SUPER BOWL XLVII

We're already leg deep into our pre-game show. Kickoff for the game is slated for 5:29 PM (CT) on CBS on 3 February 2013.

At the start of the playoffs I had San Francisco going up against Denver. Well, I was right on the 49ers making the Super Bowl. The AFC participant... not so much.

Well, it is what it is.

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens started the season 9-2 and were looking like a dark horse favorite to emerge from the AFC. Then they lost 4 of their final 5 to finish the season 10-6, but they were crowned the AFC North Champions for the second consecutive season and entered the playoffs as the AFC 4-seed.

The Ravens started the playoffs with a 24-9 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card Round. In the AFC Divisional Round, the Ravens survived Denver's special teams and won in double overtime against the AFC 1-seed Broncos 38-35. In the AFC Championship Game, Baltimore forced three turnovers in a 28-13 victory at New England.

This is the Ravens second Super Bowl appearance having won Super Bowl XXXV over the Giants 34-7 at the end of the 2000 season.

Linebacker Ray Lewis announced that this would be his final season in the NFL. Baltimore has played in three straight "last Ray Lewis" games. Now this one is the LAST GAME. The same could be said about safety Ed Reed who is rumored to leave Baltimore and test the free agent market after the season ends. These players have been the faces of the franchise and it will be difficult to associate the Ravens with something other than defense.

Quarterback Joe Flacco despite having led the Ravens to the playoffs and a playoff win in his first five seasons, has not been regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. In the playoffs, Flacco has thrown for 853 yards, 8 touchdowns, and ZERO interceptions. A Super Bowl win would put Flacco in the same category as these Super Bowl winning QBs: Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton and Eli Manning, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees.

If there is one play that describes the Ravens season, it is their conversion on 4th and 29 in their overtime win at San Diego.

This is the Ravens second Super Bowl appearance since the 2000 season when they won Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa over the Giants 34-7. Linebacker Ray Lewis was named that game's MVP.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers started the season with a win at Green Bay and off to 6-2 start. Despite their record there was a brewing quarterback controversy between Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick. During their Week 10 24-24 tie to the Rams at home, Smith was sidelined with a concussion. The following week head coach Jim Harbaugh named Kaepernick the starter. In his first start on Monday Night Football against the Bears in Week 11, Kaepernick threw for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns. Though his breakout game came in Week 15 at New England when Kaepernick led the 49ers to a 41-34 win with 221 yards and 4 passing touchdowns.

San Francisco finished a half-game better than Seattle to win the NFC West Title. The 49ers started the playoffs in the Divisional Round with a win over the Green Bay Packers. Kaepernick threw for 263 yards and one touchdown. Though that is now what he is remembered for... Kaepernick rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns.

In the NFC Championship Game, the 49ers traveled east to Atlanta to face the NFC 1-seeded Falcons. Atlanta jumped out to a 17-0 lead and were up 24-14 at the half. Boy this story sounds familiar... Falcons leading by three scores...

The 49ers kept the Falcons out of the end zone in the second half and Frank Gore scored two second half rushing touchdowns for a 28-24 NFC Championship Game victory. This is the 49ers 6th NFC Title. Denver has 6 AFC Titles. The only teams that have more Conference Titles than these two teams are the Patriots (7) and the Cowboys and Steelers (each with 8).

The last time the 49ers appeared in the Super Bowl was at the end of the NFL's 75th Anniversary Season in January 1995. Yup, I remember when the Super Bowl was played the last Sunday in January; I'm not that old. San Francisco became the first team to win five Super Bowl trophies as quarterback Steve Young set a Super Bowl record with six touchdown passes with a dominating 49-26 victory over the Chargers in Miami.

THE PICK

As Monica would say, "Enough jibber-jabber, time to get down to business."

Even though Monica beat me in the regular season by one game, I posted a better playoff record. What better way to cap the playoff run with a Super Bowl victory.

Let's see... I really like what Harbaugh has done with his team and I expect that linebacker who wears #52 to make a big play in this game.

Wait, both teams have a Coach Harbaugh and linebacker that wears #52....?

OK, time for the serious pick.

One team will keep a perfect Super Bowl record and the other will have a blemish on their Super Bowl record.

All right, all right....

This is the first Super Bowl to have brothers coaching against each other. Also, both starting quarterbacks were not selected to appear in the Pro Bowl. I don't think it matters to them because they are playing in the Super Bowl; it counts for something.

This is also the second Super Bowl to involve teams that lost the previous season's Conference Championship Game. The last one was Super Bowl XXX where the Cowboys won their fifth Super Bowl Title over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This is the first Super Bowl to involve a team that tied a game in the regular season since the Broncos appearance in Super Bowl XXII. Other games that had a team with a regular season tie were Super Bowl XI, IX, VI, V, II, and I. Only two teams that had a tie game on their record to win a Super Bowl was the 1967 Packers and the 1974 Steelers.

The team representing the NFC has won 4 of the last 5 Super Bowls and won 25 Super Bowls overall. The AFC since the 2000 season has gone 7-5 and won 21 overall. This is first Super Bowl that doesn't involve New England, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, or the New York Giants since Super Bowl XXXVII.

When making my pick, there is one thing that always comes up: these teams are very similar. Coaching, who has the advantage? Well, John Harbaugh has taken the Ravens to the playoffs every season since he became the coach in 2008 and has experience in coaching in big games. So does Jim Harbaugh who has gotten the 49ers to the Super Bowl in his second season.

Quarterback? Flacco has an 8-4 playoff record. Kaepernick has started 9 NFL games including playoffs and has a 7-2 record.

Running back? The Ravens have an explosive back in Ray Rice while the 49ers have an explosive back in Frank Gore.

Receivers? Take your pick between the Ravens receivers Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin or the 49ers receivers Michael Crabtree and Randy Moss and their tight end Vernon Davis.

Defense? The 49ers have a strong defensive unit led by linebackers Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith and defensive tackle Justin Smith. The Ravens have a strong defensive unit led by linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed.

OK, You're stalling... Make your pick!!

While the 49ers have had an impressive run through the last half of the season and they have had success of their option run offense that utilizes the talents of Colin Kaepernick and Frank Gore, I just cannot go against the Ravens.

Baltimore has been playing lights out during the playoffs. I didn't expect them to win at Denver and I didn't think they were going to beat the Patriots on their homefield in the AFC Title Game.

After the Conference Championship Games, my gut is telling me that the Ravens will win this game. I don't see any reason to go against my gut.

The Ravens will send Ray Lewis into retirement hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

Ravens 24, 49ers 21

MVP: Joe Flacco, Ravens QB