Annual Bee Super Bowl Challenge offers free chance at $100
SANDPOINT — The most polarizing team in the NFL is back in familiar Super Bowl territory, as the Patriots, whom most either love or loathe, face a hungry and fresh Eagles team seeking its first ever Lombardi Trophy.
The all-important opening line in Vegas had the Patriots as six point favorites to win their sixth Super Bowl, with an over-under of 48 points, essentially predicting a 27-21 win for team with the Golden Boy QB and curmudgeonly coach.
Longtime Super Bowl Challenge participant Helen Newton sent her prediction in yesterday, calling for a 31-24 Patriots win, noting that it’s not who she hopes wins, but rather who she thinks will.
Will Brady and Belichick win their sixth ring together? Or are the sizzling Eagles, with a big underdog chip on their shoulders, primed to win the City of Brotherly Love it’s first Super Bowl?
Think you know who will win the most watched sporting event on the planet? Want to win $100 in cash?
Then step up and take the free annual Bee Super Bowl Challenge. See entry instruction at bottom of the story.
Per usual, the Bee will employ a unique formula mixing competitions between Philadelphia and Boston to arrive at a prediction.
n Clam Chowder vs. Cheesesteaks
Sure, New England clam chowdah is wicked good, and who doesn’t love a good Boston brogue, uttering the phrase “I left my car keys in my khakis.”
But a former Arizona Cardinals quarterback used to order 100 cheesesteaks “with” from the famous Pat’s whenever the team played in Philly, and they would quickly disappear as players boarded the team flight home after the game, with the linemen usually grabbing two.
Plus, Joe’s Cheesesteaks in Sandpoint puts out a pretty authentic Philly in their own right.
Edge: Philly — EAGLES 7, PATRIOTS 0.
n Rocky vs. Good Will Hunting
Tough competition here, as both movies are in my top five all-time. Oddly enough, both were written by the very people who starred in them.
Robin Williams stole every scene he was in Boston-based movie, shining in a rare dramatic turn in a brilliant script co-written by Bostonians Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
But Rocky is the greatest movie of all time, not sports movie, mind you, but movie. Incredibly authentic drama, and a far cry from each grossly inferior, although still highly watchable, sequel.
Edge: Rocky — EAGLES 14, PATRIOTS 0.
n Cheers vs. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
A generational choice, with the older among us remembering when Cheers was the best show on T.V. Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson and Shelly Long were excellent, with everybody’s favorite mailman Cliff Claven sharing his wealth of knowledge over a cold one from his Boston bar’s stool.
But I never laughed nearly as hard at Cheers as my daughter does at It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Edge: Sunny — EAGLES 21, PATRIOTS 0.
n Boston Tea Party vs. Declaration of Independence
The 1773 political protest, where an entire shipment of English tea was dumped into the Boston Harbor, sparked the American Revolution in 1776.
On July 4 of that year, the United States Declaration of Independence was signed in the Pennsylvania State House. Enough history already. Who isn’t for Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness?
Edge: Happiness — EAGLES 28, PATRIOTS 0.
n Kevin Bacon vs. Mark Wahlberg
The venerable Kevin Bacon has made a movie with every actor who has ever lived, hence the fun game six degrees of Kevin Bacon. But he hasn’t exactly racked up a bunch of gold statues for his handiwork.
Neither has Marky Mark, who has proven to be great at hardcore drama, action flicks and comedy. The Funky Bunch? We’ll give him a pass for being young.
Edge: Wahlberg — EAGLES 28, PATRIOTS 3.
n The Pixies vs. The Roots
Philly boasts some surprisingly strong musicians, including the Roots, Joan Jett, Patti LaBelle, Dr. Dog, Jim Croce, Hall and Oates and blues guitarist Otis Rush.
Boston produced the Pixies, Aerosmith, The Cars and of course, Boston. A longtime colleague here at the Bee claims the Pixies put on the best live show he’s ever seen at the Gorge.
Edge: The Pixies — EAGLES 35, PATRIOTS 3.
n Amy Poehler vs. Tina Fey
The two longtime co-anchors of Saturday Night Live have gone on to share the screen together in movies as well.
Poehler is part of a stable of comedians from the Boston area including late night hosts Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and Steve Carell.
Fey, who gained fame lampooning Sarah Palin with a spot-on impersonation, is from a Philly area that produced Kevin Hart and Bob Saggett, as well.
Edge: Fey — EAGLES 42, PATRIOTS 3.
n Joe Frazier vs. Marvin Hagler
Smokin’ Joe Frazier was involved in two of the most historic heavyweight fights in the history of boxing, including the Fight of the Century against Ali at Madison Square Garden.
Marvelous Marvin Hagler was involved in two of the greatest fights of all time, including the Sugar Ray Leonard Superfight and the famous Hagler-Hearns frenetic brawl.
Edge: Hagler — EAGLES 42, PATRIOTS 10.
n Brady vs. Foles
Lest you think Foles came out of nowhere, remember he threw 27 touchdowns against just two interceptions as the Eagles starter in 2013. Not exactly a bum.
Bill Polian, a former NFL GM and ESPN analyst, once said the most important position in football is the quarterback, and the second most important is his backup. Many a great team has had Super Bowl seasons go up in smoke when the starting QB goes down. Not Philly, which hasn’t skipped a beat since Foles took over for Carson Wentz.
Brady, however, once let his equipment guys twist in the wind and ultimately threw them under the bus, never owning up to the fact he asked the poor dudes to steal game balls from officials, quickly drop into a dark closet and poke a needle into every ball until they were deflated to his liking, then return the balls without being noticed.
Did we mention Spygate?
The cartoon character Huckleberry Hound once said “You know what, cheaters never win.”
Edge: Foles — EAGLES 49, PATRIOTS 10.
So there you have it. Eagles win 49-10, with former Boise State running back Jay Ajayi winning the MVP award.
Think you know better?
To enter, send in the score for each team, and a choice for MVP, to eplummer@bonnercountydailybee.com.
On Super Bowl Sunday, the Bee will publish a master list to follow along with during the game, with all of the tie-breaker criteria for determining who wins the $100.