SUPER BOWL PREDICTIONS: Islanders give their best guesses about the big game

Published 11:03 am Saturday, January 31, 2015

Well, obviously, the Hawks are going to win. The only question is by how much?

At least that’s the picture painted by the 12s on Bainbridge Island.

The staff of the Review sought out the Super Bowl predictions of several learned and wise islanders this week to see where they came down on the outcome of this year’s big game against the Patriots.

The island’s own resident football guru, Bainbridge High School Head Football Coach Andy Grimm — a man of few words when it comes to game time — got right at the heart of the matter with his succinct prediction.

“Go Hawks! 24-21,” he said.

Bainbridge parks executive director Terry Lande — who attended the Hawks’ first game in 1976 — predicts a 31-24 score that hopefully doesn’t come down to the last second. It’s tribulation enough getting through the game, he said.

“We just pace and talk to the TV,” Lande said of watching the big game. “We can’t watch it with other people. No one understands how we watch the game.”

Dave Erbes, a building permit specialist for the city, is inarguably the biggest Seahawks fan at Bainbridge Island City Hall. Before the Seahawks took on Green Bay in the NFC Championship, he colored his facial hair to match the team’s colors.

He’s been following the team for more than 30 years, and can still recall the silk jacket emblazoned with Seahawks armbands that he sported in the Chuck Knox era.

Erbes was hesitant to predict a final score, but said Seattle would come through in the end.

“I think it’s going to be a really good game, a lot better than last year’s,” Erbes said.

“It’s going to come down to our offense and their defense,” he said. “Our defense is going to shut their offense down.”

Erbes said he expects either a low score game, with less than 14 points apiece, or a really high scoring affair for both teams.

The winner will be decided by a touchdown, he said.

“It’s going to be a close game,” Erbes said.

Coleen Edwards, a travel desk volunteer at the Bainbridge Island Senior Center, said she’ll be watching the game from her easy chair.

Her prediction is 21-17, and even if that’s not the exact score, she imagines it will be close.

“I think we need to do away with the first half and just play the second half,” she said.

Her daughter, Nancy Hunziker, has even higher hopes for the Seahawks. After being banned all last year from watching the Seahawks games — they lost each time she watched — she’s thrilled to see her team back at the top.

“Of course the Hawks are gonna win,” she said. “43-3.”

BHS Cheer Squad Head Coach Tawnya Jackson said that she just knew the Hawks would win, but would not be surprised if it was another nail-biting fourth-quarter comeback.

“Well, we’re going to win,” she laughed. “They’re not going to play as well in the first half, but then the second half is when they’re going to come back.

The final score? Jackson said 30-21.

At Seabold United Methodist Church, which is hosting a food drive in connection with the Super Bowl, Pastor Robert Henre said he also has faith in the home team.

“My prediction is 31-24 Seahawks, though God could care less about who wins. I do and so does Seabold UMC … Go Hawks!”

And a few predictions from Facebook:

Doug Schulze: “31-17 Seahawks.”

Victor Michael Green: “27-20 … I’m just here so I won’t get fined.”