VALDOSTA — Picking sides for today’s Super Bowl should be simple, right?

Either you’re a Patriots fan, or you’re rooting for the Falcons — especially if you’re from the Peach State, which hasn’t seen a professional championship in any sport since the 1995 Braves.

In fact, as most of you are probably quite aware, the Atlanta Falcons have never won a Super Bowl in their 51-year existence, although they did come painfully close in 1998.

The New England Patriots, on the other hand, have made a league-high nine appearances in the big game, including seven by quarterback Tom Brady, who has the opportunity to become the most-winningest quarterback in NFL history with five Super Bowl titles in addition to a record 207 combined regular-season and postseason victories.

So, Valdostans, root for the team who has never won a Super Bowl or the team who has been there more than anyone else?

Well, it may not be so simple.

Local sports fans must also consider which hometown hero they’d rather see claim the ultimate prize.

The Patriots selected Valdosta High standout Malcolm Mitchell with their fourth round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, and in his rookie season out of the University of Georgia, he’s shown flashes of the talent that helped him become an All-American during his time with the Wildcats. Mitchell has played in 14 games for New England this year, started six, and caught 32 passes for 401 yards and four touchdowns.

When the Falcons’ offense are on the field, it’s hard to take your eyes of Julio Jones and the rest of the explosive cogs in the Dirty Birds’ high-flying offense, but local fans should take a few moments to appreciate the Valdosta State product doing the dirty work to make it all possible.

Right tackle Ryan Schraeder was a two-time All-American at Valdosta State, where he was part of an offensive line that paved the way for the Blazers to rack up 6,571 yards of offense en route to the 2012 Division II National Championship.

The Falcons took a chance on the 6-foot-7, 300-pound DII product in 2013 as an undrafted free agent and he’s since worked his way into Atlanta’s starting lineup, where he’s not just playing, he’s excelling. The football grading website Pro Football Focus rated Schraeder as the best right tackle in the NFL in 2015 and named him to the PFF All-Pro team.

Atlanta recognized what Schraeder brings to the team on Nov. 21, 2016, when they signed him to a five-year worth a maximum of $33 million with $12.5 million guaranteed.

Both Schraeder and Mitchell — who has attained national-recognition through joining a women’s book club and writing the children’s book ‘The Magician’s Hat’ during his time in Athens — are already both great stories that any football fan would cheer for, let alone just Valdostans.

So, Valdosta High or Valdosta State? Mitchell or Schraeder? Patriots or Falcons? Who you got, TitleTown?

Derrick Davis is the sports editor at the Valdosta Daily Times.