Depending on your perspective, we're commemorating our china (traditional) or platinum (modern) anniversary. The Times Union panel, which has taken on many forms since 2001, is completing its 20th season of predicting the outcome of NFL games.
While the numbers have varied, members of the Times Union staff have tested their prognosticating skills against local TV sports anchors. It might sound self-serving, but totally accurate, that the TU has prevailed in 14 of the previous 19 seasons, although the TV folks appear headed to their sixth victory and only their second in the past eight years.
Times Union sports reporter Pete Dougherty and WNYT (NBC-13) sports director Rodger Wyland are the only ones who have been on the panel from the beginning. Through the years, 16 others have represented the TU, including Max Lavoie, who in 2012, as an 11-year-old, made selections (and finished second among the 10 selectors that year). There have 18 different sports anchors whose faces and picks have appeared on our pages.
The all-time records are 14,082 hits, 7,998 misses and 46 ties (.637 percentage) for the newspaper crew, 14,826-8,825-46 ties (.627) for the anchors. (There was a three-year period, between 2004 and 2006, when three TU staffers made picks against five TV anchors.)
So on the final day of the NFL season, the panel makes its final selections — complete with reasoning — of the 20th anniversary season.
Times Union staff
JAMES ALLEN, sports writer: 4th year, 691-374-4, .648
Conference championships: 1-1 (1-1)
Season record: 170-97-1, .637 (129-130-9, .498)
Prediction: After spending this season’s first three months analytically hindered in serving as the Times Union’s selection anvil, I hope to absolve myself from a horrific campaign by correctly selecting the season’s biggest game. Tampa Bay’s run to the Super Bowl has been impressive, and its pass rush going against an injured O-line from Kansas City is noteworthy, but Patrick Mahomes is clear of mind, sound of arm and poised to secure another ring, 34-30. Pick: Kansas City (–3)
PETE DOUGHERTY, sports writer: 20th year, 3,319-1,991-11, .625
James Allen
Jesse MacWilliam, a sports anchor and reporter with Spectrum News Albany, broadcasts from home.
Courtesy of Jesse MacWilliam
Conference championships: 1-1 (1-1)
Season record: 175-92-1, .656 (134-125-9, .517)
Prediction: As the Chiefs were finishing off the Bills in the AFC Championship Game, my Super Bowl pick was made. Kansas City here I come. You know, 14 days is a long time to stick to your convictions. The Chiefs have fill-in tackles. The Bucs have a pass rush. Tom Brady is God, or so Patriots fans tell me. Super Bowl favorites have lost outright 17 times. Make it 18. Pick: Tampa Bay (+3)
BILL DOUGLAS, sports editor: 9th year, 1,543-852-9, .644
Conference championships: 0-2 (0-2)
Season record: 172-95-1, .648 (117-142-9, .457)
Prediction: Too many years as a Jets fan make me allergic to picking Tom Brady in this spot. It would be a great story, adding to his legacy as the greatest of all time, but I think we are witnessing the official passing of the torch to Patrick Mahomes, who could wind up challenging Brady's long-term supremacy someday. It will probably come back to haunt me, but I can't pick Brady. Pick: Kansas City (–3)
DAVID JOHNSON, content editor: 1st year
Conference championships: 0-2 (0-2)
Season record: 178-89-1, .671 (141-118-9, .547)
Prediction: Tampa Bay's defense has a chance to complete an all-time great postseason run by slowing down Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes consecutively. And it'll be fired up to get Brady another a la Denver for Manning in 2016 and New England for Brady in 2019. But Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy have an extra week to prepare, and Mahomes has been the best in the league for three years now. Pick: Kansas City (–3)
TV sports anchors
LIANA BONAVITA, WTEN (ABC-10)/WXXA (Fox-23): 8th year, 1,347-782-8, .632
Conference championships: 0-2 (0-2)
Season record: 183-84-1, .690 (133-126-9, .517)
Prediction: As a lifetime Patriots fan, I’m pulling for Tom Brady. My heart wants the GOAT to win a seventh Lombardi in his new home stadium, but I’m not betting on it. Yes, Tampa Bay’s front four might wreak havoc on the Chiefs’ makeshift O-line, but there’s magic in Patrick Mahomes. The young gun gets his second ring. Pick: Kansas City (–3)
CHET DAVIS, WRGB (CBS-6): 1st year
Conference championships: 1-1 (1-1)
Season record: 176-91-1, .660 (125-134-9, .483)
Prediction: The Kansas City Chiefs were a few more haircuts away from derailing their aspirations of repeating as Super Bowl champs. While Patrick Mahomes' mohawk might not look as sharp on Sunday, the Chiefs' superstar will once again wow the world with his electric play. I'm nervous about KC's banged-up offensive line, but if it is able to protect No. 15, the Chiefs will complete the repeat! Pick: Kansas City (–3)
JESSE MacWILLIAM, Spectrum Sports (Ch. 9): 1st year
Conference championships: 1-1 (1-1)
Season record: 167-100-1, .626 (131-128-9, .506)
Prediction: What a season. Only fitting that it’s going to end with a battle between Brady and Mahomes. It’s hard to pick against Brady, but it’s harder to pick against K.C., especially the way the Chiefs played in the AFC Championship. Chiefs pull away in the fourth quarter for back-to-back titles. Pick: Kansas City (–3)
RODGER WYLAND, WNYT (NBC-13): 20th year, 3,357-1,953-11, .644
Conference championships: 1-1 (1-1)
Season record: 171-96-1, .641 (123-136-9, .476)
Prediction: Picking against Tom Brady is always dangerous, because he is the GOAT. But Kansas City has too much team speed, too many playmakers, and Patrick Mahomes is the baby GOAT who is the best quarterback in the NFL. It will be high-scoring, and it will be close, but Kansas City will win, 35-31. Pick: Kansas City (–3)
This year's totals
Times Union staff: 695-373-4, .650 (521-512-36, .503)
TV sports anchors: 697-371-4, .652 (512-521-36, .494)
All-time totals
Times Union staff: 14,042-7,998-46, .637
TV sports anchors: 14,826-8,825-46, .627
"Media" - Google News
February 07, 2021 at 06:47AM
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Super Bowl LV: Media selections - Times Union
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