Students' Sixth Sense: J-DHS's Superbowl Predictions

That time of year has finally arrived. After the lockout that threatened to cancel NFL football, and after all of the twists, turns, and upsets throughout, the NFL season is closing in on the much anticipated Superbowl XLVI.

With the championship game drawing nearer, NFL fans here at Jamesville-DeWitt High School have high hopes for their favorite teams and predictions on who will be holding the Lombardi Trophy when it’s all said and done.

Senior McLaren Brady thinks that the championship game will be played between the New York Giants and the Baltimore Ravens. But, Brady hopes his favorite team comes out on top. “I’m ravin’ for the Ravens,” he says.

Senior Michael Alfieris also thinks Baltimore has a good chance of winning it all. “Baltimore has a very good defense and Ray Rice is definitely an ‘X’ factor. (Defenses) can’t handle him,” he said. Paul Fitzgibbons, an avid Ravens fan, also agrees that Baltimore will take home the trophy.

Many students believe that the Patriots will end up playing in the Superbowl. Sophomore Alex Way thinks the Patriots have a secret weapon. Tight end for the New England Patriots, Rob Gronkowski, “is a tank,” said Way. He also thinks that Brady will play a key role in the game as well. Freshman Brian Cieplicki hopes that his favorite team, “the Pats," will become champs. Senior Rob Fix wants the Patriots to win it all. “Tom Brady is the best quarterback out there,” says Fix.

Senior Jim Quartier believes that the San Francisco 49ers will win it all. “If they can beat the (New Orleans) Saints, then they can beat anyone and now the Packers are out, they have an easier road,” says Quartier. Sophomore Gus Weinstein agrees with Quartier. “Alex Smith has been very consistent this year and the quarterback position has been hindering them for the past years," says Weinstein; "and now they have that, the pieces are coming together.”

A lot of students had high hopes for the Green Bay Packers, the defending Super Bowl Champs who came into the playoffs with the best record (15-1). But their hopes and dreams were crushed when the Packers lost to the Giants in the first round of divisional playoffs. Henry Wilson, senior, thought that the Packers were going to win because they were the best team going into the playoffs. Junior Mike Engstrom thought the Packers were going to win because of “Aaron Rodgers... that is all.” Sophomore Erin Mulvey believed that because they won last year, they would do it again.

The Denver Broncos were knocked out by the Patriots, and led by Tom Brady’s stunning aerial assault. But sophomore Erin Lumia was a big believer in Tebow Nation. “I think the Broncos will win because Tebow is loved by everyone and he gets the job done,” she said. Freshman Evan Dourdas was also "praying" for the Broncos to win. He said, “Tebow is really good and has a lot of heart.”

The dreams of supporters of the New Orleans Saints were ruined after a last second touchdown scored by Vernon Davis to lead the 49ers to victory. Senior Josh Fitzgibbons thought that no one could match up with the Saints’ offense because of Drew Brees. Ernest Shaw, freshman, agreed with Fitzgibbons in that Brees is very good and added that they have a deep list of good running back which could’ve helped them make it to the Superbowl.

But some students don’t care about the teams, they like the Super Bowl for another reason. Senior Brendan Flanagan says, “I have no idea (who will be in it), but there is always a lot of good food on Super Bowl Sunday.” And Junior Valerie Purcell doesn’t watch for the game; she likes the entertaining commercials on in between plays.