Pats my pick despite 'cheater tag'

The debate has raged for two weeks, but it all gets settled this afternoon.

Super Bowl LI is here and, like any good discussion, opinions on today’s result vary across the board.

By virtue of living in Las Vegas for 18-plus years, Super Bowl Sunday was always an entertaining day to have “action” on the game’s outcome and the hundreds of proposition bets available. That’s off the table, as they say, for this year.

I won’t be able to take part in the fun / challenge / idiocy of trying to select who will have more: the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook free throws made OR the number of receptions by the Patriots’ Julian Edelman.

Or here’s another even zanier one: total yellow cards in the Manchester United-Leicester soccer game across the pond VS. the combined interceptions by Tom Brady and Matt Ryan.

Oh the craziness of Vegas!

We’ll stick to taking a stab at just picking the winner and final score this year. What better way to test the waters in the community than reach out to various community leaders and business owners.

Here are their predictions (and you’ll find mine at the end of this column):

• Kelly Lee, Eastern New Mexico University head football coach: Patriots 34, Falcons 24

• Greg Waggoner, ENMU athletic director: Falcons 35, Patriots 33

• Jay Brady, Clovis High School principal: Falcons 42, Patriots 35

• Mark Gormley, Portales High School principal: Patriots 31, Falcons 24

• Kent Carruthers, Citizens Bank of Clovis president: Falcons 30, Patriots 27

• Doug Ford, Clovis police chief: Patriots 27, Falcons 23

• Becky Rowley, Clovis Community College president: Patriots 44, Falcons 21

• David Lansford, Clovis mayor: Patriots 31, Falcons 28

• Sharon King, Portales mayor: Patriots 35, Falcons 28

• Ernie Kos, Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce executive director: Patriots 28, Falcons 14

• Karl Terry, Portales/Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce executive director: Falcons 36, Patriots 24

• Jody Balch, Clovis Municipal Schools superintendent: Falcons 34, Patriots 31

• Johnnie Cain, Portales Municipal Schools superintendent: Falcons 28, Patriots 25

• Bryce Bender, Bender Family of Dealerships: Falcons 35, Patriots 27

• Gail Tarson, Diamonds Evermore owner: Falcons 36, Patriots 24

• Misty Bertrand, Clovis Civic Center general manager: Patriots 34, Falcons 28

• James Burns, Burns Do It Center president: Patriots 34, Falcons 24

• Tom Martin, Taco Box owner: Patriots 34, Falcons 21

• Kamille Mountjoy, Do-Drop-In owner: Falcons 36, Patriots 34

My first hope on the outcome of the “Big Game” is that it’s actually close and worth watching until the end. This year’s postseason has left plenty to be desired. In the 10 playoff games so far, the average margin of victory has been 14.7 points.

Yawn!

Tonight, I’m going with Brady and the Patriots. It’s hard to go against the valuable experience New England’s quarterback and coach have under their belts.

Over the past 16 seasons, the Patriots have four Super Bowl rings and an astounding 14 division titles. Going against the Pats would be like doubting the New York Yankees and Derek Jeter back when he was in his prime.

This guy’s best guess: New England 41, Atlanta 30.

Rob Langrell is the publisher of The Eastern New Mexico News. Contact him at: [email protected]