Trump predicts the Patriots will win the Super Bowl by 8 points. pic.twitter.com/SLgi1z7aOS
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 5, 2017
Even the President of the United States of America takes time to watch the Super Bowl.
During Fox’s pregame coverage before kickoff of Super Bowl LI, a clip of Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly interviewing Donald Trump aired. After talking immigration, controversy, Iran and an array of non-football topics, O’Reilly asked the one question that Trump wanted to dance around: Patriots or Falcons?
After saying he “hates to make predictions” and citing a fondness for Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Trump made his pick: Patriots over Falcons. While Vegas sees it as a field goal game, Trump likes New England by eight points.
Give the video above a watch to see the question and answer.
Here’s how our experts see the game playing out:
Darryl Slater: This has a chance to be a back-and-forth (and potentially high-scoring) affair between two fantastic quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Matt Ryan. At the end of the regular season, the Patriots were second in offensive DVOA, while the Falcons were first. Defensively, the Patriots were 16th, and the Falcons were 27th. As much as many people (especially Jets fans) would like to see a fresh Super Bowl winner, with the Falcons, the Patriots’ experience in this game will prove to be the difference in the end.
PICK: Patriots 38, Falcons 31.
MVP: Tom Brady.
Brady avoids Trump questions
Connor Hughes: I think the Falcons are a better team than the Patriots. Top to bottom. Offense, defense and special teams. New England doesn’t have a Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman or Vic Beasley. But they do have a Bill Belichick, and that makes all the difference. You give that man two weeks to come up with a game plan, and he’s near impossible to beat … unless you’re the Giants. It’ll be close. It’ll come down to the wire. But the Patriots win it in the end. On a side note – it’s going to be fun watching Roger Goodell hand the trophy over to Brady. Who doesn’t like a good, nationally-televised awkward exchange?
PICK: Patriots 27, Falcons 21.
MVP: Tom Brady.
James Kratch: Atlanta will give New England everything it can handle. It’s just tough to envision a scenario where Tom Brady and Bill Belichick don’t find a way with two weeks to prepare. Stephen Gostkowski boots the game-winner at the gun.
PICK: Patriots 31, Falcons 28.
MVP: Tom Brady. Here comes the most-watched Monday morning press conference in cable TV history.
Eliot Shorr-Parks: All year I’ve picked against Atlanta, and all year, they have proven me wrong. Can they do it again, and shock the Patriots? The Patriots are a bone-headed throw from Russell Wilson away from losing their last three Super Bowls, and don’t have the fire power the Falcons have on offense. They do, however, have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, and as great as Matt Ryan has been this year, it’s just hard to pick against perhaps the greatest quarterback and head coach duo of all time.
PICK: Patriots 28, Falcons 27
MVP: Tom Brady
Joe Giglio: Two weeks to prepare. I keep coming back to that every time I want to lean toward picking the Falcons. Atlanta is more than game here. With a MVP-caliber quarterback, the best wide receiver in the sport, an array of secondary weapons and an opportunistic defense, the Falcons can play with the Patriots. But two weeks is enough time for Bill Belichick to create a plan to slow down Atlanta’s attack–just like he used to do to Peyton Manning’s Colts and the Greatest Show on Turf Rams.
PICK: Patriots 34, Falcons 31. MVP: Tom Brady.
Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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