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EDMONTON, AB -The Super Bowl is an annual event that seems to transcend normal barriers of sports. Athletes from all different leagues and backgrounds watch as the final two teams left standing in the National Football League duke it out for supremacy.

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Some will barely watch the game, like Mark Letestu - who is celebrating his birthday today. Zack Kassian is excited for the commercials, while Finnish forward Iiro Pakarinen - who attended his first football game earlier this season in Pittsburgh - is excited to continue his newfound interest in the North American sport, but he's not overly invested in the outcome.
Those are some of the low-end football fans around the room, while others have a more significant interest in the game.
"Fly, Eagles Fly," said Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse, whose uncle is former Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb. "I've got a soft spot for Philly for sure, having gone to games and stuff as a kid. But it's hard to go against the Patriots. Every time you think their time is over, they find a way to win. I'm going to say Fly, Eagles Fly, but I'm not sure what's going to happen."
He's actually more of a Tennessee Titans fan now, but they lost to New England in the divisional round.
"Tennessee is actually my team," he said. "I was a big Tennessee fan growing up. When they got knocked out I was kind of sad. Marcus Mariota is my favourite quarterback now."
Oilers Captain Connor McDavid is a casual fan of the Buffalo Bills, who ended the longest drought in professional sports this past season by making the playoffs.
"I follow the Bills a little bit, just with them being so close to Toronto," said McDavid. "When I played in Erie, I was in a billet house (where the family) were diehard Bills fans. I kind of went along with that and tried to get on the board."
But he also finds it hard to pick against the Patriots in this game.
Which brings us to Milan Lucic, who played eight seasons in Boston, and who several players describe as the biggest NFL guy in the room.
"Big Looch, I think wears his Tom Brady shirt to the rink everyday," joked Nurse. "He's a big Patriots fan. He can't cut the cord with the Patriots, and is definitely the biggest football fan in the room."
"We have a lot of football fans who are just fans of the League and they don't really care who wins," said McDavid. Lucic is not one of those casual fans.
As for predictions, the majority of players in the dressing room Sunday chose the Patriots, who are searching for their sixth championship.
"I've got the Patriots, just because I went to school in Boston," said defenceman Matt Benning. "I went to a few Patriots games actually when I was there, which was cool. I got to see them play, but I like both teams."

EDMONTONOILERS.COM PREDICTION:

Patriots 27, Eagles 23