Americans Pick Favorite Super Bowl Team

A new nationwide Clarus Poll shows that more Americans want the San Francisco 49ers to win Sunday's Super Bowl than do the Baltimore Ravens--but the margin is close. The poll, conducted by Clarus Research Group, finds that 35 percent of U.S. adults want the 49ers to win and 31 percent prefer the Ravens. In addition, 34 expressed no preference for either team. "Seems that the nation is divided, not just about politics but also about football," said Ron Faucheux, president of Clarus and a Georgetown resident. The poll also finds: -- GENDER: Men by a 37 percent to 35 percent margin prefer the Ravens, while women by a wider 35 percent to 25 percent margin want the 49ers to win. -- POLITICAL PARTY: Republicans are mostly 49er fans (by a wide 43 percent to 26 percent margin), but Democrats prefer the Ravens 39 percent to 33 percent. Independents were nearly evenly split, voting 29 percent for the 49ers and 28 percent for the Ravens. -- REGION: As would be expected, the Ravens do best in the Northeast (47 percent to 24 percent), while the 49ers do best in the West (41 percent to 27 percent). Both the South and the Midwest lean to the 49ers.

Prepared by Ron Faucheux, President, CLARUS RESEARCH GROUP