When it came down to siding with either the New England Patriots or the Philadelphia Eagles for Super Bowl LII, many sports fans had no problem choosing their allegiance.
Now, the most important voice has weighed in.
On Thursday, Cincinnati's friendly neighborhood sports fan Fiona the hippo made her Super Bowl prediction on "The Fiona Show," which just began its second season on Facebook Watch.
Her pick couldn't have been more fitting for an animal whose odds were so stacked against her when she was born prematurely last year.
That said, she chose the Eagles, decidedly the underdog in the contest.
“This is Fiona’s first sports prediction,” said Christina Gorsuch, Cincinnati Zoo’s curator of mammals. “For her, the real choice is which of the boxes looks like the better toy and closest to something she would like to eat!”
Many animals have earned reputations for accuracy in sports predictions. For example, a German octopus named Paul had an 80 percent accuracy rate for his soccer predictions. If Fiona picks the right team her first time around, she is likely to be tapped again for predictions.
According to a poll on the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden's Facebook page, the majority of voters — 70 percent — hope she'd side with the Eagles, who are making their third-ever Super Bowl appearance.
The other 30 percent hoped she'd choose the Patriots, the reigning Super Bowl champions who are making their 10th championship game appearance, eight of which have come since 2001.
Fiona's big decision was the subject of the second episode of "The Fiona Show," which began its second season Jan. 24 with an episode that brought everyone together to celebrate the hippo's first birthday.
The unifying nature of America's daughter didn't stop sports fans from talking smack ahead of Fiona's decision, though.
"Fiona is a winner. She'll pick the Patriots," one commenter wrote on the zoo's Facebook poll.
"Looks to me like she's bored with the Patriots," another suggested.
One commenter, who is definitely not an ally of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, spoke for all non-Patriots fans: "Fiona, you're too young to know how to cheat!!! Go Eagles!!!!"
The prediction isn't the only Super Bowl event Fiona is partaking in. In partnership with Rebel Pilgrim and Rookwood Pottery, Cincinnatians will also get to see the aquatic water diva in a commercial that will air during the big game Sunday, the zoo said.
Despite your side, one thing everyone can agree with is this might be as great as the Puppy Bowl, which premieres before the game at 3 p.m. and features three puppies from Animal Friends Humane Society in Franklin, Ohio.
Super Bowl LII will take place Sunday at approximately 6:30 p.m.
