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My Super Bowl picks have been less than stellar. They’ve been downright horrible, in fact.

Last year, I predicted Carolina would defeat Denver, 27-16, with Cam Newton being the game’s MVP. Denver wound up winning in a romp and Newton had one of his worst games of the season.

Two years ago, Seattle took on New England. The Seahawks were defending Super Bowl champions and I picked them to repeat. They probably should have — if not for that horrible interception at the goal line in the closing seconds.

Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch was my pick for MVP. Not.

Then, of course, there was the Denver-Seattle game of three years ago. I thought Peyton Manning would rule the evening and be MVP in a 28-17 Bronco victory.

The game was a 43-8 Seattle laugher.

Oh, well.

You see the trend.

It’s my fault the Steelers lost that Super Bowl to the Packers a few years ago. I had Pittsburgh winning, naturally.

But as most losers do — the 0-14 Tampa Bay Bucs of 1976, the 9-73 Philadelphia 76ers of 1972-73, the 42-120 New York Mets of 1962, the Cleveland Browns of any recent year — I will get up, dust off my pigskin prognosticating skills and try this again.

New England vs. Atlanta. Arguably the best quarterback of all-time against the hottest offense in the NFL, regular season and postseason.

Honestly, the outcome of this game seems so obvious. Tom Brady has played in six Super Bowls himself. The entire Falcons’ roster has played in a combined five.

Experience counts for everything here.

New England is going to score its points. Bill Belichick will find a way to take away the Falcons’ biggest offensive threat in receiver Julio Jones.

This Super Bowl is another game to Brady.

This Super Bowl is legacy-defining for Matt Ryan, a chance for “Matty Ice” to finally play on the biggest of football stages.

But he’s up against Belichick. He’s up against one of the best run defenses in football. He’s facing a situation where he may have to out-duel Brady to bring home the trophy.

Ryan should be named the NFL’s MVP for the season. He deserves it. His numbers are phenomenal.

But this Super Bowl will be about New England. It will be about a team that’s found a way to win nine straight games without its biggest offensive threat in tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Belichick and Brady will stand together on the post-game podium, all smiles as commissioner Roger Goodell hands over the hardware.

Goodell may be smiling on the outside. On the inside, not so much.

It will be the Patriots’ day. My pick is New England, 34-21, with Julian Edelman as the game’s MVP.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle