As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, local high school students remain split on who will come out on top. While some predict a blowout victory for the Seattle Seahawks, others are expecting the New England Patriots to win. 

Palo Alto High School freshman Connor Bond predicted a shutout Seahawks win, saying Seattle would control the game from start to finish.

“The Seahawks are going to win 38-10,” Bond said.

Bond anticipates a dominant Seahawks offense, led by 2025 offensive player of the year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and expects Patriots’ Drake Maye to add yards on the ground. While confident in Seattle’s performance, Bond predicted Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold will throw one interception and that the game could include a fumble.

However, other students believe the Patriots will add another Super Bowl title to their franchise history. Sophomore Alon Milman cited Maye as the key difference-maker.

“They have the best player in the league,” Milman said. “That’s why they’re the better team.”

Milman predicted the Patriots would trail at halftime before staging a comeback in the second half. He also addressed criticism that New England does not “deserve” another championship because of its past dynasty.

“Both teams deserve to win,” Milman said. “It’s impressive to even get through the playoffs.”

Milman imagined the game ending dramatically, expecting the Seahawks to pass at the goal line late in the game and subsequently lead to a Patriots interception that could set up a game-winning drive. This scenario reflects the last Super Bowl meeting between the two franchises, when a late Seattle pass at the goal line sealed a Patriots victory. 

Whether the game ends in a Seahawks blowout or Patriots comeback, students agree the championship game is one of the most anticipated sporting events. For Milman, the deciding factor is simple.

“They [Patriots] have the goat [greatest of all time] Drake Maye,” he said.