Zane Mathews Chimes in With Super Bowl Prediction

The Denver Broncos kick off the 2013 NFL season tonight against the defending Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens. Expectations are high again this year for the Peyton Manning-led Broncos, but there also great expectations for a lot of other NFL teams. Ultimately, only two teams will survive and advance to the NFL championship game, but who will it be? Super Bowl predictions this time of year are very trendy, so I'm joining the trend and throwing my pick out there.

The San Francisco 49ers are a popular pick to win the Super Bowl after they were narrowly defeated by the Ravens last year. I have been leaning toward the Niners in the NFC, but,  the odds are stacked against them and the Ravens. In the last 15 years, only two teams have made it back-to back appearances in the big game. The New England Patriots in 2004, 2005, and the Denver Broncos in 19998 and 1999.

Only four teams in the NFL have never been to the Super Bowl - Cleveland, Jacksonville, Detroit, and Houston. Of those four, only Houston could be considered a legitimate contender, and, honestly, this could be their year.

In the AFC, the Broncos certainly appear to have the best offense, when you consider the fact that it's Peyton  Manning, and a lot of great weapons. The defense is the big question mark. While the offense is certainly capable of scoring a ton of points, the question is, can the defense make the key stop they need to make in a close game - something they were  unable to do in the playoff loss last year to Baltimore. And, even if they get to the big game, could Manning produce a victory in the potentially frigid confines of MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey?

You can't count out New England, Indianapolis, or Pittsburgh. Baltimore seems to be a long shot after losing 8 starters from their championship team.

This  year's Super Bowl winner will likely come from the NFC, where the best teams seems to be playing. San Francisco certainly looks like a championship team, but a lot depends on third year quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Atlanta could make a serious run at it, and Seattle looks like a team that is built to win.

I have to confess, I don't have a great track record when it comes to Super Bowl predictions. Last year I had the Patriots beating the 49ers. At least I correctly guessed the loser. The fact is, I haven't correctly predicted the Super Bowl participants since 1977, when the Oakland Raiders and Minnesota Vikings played. Nonetheless, I am giving it another shot. And if  you are a fan of the Texans or Falcons, I apologize for my prediction.

Houston 34   Atlanta 24.