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Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, who has made his opening statements at bimonthly Board of Public Works meetings can’t-miss political theater for at least the last year, returned to a favorite topic Wednesday morning: handicapping Maryland professional sports.
“I’m making plans for an I-95 Super Bowl between the Redskins and the Ravens,” said Franchot, who in March predicted the Washington Nationals would make the World Series while offering more tepid support for the Baltimore Orioles.
He reminded those in attendance Wednesday of his Major League Baseball predictions but admitted he did not foresee both of Maryland’s National Football League teams making the playoffs. (The Washington Redskins play their home games at FedEx Field in Landover.)
The first round of the NFL playoffs begins this weekend. The Ravens will host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at 1 p.m., while the Redskins will host the Seattle Seahawks at 4:30 p.m. The teams would have to win Sunday and then twice more to meet in the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Feb. 3.
It’s unclear whether Franchot’s endorsement is a good sign for fans of the Ravens and Redskins. Both the Orioles and the Nationals made the playoffs after years of ineffectiveness, but neither advanced past the second round.
What is clear is that having two teams in the NFL playoffs is good for the state coffers, Franchot said, because the teams’ success has put consumers in high spirits.
“Trust me, I can see it in the sales tax revenue,” he said. “People feel better.”
