New England Patriots (15-3) vs Philadelphia Eagles (15-3)

U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota (66,655)

Indoor Stadium. It’ll be a balmy 5 degrees outside at kickoff.

Sunday, 5:30 PM CT

NBC

Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya

Lead Referee: Gene Steratore

National Anthem: Pink. There are odds on what color her hair will be. Blue, 5:4, Red, 2:1

Halftime: JT, Justin Timberlake

Over-Under for Trump tweets during Super Bowl: 5. I’m taking the over. 

Patriots by 4 1/2

Record: 2 weeks ago: 1-1, overall: 4-2

I’m an underdog guy. I went to Vanderbilt, I pull for underdogs. Nick Foles has done a super job in the playoffs for the Eagles. He has off the charts weapons in Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith, tight end Zach Ertz and Nelson Agholor. Running backs Jay Ajai and LaGarrette Blount are very good players. The oline for the Eagles is outstanding. Their defense is one of the best in the league, both in total and scoring defense and No.1 against the run. 

But it’s Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. The greatest of all time, GOAT, tag for Brady gets a little tiresome, but it’s pretty accurate. He’s tough to beat. I do think this is going to be a good game though. The Eagles have embraced the underdog role wearing their German Shephard masks around. They’re a strong team. So I expect a good game much like the Falcons-Patriots last season when Brady and company made one of the most electric comebacks in NFL history. 

The Philadelphia defense will cause Brady some problems, but in the end I like Tom Terrific and Bill Belichick to win their 6th Super Bowl and tie the Patriots with the Pittsburgh Steelers for most all time. I know this isn’t a creative prediction, but sometimes you have to go with the obvious. I didn’t predict the NFL in the preseason because I thought it was pretty cut and dried that the Patriots were going to win it all. Same for the NBA because the Warriors are so dominant. But the Pats will be tested. In the end though, I like Belichick and Brady to hoist Lombardi Trophy number 6. 

Patriots 24, Eagles 21

MVP: Brady