In the many years I have written this preseason prediction column, I have never picked the Carolina Panthers to win the Super Bowl.
That changes today.
I believe the Panthers will finally scale the mountain, winning the 51st Super Bowl on Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston.
There will be losses along the way. There will be plenty of adversity to overcome. There always is.
In the regular season, I am picking the Panthers to go 11-5 – a modest record compared with their 15-1 mark of a year ago. These Panthers have the talent and desire inherent in all great teams, and in the playoffs they will have just enough to win the first Super Bowl in franchise history.