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WILKES-BARRE — Everybody has an opinion, especially when it comes to sports and favorite teams in big games.
The Super Bowl pits the always-favored New England Patriots against the underdog Philadelphia Eagles.
Point spreads, history and usual comeback victories for the Patriots aside, most people we polled feel this is the year for the Eagles’ first-ever Super Bowl title.
Some big-name politicians, including both of Pennsylvania’s U.S. senators, also believe in the Birds. (Of course, they have to win re-election at some point. So, do they have much choice?)
What follows is a list of bold predictions, some based on solid football knowledge and analysis, but most heaped in devotion to a particular favorite team.
Enjoy the day, the food, the commercials and the game.
Who will win?
• John Augustine, Penn’s Northeast, 24-21 Eagles
• State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, 24-21 Eagles
• State Rep. Gerald Mullery, Eagles 24-21
• Bill Jones, United Way of Wyoming Valley, Eagles 24-21
• Will Beekman, F.M. Kirby Center, Eagles 30-27
• State Sen. John Yudichak, Eagles, 28-24
• State Sen. Lisa Baker, Eagles 24-17
• Ben Bradlee Jr., author, Patriots 27-21
• U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, Eagles, 27-17
• U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, Eagles, 21-14
• Frankie Warren, Magic 93, Eagles 21-20
• Bill O’Boyle, TL reporter, Eagles 24-14
• Jimmy Fisher, Sunday Dispatch, Patriots 28-24
• Ed Lewis, TL police reporter, Eagles 38-32
• Roger DuPuis, TL news editor, Eagles 34-28
• Adam McGahee, TL advertising, Patriots 24-12
• Renita Fennick, Commonwealth Health, Eagles 35-21
• Aimee Dilger, TL photographer, Patriots 23-17
• Tom Salvo, TL advertising director, Eagles 34-27
• Mike Lewis, Hanover Township, Eagles 23-17
• Lori Lewis, Hanover Township, Eagles 20-17
• Edd “BeatleEdd” Raineri, Patriots 26-17
• U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, Eagles 31-28
• U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, Eagles 28-20
• D.J. Eberle, TL sports reporter, Patriots 27-20
• Jim Kreps, TL CFO, Patriots 49, Eagles 14
• Mike McGinley, TL advertising, Eagles 20-16
• Michael Reich, TL night editor, Eagles 31-18
• Mike Murray, Times Leader publisher, Eagles 31-28
• Diane McGee, TL advertising, Eagles 24-17
• Joe Soprano, TL executive editor, Patriots 34-6
• Carl Witkowski, The Guard, Eagles 27-20
• State Rep. Tarah Toohil, Eagles 27-23
• Bob Barney, Florida, Eagles 34-27
• Jim Grinavich, Vector Security, Eagles 30-17
• Tom Swartwood, Eagles 27-17
• Denise Swartwood Dalley, Eagles 28-24
• Bob “Zag” Zagorsky, Vector Security, Patriots 27-21
• Chuck Peterman Jr., Patriots 32-25
• Chuck Peterman Sr., Patriots 35-21
• Kathleen Jordan, Eagles 28-27
• Bernie Kollarick, Eagles 27-20
• Michael Harper, Shaper Embroidery, Eagles, 27-17
• John Rosick, Patriots 38-13
• Wendy Wilson, Geisinger, Eagles 31-28
• Larry Newman, Diamond City Partnership, Eagles 31-28
• David Steever, Eagles 30-17
• Len Paczkowski, Patriots 31-17
• Denise Wildoner Strickland, Eagles 28-23
• Jean Barney, Eagles 31-28
• Brent Spiegel, Eagles, 31-24
• Frank Kulick, Eagles 27-24
• Dotty Martin, TL weekly editor, Eagles 24-23
• Gabby Glinski, TL paginator, Eagles 21-7
• Frank Kaminski, Eagles 38-21
• Deidre Miller Kaminski, Eagles 27-24
• Carl Beardsley, WB/Scranton Airport, Eagles 28-20
• Dennis Raymo, TL sports editor, Patriots 34-30
• John Erzar, TL sports reporter, Eagles 23-20
• Derek Levarse, TL sports reporter, Patriots 27-17
• State Rep. Aaron Kaufer, Eagles 31-24
• Rob Tomkavage, Abington Journal, Patriots 34-23
• Charles Wayne Bevan, Patriots 36-32
• Harry “The Hawk” Yurch, Eagles 27-2
• Stephen Cicak, Patriots 31-28
• Gert Dwyer Whipple, Eagles 31-29
• Nancy Needle, Patriots 31-17
• Bob Pries, Eagles 28-21
• Al Leguis, Patriots 28-24
• Rich Pries, Eagles 31-28
• Tony Wasco, Eagles 27-24
• Peggy Manley, Eagles 24-21
• Joe Osolnick, Patriots, 31-27
• Dave Roberts, Eagles 27-24
• John Payer, Eagles 21-17
• Frank “Scooter” Cerreta, Patriots 99-0
• Sandy Roberts Holleran, Patriots 27-24