Super Bowl XLVII

    This is a very bitter time for me, a time when I must admit that the San Francisco 49ers are MUCH better than my beloved Raiders. So, 49er's fans, here you go....this is me living sports glory (I have sought out for so long) through your team, the 2013 NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers.

    What makes the 2013 San Francisco 49er's great?!? #Who'sGotItBetterThanUs? #NOBODY! #SpecialTeamsClique #KaepsGotCrabs #HarbaughSeasonII #CandlestickGlory #BayAreaReborn #Defense #GoldsonShouldPlayLinebacker #BeatSuggs #RayLewisRetirementParty #YoungerBrother #BayAreaMagic #RenewedEnthusiasm #Your2013NFCChampion49er's

    If there is one group of players I wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley, (a.k.a. the toughest team in the league) the 2012-13 49er's would head the list. It starts with the special teams clique. Their mojo is second to none. Dancing, jigging and executing defines the 49er's special teams unit. The head of the snake and heart and soul of the 9'ers is the hog himself, Frank Gore. A ram. A brute. A top 5 running back (coming from a Raiders fan). The veteran leader. Kaep's security blanket and partner in crime.

    Is anyone else sick of Ray Lewis and his passionate pre and post-game rants???? The Colts couldn't do anything about it because they are a year removed from 3-13. The Broncos never learned how to cover a "hail mary" plus Peyton's arm looked like a noodle. The Patriots lack a true #1 receiver (my scapegoat) and it's hard to win with a group of misfits playing defense. Will the 49er's end this "fairy tale" ending to Lewis' career?

    A big part of me wants to pick the Ravens to win the Super Bowl right now, but then I remember the Ravens have a quarterback named Joe Flacco and frankly, I REALLY don't want him winning a Super Bowl. The only reason I am hesitant to pick the 49er's right now is because of how they showed up the first half in Atlanta.

    So after highlights, columns and hours upon hours of SportsCenter, I am prepared to bring you the reasons each team and their fans will be celebrating a Super Bowl. Let's start with the Ravens, older brother first...

1. Ray Lewis ending his career with a perfect exit. Something scares me and strikes me as very real when "fairy tale" endings become evident. Sports are too romantic, unpredictable and disappointing to not believe the potential for a Ray Lewis career ending super bowl. We saw Jerome Bettis, a good player do it, but here we have one of the best defensive players of all time. The sky really is the limit. 

2. Big brother always finds a way to win. Simple enough. John is a year older than Jim, you really think big brother will lose on the biggest stage in sports to his younger bro? TBD

3. Joe Flacco is one win away from becoming elite. We all know Flacco thinks he is great, but is he really?! Not yet. If he wins a Super Bowl, however he will have thrown his hat into the star QB conversation. Any time a quarterback has the chance to become great, it is a scary, scary game for the opponent.

4. Ray "4th and 29" Rice. Remember the play he earned his nickname on? Yeah, the Ravens wouldn't be here without the little fella. Rice has carried much of the Ravens offense this whole year and he may be about to explode. 4th and 30 anybody????

5. The Ravens just got over the hump, is now the time they finally execute? When you talk about consistent teams, the Ravens are a mainstay. The window is closing for this veteran team, and now might be their last chance to win the big one. That would scare me if I was a 49er's fan.

Why the 49er's will win XLVII:

1. Kaepernick not Smith. Harbaugh the younger took a risk in benching his starter for the one year man from UNR and it has paid off greatly. No way this team would be where they are today without Kaep's explosive play making abilities. Another note: Kaepernick really has no ceiling on what he may be able to do indoors. Where is the Super Bowl played? Superdome!

2. Defense, defense, defense. The most feared defense in the league will crack you, hit you, force you to make mistakes and you can't run against them. Good luck Ray Rice.

3. Where, oh where, has the pass rush gone? Aldon Smith, Justin Smith, the most legit linebacking core in the NFL and Ricky Jean-Francois(!!!!!) are way too talented to not have a great game on the biggest stage. Ask the New York Giants how to win a Super Bowl and they will tell you, Pass Rush! The Ravens O-line had better be ready for a long, long Harbaugh-day.

4. Last years loss makes this 49ers team just THAT much more motivated to win the big one. Plus, San Francisco just won a World Series, now it's the Niners turn. Just too much momentum, magic and expectations to lose. Right?

5. The Hog and a receiver named Crabtree. I can't stress enough the importance of Frank Gore and Michael Crabtree to this team. Without Gore, Kaep can't run the pistol and inevitably can't run. Crabtree opens up this offense and thanks to Moss, gets single coverage A LOT! These two play makers make not only the defense the scariest unit in football, but the offense a threat to explode on any play.

    My prediction: The Ravens will play a great game. Motivated by Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Big Mike (The Blind Side). However, the 49ers have too much talent in every facet of the game. They exemplify that the years most complete team (See: 2007, 2012 New York Giants) wins the Super Bowl. San Francisco becomes the model football team in the league and takes the reign from Boston as the best sports city in the country. 49ers 31 Ravens 24