Super fans: Patriots supporters like team’s odds ahead of Sunday’s game

“Coach Belichick is going to use all that nonsense about under inflated footballs as huge motivation,” said Eric Riel of North Attleboro. “And we’re going to dominate the football game.”

“It’s the world against the Patriots,” said Anthony Costa of Cumberland. “Hey, [the Seahawks] have a strong defense, but we’ve got Gronk and he’s healthy, just like the team and we weren’t in that position the last time we played them. Everyone is calling us ‘this’ and ‘that’ and the deflated footballs … but it’s not going to work. I definitely think we’ll win.”

“I like the Patriots a lot,” said “Tootsie” Donato of North Providence. “Seattle shouldn’t even be in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks should have lost to the Packers and the game should be a repeat of Green Bay vs. New England, and the Pats will win.”

Chris Palladini of Lincoln said, “with everyone blasting our guys last week about Deflategate, the players will be on a mission. I’d say we’re probably going to win by two touchdowns.”

“We’re going to win, despite all the unnecessary distractions,” said Albert Miller of Johnston. “Coach Belichick doesn’t like being disrespected and neither do the players. They’re gong to come out firing on all cylinders Sunday.”

Joe Vecchia of Cumberland dismissed Deflategate as a factor. “We’re ready, and the Pats are going win, too!”

Posted Thursday, January 29, 2015 12:46 pm

Pete Fontaine

“Forget ‘Deflategate. Our New England Patriots are going to win the Super Bowl.”

That’s what a number of Johnstonians – as well as residents of North Providence, Cumberland and Lincoln – were saying this week about the recently crowned AFC champion Patriots, who will play the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks in Sunday’s Super Bowl.

And like most people, Cal Calabro – one of Rhode Island’s all-time great softball sluggers – put the Patriots’ ongoing success and that of future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick into perspective.

“Whenever the Patriots are involved in a big game, there’s always controversy,” said Calabro, who was wearing Rob Gronkowski’s No. 87 jersey during Sunday’s Ricky Salzillo Memorial Game Dinner. “Nobody likes the Pats because they’re always on top … But that fine with me. The Patriots are going to win the Super Bowl, and by a touchdown.”

Other folks like Bill LaRocke are perhaps more confident than others when it comes to predicting the final outcome of Super Bowl XLIX. He foresees a 47-22 win for New England.

Here is a sampling of what others foresee during Sunday’s Super Bowl, which will be played in Glendale, Ariz. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m., and the game will televised by NBC.