair, and we can be thankful we won't have to deal with Lewis anymore. Until he shows up on ESPN next fall, that is.
Buzz Daly, BuzzDaly.com: 49ers, 27-17
San Francisco's offensive lines dominates, protecting Kaepernick, opening holes for running backs Frank Gore and LaMichael James and pretty much neutralizing Ray Lewis. Meanwhile, tight end Vernon Davis has a big game. Flacco is adequate but makes a key mistake.
Joe D'Amico, Aasiwins.com: 49ers, 31-24
Kaepernick and Gore will move the ball against the 20th-ranked rushing "D" of Baltimore as the well-balanced 49ers squad will be more focused under coach Jim Harbaugh. The Ravens have problems when facing aggressive defenses.
Todd Dewey, Review-Journal: Ravens, 27-24
Kaepernick can run like a deer, but the Ravens will neutralize him with Ray Lewis' magical deer antler spray. The Niners may be the better team, but Baltimore has the mojo working in the playoffs and will find a way to win.
Patrick Everson, Review-Journal: 49ers, 31-21
The 49ers offense has more than enough ways to attack the Baltimore defense, and emotion can only go so far for the Ravens, who clearly outplayed New England but couldn't have gotten any more fortuitous in the divisional round at Denver.
Doug Fitz, SystemPlays.com: Ravens, 24-21
The Ravens are as hot as it gets during the playoffs, and getting more than a field goal is a bonus.
Mark Franco, FrancoSports.com: Ravens, 27-24
Expect a very competitive game that should be decided late. I'm backing the Ravens plus the points and also on the money line. Baltimore can win with offense and on Flacco's big arm.
Ed Graney, Review-Journal: 49ers, 24-17
Deer antler spray is for wussies. Now, if all the defensive players for the Ravens were spraying themselves with a substance extracted from a starving African elephant, we might have something. Sorry, Bambi isn't winning the Super Bowl.
Ron Kantowski, Review-Journal: Ravens, 24-21
Ray Lewis drinks 5-hour deer antler energy juice, tapes a cheetah to his back, mostly cries on TV afterward.
Dana Lane, DiamondSportsConsultants.com: Ravens, 24-20
The Ravens' advantage in the kicking game will be a key factor as John Harbaugh beats his younger brother again.
Allen Leiker, Review-Journal: 49ers, 31-23
The 49ers were the best team at the start of the season and they're still the best. In fact, they probably were the best team last season, too, but two fumbled punts cost them the chance to prove it. The 49ers were good with Alex Smith; they're great with Kaepernick.
Bruce Marshall, Goldsheet.com: 49ers, 34-23
While most of the fundamental edges in this matchup are hard to define, the one advantage for San Francisco is likely to be the unique dimension provided by Kaepernick, who gives the 49ers the sort of weapon that Baltimore will find difficult to match.
Micah Roberts, The Linemakers on SportingNews.com: Ravens, 37-34
The 49ers will dictate the pace, and the Ravens will be able to match them, similar to the game they played in Denver. Flacco will come up big.
Kelly Stewart, Hottiehandicappers.com: 49ers, 27-17
A fast San Francisco defense will frustrate Flacco, but Kaepernick will make the biggest difference.
Dave Tuley, ViewFromVegas.com: Ravens, 23-20
The season-long stats give the edge to the 49ers, but the Ravens are peaking at the right time with all of their defensive stars healthy and able to contain Kaepernick & Co., plus the offense having overcome earlier road woes. Flacco can go deep to Torrey Smith or underneath to Anquan Boldin and Dennis Pitta, with Ray Rice coming out of the backfield.
Mal Van Valkenburg, Review-Journal: Ravens, 31-17
On paper, the 49ers are the better team. But the Ravens are playing better and have beaten tougher opponents to get to this game. With two weeks to game plan, I expect the Ravens' defense to slow down the Niners. Look for Flacco to hit on some big pass plays.
Mark Whittington, Review-Journal: 49ers, 31-17
I am the most ignorant bettor around, so this is a total homer pick. Grew up watching the Niners and Raiders and went to grad school at UNR.
Matt Youmans, Review-Journal: 49ers, 27-24
Flacco is hot, knocking off Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck to get to this spot, and he'll give the Ravens a shot to win late in the fourth quarter.
ATS picks: Baltimore 11, San Francisco 10
Total: Over 12, Under 9
