Author: maggiepilloton

GSW: How Stephen Curry Ranks Among the Best NBA Point Guards

Mar 11, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates after scoring a basket against the New York Knicks during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

After Stephen Curry’s unbelievable 54-point game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 27th, there has been much debate among not only Warriors fans, but also among fans and analysts all around the country, as to how Steph Curry ranks among the best point guards in the NBA. Before we discuss the other point guards, let’s analyze Curry’s season so far.

Click here to read the rest of the article on Golden Gate Sports.

My Visit to Giants Spring Training

As a diehard, life-long Giants fan, visiting Spring Training has always been on my bucket list. Everyone always says how memorable and amazing Spring Training is, and I finally got my chance to go this year. I just graduated from UC Davis and finished my last final on Saturday the 23rd, so I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to catch the end of Spring Training. My dad and I left Sunday the 24th around 12, and after a brief night in Blythe, CA, we ended up in Scottsdale, AZ Monday morning before the Giants game at Hohokam Park in Mesa, AZ against the Cubs. As soon as we parked the car, I could already feel the excitement and the Giants spirit. I could hear the “Let’s Go Giants!” cheers all the way from the parking lot. We arrived to the game an hour early, and there were already a ton of fans there. This game was a sellout at Hohokam Park (13,374 people were in attendance), and the crowd was pretty evenly divided between Cubs and Giants fans. We sat on the lawn in the outfield for this game, and it definitely felt like the atmosphere in the bleachers at AT&T Park. We were right near the Giants bullpen, so we got an up-close look at Vogelsong warming up and Buster catching.

The lineup for Monday’s game was:
1. Pagan CF
2. Scutaro 2B
3. Arias SS
4. Posey C
5. Gillespie LF
6. Torres RF
7. Linden 1B
8. Noonan 3B
9. Vogelsong RHP

Vogelsong looked okay in his last Spring Training outing. He allowed six hits, two walks, three strikeouts, and three runs in his six innings. However, the Giants’ offense exploded for nine runs off of three hits from Buster Posey and Joaquin Arias, and a two-run double from Andres Torres. Angel Pagan and Nick Noonan also each had two hits. Noonan certainly bolstered his case to make the team as an extra utility infielder with his two doubles and stellar defense. Kontos, Lopez, and Romo pitched in relief as well, and they all looked ready for the regular season to start. The Giants won 9-3.

My dad and I were also able to go see Tuesday’s game at Scottsdale Stadium against the Padres. Scottsdale Stadium looks and feels almost like a mini-AT&T Park. We arrived an hour and a half before the game, and, again, there were a lot of fans there already. Unlike the last game, it seemed like 90% of the people in attendance at Tuesday’s game were Giants fans. I didn’t see many Padres fans at all. In fact, I saw more Angels and Dodgers fans, and even a couple Yankees and Royals fans. We sat along the first base line at this game, and fans were lined up shoulder-to-shoulder to get autographs from any Giants player they could. Being able to watch part of batting practice and pre-game warmups so close to the field for the first time was amazing in itself. But seeing how the some of the Giants, like Hunter Pence, would interact with the fans before the game was truly incredible. These little moments were why Spring Training was so memorable.

The lineup for Tuesday’s game was:

1. Pagan CF
2. Scutaro 2B
3. Pence RF
4. Posey 1B
5. Belt LF
6. Arias 3B
7. Crawford SS
8. Quiroz C
9. Petit RHP

With Sandoval still out with a nagging elbow injury and with Hector Sanchez still out with shoulder and calf injuries, Arias and Quiroz filled in at 3B and catcher, respectively. Other than that, this lineup was pretty close to the everyday lineup that Bruce Bochy will use in the regular season when Posey is taking a day off from catching. Matt Cain was supposed to start this game, but in order to preserve his pitch count and hide him from a division foe, the Giants started Petit instead, and Matt Cain started a simulated game earlier in the day.

Brandon Belt continued his incredible spring with three hits in four at bats, bringing his Spring Training batting average to .453 and .619 in his past six games. Brandon Crawford also had a great game going 2-4 including an RBI-double. His Spring Training batting average is now .365. Hunter Pence had a stellar game as well with a tie-breaking, two-run double, which brought his batting average to .361 in Spring Training. Petit went four innings giving up only four hits and one run, while walking two and striking out two. Mijares, Affeldt, Casilla, Proctor, and Machi all got in some relief work, and Casilla was the only one that allowed a run in the remaining innings. Mijares looked much better in this outing after having a bumpy first outing since an injury sidelined him, and Affeldt looked superb. The Giants won 4-2.

Overall, my first Spring Training experience was unforgettable. I can now see why people always say that if you’re a Giants fan, you have to go to Spring Training at some point in your life. Some people might not ever get another chance other than Spring Training to see the game so close, see the players so close, and possibly get some autographs and conversation from the players. Whether the game’s at Scottsdale Stadium or at another team’s home stadium in Spring Training, the atmosphere is incredible and, generally, more intimate than a normal MLB stadium.

Like I mentioned earlier, one of my favorite parts of Spring Training was seeing the players interact with fans, whether it was giving them an autograph, saying hi as they entered the field, waving, etc. Since the atmosphere of Spring Training is more relaxed and casual than the regular season, it’s great to see the players more interactive and aware of the fans, and it really seems like they made the extra effort to connect with fans, even if it just waving. I’d love to go back to Spring Training next year. As a sports fan, it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life. As a college graduate, it was a great way to celebrate graduation through my love of sports. As a daughter, it was very special for me to be able to experience something as unforgettable this with my dad. Spring Training was even more memorable that I thought it would be, and I hope going to Spring Training becomes a tradition in the Pilloton household.

Some more pictures:

Steph Curry’s Unbelievable 54-Point Night

c/o Warriors.com

Last night, Steph Curry put on one of the greatest shooting displays I’ve ever seen. Curry had an NBA season-high 54 points and set a new franchise record with 11 made 3-pointers in the game against the Knicks. He shot 18-28 on field goals, 11-13 on threes, and was 100% from the free throw line as well. Curry’s previous career-high in points was 42, and his 54-point night was the most points by a Warriors since Purvis Short scored 59 vs. New Jersey on November 17, 1984. Also, he scored the most points in NBA history for a player with 10 or more 3-pointers made.

One of the most impressive aspects of Curry’s amazing night was how he scored the basketball. Known as one of the best, if not, the best, 3-point shooter in the league, Curry showed how many ways he can score besides from behind the 3-point line. He made all kinds of shots including catch-and-shoot, mid-range jumpers, off the dribble, in transition, well-contested, from deep 3-point range, and a variety of layups including floaters, runners, finger rolls, and bank shots. It was the ultimate shooting display, and to happen at Madison Square Garden made it even more magical. Curry became the first visiting player to have 50 points at Madison Square Garden since LeBron James in 2009.

Over the past two games for the Warriors, Curry’s combined stat line is 92 points, 32-48 on field goals, 18-23 from the 3-point line, 10-11 from free throws, and 11 assists. This numbers are absolutely unreal in terms of efficiency. Take a look at this shot chart representing the past two games for Curry:

c/o NBA.com/Stats

It was also worth noting that in addition to his 54 points including 11 3-pointers, Curry also had 7 assists, 3 steals, and tied with Festus Ezeli for a team-high 6 rebounds. He showed his wide range of skills and why he should’ve been an All-Star this year. He had the ability to score in many different ways, he contributes to the team with his scoring, his passing, and his ability to get steals and rebounds, he’s improved his defense, and he’s one of the main leaders of the Warriors. Even though the Warriors ended up losing this game against the Knicks, Curry’s performance made this one of the best game in the Warriors’ recent history.

To watch videos, see other statistics, and to see how other players and analysts around the NBA responded to Curry’s unbelievable performance, click here.

Some notable quotes:

“My teammates were treating me like a pitcher throwing a no-hitter.” -Stephen Curry

“Once I started to see that three ball going down in transition and all sorts of spots over the floor I knew it was going to be a good night.” -Stephen Curry

“You can’t really put it into words. It’s kind of a numb feeling. Every shot you take, you know it’s got a good chance of going in. You’re kind of surprised when it doesn’t. It’s just kind of one of those experiences where it seems like time stands still a little bit.” -Stephen Curry

“He put on a clinic. He knocked down shots in all areas. I’ve seen a lot of great performances in this building and his goes up there… That shooting performance was a thing of beauty… The sad thing is to the audience, that was Stephen getting hot, but to us that’s just who he is. He’s a knock-down shooter in the highest regard.” -Mark Jackson

“Incredible by Steph. I have never been a part of anything like that in my life. He was uncanny. Unbelievable.” -Jarrett Jack

“That was greatness what we saw. You look at the people that have scored 50 in this building, it’s unbelievable. I’m glad I just had the pleasure of being this man’s teammate.” -Harrison Barnes

“It’s crazy because he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He’s been a guy that has led us the whole season, him and David Lee. … That’s why it’s called a team because he can’t do it alone. He did his part tonight.” -Carl Landry

“We had to hope he missed. There is nothing anybody can do.” -Carmelo Anthony

“Any time you can score 54 points, it’s pretty impressive… He shot the hell out of the ball.” -Rick Barry

“That’s the way he needs to play all the time. You’ve got to play with that aggressive mentality. As unselfish as he is, and with the vision he has, it opens up so much more when he plays that way. The entire team benefits when he plays that aggressively. I don’t know how Mark (Jackson) feels, but I’d be mad if he doesn’t take 20 shots per game.” -Rick Barry

The Warriors’ New Alternate Uniforms

In case you missed it, the Warriors debuted their new alternate uniforms in their home game against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, February 22nd. These new uniforms are the first modern short-sleeved jerseys in the NBA. On February 11th, the Warriors held an introductory press conference with Lawrence Norman, the vice president of adidas global basketball, Rick Welts, the Warriors’ COO, rookie Harrison Barnes, and Head Coach Mark Jackson. If you’d like to watch the press conference, click here. Some of the main points that were highlighted in this press conference were:

1) The new uniforms show the Warriors’ commitment to being innovative and stylish.
According to the Warriors and adidas, the new uniform is made from 60% recycled materials, dries twice as fast as other jerseys, uses lightweight stretch woven fabric in the shorts, and uses 360-degree stretch fabric in the armhole and shoulder of the sleeves to allow for maximum movement and range of motion. The new uniform is also 26% lighter than the Warriors’ current uniforms. Are they really stylish though? Let’s be honest here. They’re not the prettiest pieces of clothing to look at. First of all, the yellow on the shirt is different than the yellow on the shorts, seen in the pictures below. The shorts are technically “gold,” but, regardless, it looks like the players are wearing shirts and shorts of different brands that use different versions of yellow. Or that the player got dressed in the dark. It looks wildly unprofessional and unfinished. So, how does that equate to style? I’m not sold. Also, you know what would make the jerseys even lighter? No sleeves! The new uniforms could stay sleeveless, but still use the new lightweight fabric that adidas wants to show off. They could’ve made super lightweight tanktops like a track jersey or something. That would’ve been “revolutionary,” but still “stylish” and not the latest laughing stock of the NBA.

Jarrett Jack

Klay Thompson

2) The Warriors organization is confident that fans will love the new uniforms, and the uniform was designed with the fans in mind.
First of all, through some simple observations on various social media websites and of comments made by fans on the official photos and blogs the Warriors have posted about the new uniforms, I’ve noticed the majority of fans don’t like the new uniforms and think they’re ugly. A lot of fans don’t like the sleeves and find it somewhat embarrassing actually. So, strike one for the Warriors organization. Although it’s great to see adidas strive to be as progressive as possible in terms of uniforms, the adidas Revolution 30 uniforms are very expensive also. A swingman Revolution 30 uniform is $105 compared to a normal swingman jersey, which is $90 at the NBA Store for the road jersey, and $60-$70 for the home jersey. The new uniforms, because of the new, progressive technology, is $110. Strike two for the Warriors organization. Maybe my point of view is slightly biased because I’m a college student, but that is way too expensive. Spending $90 or $100 on a jersey is already a lot, so why would a fan spend $110 on a sleeved jersey that isn’t even that popular? An overly expensive jersey doesn’t exactly seem like a product designed with fans in mind.

3) The Warriors are the Bay Area’s team, and it is reflected in the uniform.
After the announcement that the Warriors would move to San Francisco in 2017, their entire ad campaign for the upcoming 2012-2013 season centered around how the Warriors are the Bay Area’s team, possibly trying to show the fans and the city of Oakland that the Warriors organization still cares about them, despite the planned move to San Francisco. The new uniforms are walking ads that the Warriors are the Bay Area’s team as well. COO Rick Welts explained in the introductory press conference that the pinstripes on the shorts, aren’t in fact pinstripes. They’re representative of the cables on the Bay Bridge, which symbolizes how the Warriors are truly the Bay Area’s team. If that sounds a little crazy to you, just wait. In addition to the pinstripes, oh I’m sorry, the cables, the shorts also feature a stripe down the side, which comes to a distinctive point at the bottom of the shorts. According to Welts, this is representative of a spear that a typical Warrior would carry. *Insert cricket noises.* Really? Spears? This sounds more like an explanation of a 12 year-old’s book report or diorama than a professional sports team’s jersey. I couldn’t help bursting out into laughter when I heard Welts describe the shorts this way. I seriously doubt that’s a reaction that the Warriors wanted and expected, which is a little scary, in my opinion.

4) The NBA is the only major sport that doesn’t have sleeved uniforms, so this new uniform is a way to be revolutionary and progressive.
Excuse me if my upcoming explanation is painfully simple or obvious, but the NBA has been using sleeveless jerseys because it makes it easier for players to shoot, rebound, defend, dunk, etc. Am I being too logical right now? There’s a very obvious reason why the the NBA doesn’t have sleeved uniforms. It’s not some kind of silent protest to sleeves. Harrison Barnes and other members of the Warriors claim that the sleeves don’t impede their shooting motion because it’s so light, but I’m convinced that sleeveless jerseys still give a player a little more motion and flexibility. However, this isn’t the main issue about this statement by the Warriors. How is it being “revolutionary” or “progressive” to conform to what every other sport does and has been doing for a long time? Why would an NBA team want to conform to using a sleeve? Maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t see how it’s innovative to use a sleeved jersey, in order to be like every other sport. The NBA used sleeved jerseys a long time ago, so it’s not like this has never been done before. Revolutionary and innovative? Not so much.

The whole marketing of this new jersey has been extremely flawed. The portrayal of the benefits of the jersey has been somewhat effective, but the style and the initial notion behind the jersey is completely wrong. Since these jerseys are the Warriors’ alternate jerseys, fans won’t have to see them too much during the season, thankfully. However, I wish the Warriors organization was more tactful when they designed these jerseys. There are obvious flaws and in an attempt to keep these jerseys hidden and surprise fans, they completely forgot to ask fans in the preliminary stages if they even liked them in the first place. I think with some tweaks (most importantly, matching the yellows), these jerseys wouldn’t be too bad. Great endorsement, right? However, if the Warriors truly are the Bay Area’s team and if the Warriors organization does really want to please the fans with this jersey, they would’ve come up with a much better design with input from the fans. That would’ve been a fun, interesting social media campaign that the Warriors could’ve run. Unfortunately, this is strike three for the Warriors organization. The new uniforms are out, and they’re not looking good.

2013 Super Bowl Recap

Ray Lewis celebrates after defeating the 49ers (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

In case you missed it, the Ravens beat the 49ers 34-31 yesterday in Super Bowl XLVII. The Ravens looked strong from the very beginning. The Niners looked pretty awful in the entire first half, and they didn’t look like the Niners we’ve seen all season until the third quarter. It almost looked like they came into the game knowing they were favored, so they were overly cocky and knew that they would win. When the Ravens came on the field at the beginning of the game and their offense looked great, the Niners got a reality check and played tense the rest of the first half. Once the Niners got over their cockiness and the realization sunk in that they might actually lose, they started playing Niner football. It was too little, too late though.

At the end of the game, there was an awful no-call when Michael Crabtree was held by Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith. However, I think fans need to get over the no-call. That was not the sole reason why the Niners lost the game. Yes, a defensive holding call would’ve dramatically improved their chances at getting a touchdown, and, therefore, winning the game, but the Niners had already dug themselves into a deep trench by halftime. They were down 21-6 at halftime, and they were down by as many as 22 points at the beginning of the third quarter, after giving up a 108-yard kickoff return to Jacoby Jones, the longest kickoff return in the history of the NFL. They looked like they were on the verge of yet another miraculous comeback after scoring 17 points in four minutes and ten seconds in the third quarter. Yes, the Niners were close to digging themselves out of a hole and, yes, they have been the “Comeback Kids” this postseason, winning against both the Packers and the Falcons after being down after the first quarter or at halftime. However, the Niners’ poor play in the first half was too much to overcome and was the main reason why they lost.

(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

What were some specific aspects that the Niners could have improved upon, mostly in the first half?

1. Play-calling: This was an issue for a lot of the game. The Niners were seven yards away from the end zone and had the possibility of sealing a victory with a touchdown towards the end of the game. They had four chances, seven yards out, and they couldn’t advance the ball at all. There were some serious issues with play-calling in all four of those plays, and in the first half, it seemed like the offense had no idea what to do. Colin Kaepernick had thrown an interception so his confidence was thrown off, Frank Gore wasn’t effective in the first half, and LaMichael James had a huge fumble at the beginning of the second quarter that helped the Ravens take a 14-3 lead. The offensive execution was halted in the first half because of poor play-calling by Greg Roman, the offensive coordinator, and Jim Harbaugh.

2. Poor use of timeouts: The Niners had to use one of their three timeouts in the second half with 7:53 left in the third quarter because of confusion or miscommunication between Harbaugh/Roman and Kaepernick. This is simply unacceptable when a team is already down, in need of some momentum, and playing in the Super Bowl. This has become a pattern for Kaepernick over his 10 starts. He lets the play clock wind down and, many times, is forced to call a timeout to prevent a delay of game call. The Niners screwed themselves over later in the game by having to blow a timeout so early because of confusion or miscommunication.

3. Special Teams: David Akers made three field goals, which was good to see, but he also showed no attempt on kickoffs to kick it away from Jacoby Jones or at least make him work for a good return. The Niners allowed the longest kickoff return in NFL History at the worst possible moment. Enough said.

4. The Secondary: In the first half, Joe Flacco completed 13 of 20 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns. The Ravens also went 9-of-16 on third downs. Again, this is unacceptable. Chris Culliver simply got out-played, and even though Carlos Rogers covered Anquan Boldin pretty well, Boldin was a huge reason the Ravens’ offense was so successful.

5. LaMichael James and Randy Moss: LaMichael James’ fumble in the beginning of the third quarter, mentioned earlier, was huge and occurred, again, at the worst possible moment. The Niners were finally starting to gain a little momentum after a few good offensive plays, and then all that momentum was quickly taken away with that one play. Fumbles are unacceptable during the Super Bowl. In addition, Randy Moss had no impact on this game, and it really hurt the Niners. In addition to his limited production, it seemed like he made no effort whatsoever to catch, or at least deflect, that pass that Ed Reed intercepted with 7:06 left in the second quarter. That pass was probably uncatchable, but Moss has to at least show a little effort and help out his quarterback as much as he can.

**Note: Although Kaepernick threw the first interception in Niners’ Super Bowl history and looked shaky in the first half, he had a stellar second half and almost pulled off one of the most amazing comebacks in Super Bowl history. It also should be noted that Alex Smith would 1) not have gotten the Niners to the Super Bowl in the first place and 2) would not have won that game for the Niners. Kaepernick might be young, but he is already a greater quarterback than Alex Smith. He is more willing to take risks and he is better at improvising when a play breaks down. That’s how the Niners got to the Super Bowl. His interception wasn’t the reason why the Niners lost that game. Alex Smith couldn’t have recovered from a poor first half from the whole team, and he certainly wouldn’t have led that type of comeback. Enough of that rant. Carry on.

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Even though this Super Bowl loss was quite disappointing to fans, the Niners had an incredible season. Fans have a lot to be proud of. The Niners had nine players be named to the Pro Bowl this season, and seven of those players would have been starters. They were: FS Dashon Goldson, LG Mike Iupati, LB Aldon Smith, DT Justin Smith, LT Joe Staley, SS Donte Whitner and LB Patrick Willis (LB NaVorro Bowman and RB Frank Gore would have come off the bench). In addition to those nine players, seven other players were named as alternates at the Pro Bowl. Those players were: RG Alex Boone, LB Ahmad Brooks, OT Anthony Davis, TE Vernon Davis, C Jonathan Goodwin, P Andy Lee, CB Carlos Rogers and C.J. Spillman. Also, we all were witnesses to the emergence of Colin Kaepernick as a starter and potential star quarterback in the NFL. It’ll be great to see a full season of him starting to see what he’s really capable of. With a full season of Kaepernick and perhaps a change in offensive coordinator (or at least some more effective, sensible play-calling), the Niners can get back to the Super Bowl again next year with much more confidence (instead of cockiness) and intelligence. The “Quest For Six” continues.

2013 Super Bowl Preview

The stage is set for Super Bowl XLVII. Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh. West Coast vs. East Coast. 49ers vs Ravens. It’s going to be quite a show. The Niners are a storied francise with a history full of Hall of Famer quarterbacks, and who, as of recently, are being led by just a second-year quarterback. The Niners, who have five Super Bowl titles in their history (tied with the Dallas Cowboys for the second-most in NFL history), are also the only team in NFL history to appear in at least one Super Bowl without ever losing. The Ravens are a team with much less NFL history, as they started playing in 1996, compared to the Niners who were founded in 1946. The Ravens beat the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, which makes them one of four NFL teams to win in their sole Super Bowl appearance. The Ravens have also been AFC North Champions four times and have made the playoffs a total of nine times since 2000. Super Bowl XLVII is bound to be a dramatic one.

This Super Bowl will be known as the Har-Bowl. John Harbaugh, the older brother, is the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, and Jim Harbaugh is the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. When Jim Harbaugh was named the head coach of the Niners in 2011, the two Harbaughs became the first pair of brothers to serve as coaches in NFL history. John Harbaugh has been the head coach of the Ravens since 2008 and was previously the Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1998-2007. Jim Harbaugh was the Quarterbacks Coach for the Oakland Raiders in 2002, but other than that, his coaching experience was limited to college football with University of San Diego from 2004-2006 and Stanford University from 2006-2010. However, he played quarterback in the NFL for 14 seasons and went to the Pro Bowl once. Their father, Jack Harbaugh, also played quarterback in college and coached at several different colleges. Their rich family history in football and the brotherly rivalry will surely provide some extra excitement to this Super Bowl.

Vernon Davis, Colin Kaepernick, and Frank Gore during the NFC Championship

The Niners had a 11-4-1 regular season record and were known as one of the best defenses in the league. In the regular season, the Niners’ defense was third in the NFL for yards allowed per game with 294.4 yards. The Niners were also fourth in passing yards allowed per game with 200.2 yards, and they were fourth in rushing yards allowed per game with 94.2 yards. Their offense features a strong rushing attack, a Pro-Bowl tight end in Vernon Davis, and an up and coming wide receiver in Michael Crabtree. Alex Smith was originally the 49ers’ quarterback, but after suffering a concussion in week 10, Kaepernick took over in Week 11. Even after Alex Smith recovered from his concussion, Harbaugh decided to continue to start Kaerpernick. To see why Harbaugh decided to keep Kaepernick as the starter, click here. The Niners have gone 7-2 since Kaepernick was named the starter, and they have played an exciting brand of football ever since. Kaepernick hasn’t shown his lack of experience thus far, so we’ll see how he can respond in a high-pressure situation like the Super Bowl.

The Ravens had a 10-6 regular season record and had to overcome several injuries to key players this season, including the future Hall-of-Famer, Ray Lewis. Lewis, playing in his 17th season with the Ravens, tore his triceps midway through October. The Ravens had to play without their star linebacker and team leader for a majority of the season, yet they continued to have an impressive season behind their quarterback Joe Flacco and Ray Rice, one of the best running backs in the league. Lewis returned from injury for the Ravens’ AFC Wild Card game against the Colts, and before the game, he announced that he would retire at the end of this season. The Ravens have been known to be the underdog this season. They came in as serious underdogs in the divisional round against the Broncos, and they won 38-35 in double overtime. They came into the AFC Championships against the Patriots even more as underdogs, and they were able to pull off a miraculous 28-13 win. The Ravens will for sure come into the Super Bowl with a tremendous amount of passion given their underdog mentality and the fact that it’ll be Ray Lewis’ last game in the NFL.

Joe Flacco and John Harbaugh after the AFC Championship

Initially, the 49ers are favored by 4.5 points over the Ravens to win the Super Bowl. However, the Ravens are used to being named the underdog. The Patriots were favored by 7.5 points over the Ravens in the AFC Championship, but the Ravens won by 15 points. The Ravens might even enjoy playing as underdogs, because they seem to like proving people wrong. There will be much emotion swirling around this game, so both the 49ers and Ravens will have to be prepared for the distractions, obstacles, and high stakes. This Super Bowl will most likely be a back-and-forth battle and it’s going to be a close game, no matter who wins. So who will win? The token underdogs, the Ravens, or the defense-oriented, newly-rejuvenated offense of the Niners? I guess we’ll see on February 3rd in New Orleans.

My prediction: 49ers win by 6.

The 3rd Sister

A professional fan's perspective on Bay Area sports.