Super Bowl XLVII Preview

Super Bowl XLVII has history in the making, it matches up the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers. Maybe even more compelling it has the Harbaugh brothers duel. There are plenty of  story lines for this game, Ray Lewis's "last ride", as he is set to retire. Is Joe Flacco really ready for the "big stage" and if the young gun Colin Kaepernick is ready to put himself along with Joe Montana and Steve Young, as 49er quarterback greats. Along with these great story lines, this should be a great game too.

The Baltimore Ravens reached the Super Bowl after
a miraculous win in Denver, and bullying the New England Patriots. This team seems to be riding the energy, and the flow of leader Ray Lewis. It has the same feel as when the Pittsburgh Steelers did the same thing for Jerome Bettis. Whatever they have going it happened at the right time, as they got hot at the right time. They still have a good defense, although a little bit older, but as you saw in the New England game they can still hit with the best of them. The offense has had some issues going back earlier into the season, but new offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell seems to have right the ship. He may have figured out that Ray Rice was on the team, and have used him the right way. Getting the running game with Rice has opened up the passing game for Flacco, who seems to have 300 passes of over twenty yards this post season. Of course that was an exaggeration but it has looked impressive. With the new found offense, and the old stout defense, it looks like Baltimore could be Super Bowl Champion.

On the other side you have the San Francisco 49ers, who were a lot of experts pick to be here, and for good reasons. They have an unbelievable defense with Patrick Willis, and Aldon Smith. The only question mark on defense would have to be  the secondary, who looked a little suspect against the Atlanta Falcons. Maybe, Justin Smiths health would also be a question mark, as Aldon Smith hasn't looked the same with him being banged up. On the offensive side off the ball Jim Harbaugh looks like a genius going with Colin Kaepernick over Alex Smith half way through the season. Kaepernick who runs the read option like a true veteran looks very hard to stop, but also showed us and Atlanta he can be lethal throwing from the pocket too. Along with the QB they have Frank Gore at running back, Vernon Davis, and Michael Crabtree as receivers  so Baltimore will have its hands full. So just like Baltimore the 49ers also look like Super Bowl champions.

So, with all that said this game should be a great one. As a fan I hope so, and for the other fans, and the teams involved I hope it is. The last few Super Bowls have been really great, and I fully expect this one to be no different. As for a prediction, I predict Harbaugh wins. All joking aside, I think the 49ers will be Super Bowl champions for the sixth time. Final score 49ers 28 Ravens 21.