Gazette brain trust gaze into crystal ball for Super Bowl LIII predictions

It is Super Bowl time once again and with that comes the numerous previews and predictions from many of the pundits. So, with that in mind, the publisher along with the sports editors from The Ville Platte Gazette and The Oakdale Journal come together here for an exclusive prediction from three of the smartest people in the sports world.
Remember, money lost on wagers placed because of this prediction is not the responsibility of these three intellectuals. (Unless you win, in which case there will be a 20% prediction fee.)
Garland’s obvious key player – Tom Brady: If given a little time he can pick a defense apart. However, a little pressure that will force him to move out of the pocket, he will struggle with his passing game. He can run a little if he has to during a game.
Tracey’s obvious key player(s) – Patriots’ offensive line: Protecting Tom Brady is a vital key to New England’s success. The big men up front have done a pretty decent job all season long, only surrendering only 21 total sacks on the season and zero sacks so far this post-season.
The Patriot offensive line must keep the active defensive front seven for the Rams at bay and give Brady time in the pocket to pick apart the Los Angeles defensive backfield, which has susceptible all year long.
Tony’s obvious key player -- Jared Goff: The Los Angeles Ram quarterback is in his third season in the NFL and already finds himself in his first Super Bowl up against the greatest of all time in Tom Brady. Goff has a fresher arm than his counterpart across the field and was the first player drafted in 2016 coming out of Cal Berkeley. Conversely Brady won the last Super Bowl against the Rams in his second year and was a sixth-round draft pick out of Michigan.
Garland’s not so obvious key player – Andrew Whitworth: If he and the Ram offensive line is able to open running lanes then the Rams will be able to be balance running sand throwing the football. The Rams have talented running backs and with time the passing game can be very affective.
Tracey’s not so obvious key player – Julian Edelman: The diminutive slot receiver has been a favorite target of Brady since joining the Patriots. Edelman has racked up 171 yards on passes over the middle this post-season and has made spectacular catches in the playoffs (see Super Bowl LI vs. Atlanta).
Edelman will be matched up most of the night with Ram’s defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman. I believe Edelman will get the best of Robey-Coleman who is due from some wicked, bad voodoo.
Tony’s not so obvious key player -- Nickell Robey-Coleman: The Rams’ defensive back, who wreaked havoc against the Saints, will look to get questionable hits on Patriot receivers to help bring his team the Lombardi Trophy for the first time in 19 years when the then St. Louis Rams beat the Tennessee Titans in Atlanta.
Garland’s key to the game -- The offensive line for both teams. Can they pass protect to give the QBs time to throw and open enough holes to establish a running game to keep the defense honest. Which team does the best will win.
Tracey’s key to the game – Running the football. The Rams are ranked 28th in the league in run defense, and the Patriots have done a masterful job of getting their ground game going in the playoffs thus far. New England rushed for 331 yards in their first two post-season games. If they can continue to run the ball as efficiently as they have the last two games, they can limit the Ram’s possessions and keep their high flying offense on the sidelines.
Tony’s key to the game -- It will be interesting to see if the officials let the teams play like they did for the NFC Championship Game when the Rams beat the Saints. Will the officials let a blatant pass interference go uncalled against the Patriots and The Golden Boy Tom Brady?
Garland’s prediction -- New England 31, Los Angeles 28: As much as i would like to pick the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl, I can’t. The New England Patriots just have too much experience in playing in the big game. The Patriots remind me of the Green Bay Packers in the late 1960s and the Pitts burg Steelers in the late 1970s, they may not have the most talented team, they are getting old but they know how to win when it counts.
I’m not the biggest fan of New England but if the game is close going into the fourth quarter, the Patriots find a way to win especially with Tom Brady at quarterback. Another key is the two-weeks off they had before the Super Bowl and actually three weeks off in the last five weeks. That is big for an older more experienced team who is needing a rest after a long season. Also Head Coach Bill Belichick and his staff has had time to put together a game plan and get players healthy. In the NFL, which means, “Not For Long,” Bill Belichick has been the head coach of New England for 19 years, so he knows how to game plan for the big game.
The Patriots are 5-3 in Super Bowls with Brady at quarterback and Belichick as head coach. Plus they lost last year in Super Bowl and they hate to lose. I don’t see New England losing in back to back years. New England eases by the Rams, 31-28.
Tracey’s prediction -- At the start of the playoffs, I predicted a Saints/Patriots Super Bowl, with New Orleans taking the title. Well, thanks to the most egregious non-call in the history of sports, that dream match-up will not take place. So, I will have to re-work that prediction.
Here is how I see it. The New England Patriots have all of the experience coming into the game, while the Los Angeles Rams are still wet behind the ears. Brady and head coach Bill Bellichick have been through championship games together and have not lost back-to-back titles ever. So, New England 33, Los Angeles 29
Tony’s prediction -- A meteor shower will occur causing a meteor to crash into Earth somewhere in the northern hemisphere preventing the game from being played.
But, if that does not happen and the game is played, I’ll defer to somebody with a hotline to the Vatican- Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Fr. Blake Dubroc. New England 34, Los Angeles 21.