Never mind Payton Manning’s comeback story, how about Ernesto the Prediction Iguana? After a perfect 4-0 week last week, (he told you: the Patriots and the UNDER, the Panthers and the OVER), out intrepid animal king prognosticator is a blistering 11-1 in the playoffs, 5-1 in teasers.
What a turnaround after a flaccid start to the season. Treading water just about .500 for the opening half of the season, Ernesto had to hear the calls for his benching, and with Barstow the Genius Cat ripping off a sizzling 18-2 stretch in mid-season relief, Ernesto was looking right in he face of being replaced for the remainder of the year.
And that’s exactly when he started his usual late season tear. He raced through the final month of the season and has been peaking throughout the playoffs.
Now comes Super Bowl L or Super Bowl 50 if you prefer. Two great defenses and two offenses heading in opposite directions. Manning will likely retire whether or not he wins this game. Cam Newton is just beginning his ascension. So for one last time this season, here’s what Ernesto thinks:
{Editor’s Note: We utilize the lines from www.vegasinsider.com and do teasers here, which allows us to move he line six points in either direction.]
THE AWITP AND GNN SUPER BOWL PICKS ARE (drum roll please…)
panthers +2 vs. BRONCOS
BRONCOS-panthers OVER 39.5
We’ll get into it more in our column later this week, but even though two great defenses clash in this game, there will still be more than the league average of total points scored, (42). Weather will be fine, and the offenses each gave enough weapons to match that league wide average. I was more impressed with the Panthers defense blowing teams out of the water by halftime each week than I was in the offense. Denver has limped past Pittsburgh and the Patriots, and Peyton has seemed rickety. Good luck Doncs, you’re going to need it against the high-flying Panthers.
