Super Bowl XLVI Prediction

I know it's Monday and there is still 6 days to go before the Super Bowl but I have a little time right now to get my prediction written down.  I have a fairly busy week this week with leading small group, several times speaking and this weekend helping take some college students down to Myrtle Beach for Converge (winter retreat for college students across the state of South Carolina).

Once again, I go into the Super Bowl matchup with a 6-4 record after correctly predicting the conference championship games.  This year's matchup is a rematch of Super Bowl XLII back in February 2008 between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots.  New York vs. Boston, another epic matchup between those two cities.

The last time both teams were in the big games was that matchup that saw the then undefeated Patriots lose to the underdog Giants.  I'm sure there will be many references to that game for the next week or so.  In fairness, these are two different teams now than when these two teams faced off 4 years ago.

This version of the Patriots have a defense that is less than stellar, though they did pick it up in the playoffs.  Their receiver corps is probably less talented than the previous version but their TEs with Gronkowski and Hernandez are better (though the health of Gronk's ankle will come into question).  I would say the Pats running game this time around is a little better and one can never count out Tom Brady especially with a week off to rest up.

This version of the Giants has again a top notch front 4, I would say their linebackers are probably not as good as their SB winning team and their secondary is hit or miss.  Their receiving corps is better this time around with Nicks, Cruz & Manningham.  Their running game is probably better but it's inconsistent though recently they've been a little bit more consistent.  Eli Manning is playing better this year and could rightfully be considered a top flight QB.

Last time around I picked the Pats because I wanted to see an undefeated season.  This time around there's not that so it makes for a harder game to figure.  Both teams have their strengths and weaknesses.  Both head coaches (Tom Coughlin & Bill Belicheck) are veteran coaches who know how to win.

Best way to decide?  Go with the fantasy football team.  I have three players in this game:  Wes Welker and Stephen Gostkowski for the Pats & Ahmad Bradshaw for the Giants.  Both Welker & Bradshaw had weeks where they scored the most points for my team in the regular season.  Welker had more of those.  I'm going with that.  Pats get revenge for Super Bowl XLII and beat the Giants.

Patriots 27 Giants 24