BSJ Staff Super Bowl picks

MINNEAPOLIS — Here are the picks from our staff for Super Bowl LII between the Patriots and the Eagles:

Line: Patriots by 4.5. O/U: 48.5.

GREG A. BEDARD

There are a few things I know for a near certainty in this matchup:

• The Eagles are going to have about a half-dozen un-scouted looks ready to use on the Patriots, and they'll have some issues with those. The Patriots will look confused at times, but that's OK. That will happen against an unfamiliar opponent and one that has two weeks to prepare for the Patriots. It doesn't mean the "Eagles are doing X and Y and the Patriots can't stop them." They just have to weather the storm and be ready for it the next time it comes around.


• This will be a tight game for a while. I expect there to be a pretty good feeling out portion of the game because these two teams are so unfamiliar to each other. I expect Tom Brady and the Patriots to try to go fast at times in an attempt to get the Eagles' defensive snap count to climb.


• If the Patriots only run between 50-60 offensive plays, they may have a tough time winning this game. That means the Eagles are playing the game on their terms. The Patriots would ideally like to be above 75 plays. That means the game is being played on their terms, and the Eagles likely don't have the stamina to sustain at the end of the game.