2012 Superbowl Prediction

2011 GreenBay Packers 1W 100%

New York Giants vs. New England Patriots

As a staunch Giants fan, I am in "Football-Heaven" after enduring a barrage of verbal jabs, trash-talk, insults, and even gestures from Falcons, Packers, and Niners fans all the way up to this year's Superbowl finals in INDY. That being said, I am completely befuddled as to both why and how, the G-Men are early underdogs in this neutral site finale? We are still talking about those same Giants that knocked off those heavily favoured Green Bay Packers on the frozen field of Lambeau stadium to the daring upset of those "hellish" San Fransisco 49'ers on hostile ground rich with both tradition and fans, and (of course) let's not forget the "near" doughnut" they put on a very "offensively potent" Atlanta Falcons team in the early NFC WC game. The Giants have been battling for their playoff lives for (what seems to be) 3 months now! Theoretically, they've clearly EVOLVED into what Charles Darwin would later coin as "natural selection" by football standards; meaning that that through the rigors of competition, the "finest" team shall emerge victorious. That being said, it is quite evident that New England's path to the Superbowl hasn't nearly had quite the same level of adversity, set-backs, or even challenges. However, this is not to say that the Pats won't or shouldn't win the game nonetheless it is a direct "jab" at the line that oddsmakers have set for this much anticipated championship game. I mean, if we sincerely analyze efficiencies or weaknesses of both teams, I think that "Big Blue" is a little more "dangerous" and a little more "proven" at this very moment of the 2012 playoff year. In fact, (depending on who you ask) the New England Patriots are very lucky be playing in the finals after a bobbled last minute catch by Raven's veteran WR Lee Evans in last week's AFC matchup. If that wasn't bad enough, Ravens big-game kicker Billy Cundiff blows an easy chip-shot wide-left to tie that same game and perhaps send it to overtime. Now, that's not to say that the Giants didn't have a little luck on their side, but it's just the "context" in which the G-Men were able to do it. "Big Blue" was able to stymie the Atlanta Flacons (whom actually "frighten" me a little more than the Pats do) on the synergism of effective offense + defense, while it was quite the balanced effort versus the Packers, I was rather impressed by the efficiency and play-calling that the G-Men were able to apply to a stingy Packers defense. Further to this point, was the overall ability of the "Jints" to play solid D against San Fran, when their Pro-Bowl rich offense was clearly sputtering. The obvious conclusion drawn thus far in these playoffs is that the Giants can win games on the heels of their offense or the backs of their defense. As evidenced through NFC WC matchup, their are damn well near impossible to deal with when both are clicking. Of course, this was somewhat the case versus the Green Bay Packers as well. On the flipside, the Pats pretty much smoked the Denver Broncos on home turf. They were able to stiffle "arguably" the most over-rated QB to wear an NFL uni + the shallacking did take place on home soil. But let's face it, Denver is and (pretty much) has always been a great "home" team that relies on momentum and solid defense. The fact that the Patriots were able to draw those clowns off a post-season bye-week whom managed to actually score "homefield advantage" over the Steelers with an 8-and-8 record, was truly a clandestined moment of "divinity" if your a Pats fan. Then those New Englanders went on to face an "aging" Ravens team with a fairly inconsistent offense at home. The Ravens have a sparkling home record, but their road record is satifactory and really nothing to write home about. That being said, I honestly feel the biggest difference between the Ravens and Giants begins and ends @ the QB position. Joe Flacco is certainly no Eli Manning! In fact there a 12 point drop between the two in QB rating and Eli's total playoff passing yards are more than double of that of Flaccos. Okay, Okay, enough of comparing apples to oranges. Let's go apples to apples! The following points will illustrate why I believe the underdog Giants will WIN the Superbowl a couple of Sundays from now:

1. Neutral site game: The Giants road playoff record speaks for itself. Especially, under the direction and leadership of Head Coach Tom Coughlin. The Giants were able to pull off a huge upset victories over the Packers + Steelers on the road and will now face a mix crowd in @ Lucas Oil stadium.

2. The Giants are perfect against the spread: The Giants have consistently covered against the spread in all three playoff games! In fact they seem to rise to the challenge or revel under expectation or "lack there of" from being the game's projected underdog. Being labelled as the "underdog" is inescapable and I'm sure that both teams are more than aware of the significance and cognitive game-play that goes along with being the early "favorite" or "underdog".

3. The line has moved towards the Giants: It looks like oddsmakers, sports enthusiasts, and the general public have placed heavy money on the Giants to cover, so much so, that the line has now moved from 3.5 to as low as 2.5 points (in some cases). Whether you like to chalk this up to insider knowledge or gut instinct, it would seem that the "betting world" has given favourable momentum to Big Blue.

4. Giants are even better than their 2008 Championship team: While some players have come and gone. The Giants have a lot more explosive pieces on offense complimented by the fact that #10 has a little more experience, mileage, and latitude to execute football plays. I believe at the time Eli was pretty much in his second full season as Giants starting QB and wasn't nearly as effective or versatile in his ability to call plays, audible, or deveate from Coughlin's game plan.

5. Giants have precedence: While the Patriots will certainly be looking to avenge their disappointing 2008 Superbowl loss to these same Giants, the Giants will likely be calling upon both the experiences and wisdoms ascertained from a few years back as they approach the 2012 champioship game.

6. Giants simply have a better defense! The "Blue Crush" or Giants front 6 is (arguably) the NFL's best pass rush. I know the Eagles claimed title to statistically having this year's best rush according to total "sack" numbers, but the 2nd ranked Giants were decimated with injuries to a few key players and (guess what?) they're baaaaaaaaaackkk! I think New England sharp shooting QB Tom Brady will be under immense pressure, while their O-Line will likely surrender a few sacks throughout the game. Incidentally, when your O-Line is unable to contain the opposition's defensive pressure, their is a higher probability for turnovers (via interceptions or fumbles)....just saying.

7. New England's pass defense is dreadful! If you thought that the Giants secondary was brutal...Take a look at New England's; horrible! If Im not mistaken, the Pats are around the league's worst, if not the very worst at defending the pass. Eli should have little resistence in carving up New England's shotty secondary.

8. Who's gonna shut down Cruz? Pretty much self explanatory. I think speedy WR Victor Cruz will catch the ball 10+ times on this day. Even if the Pats were to triple team the guy, then who picks up Nicks?

9. The return of Chase Blackburn: I think this menacing ILB will be able to somewhat put a lid on or contain dominant TE Ron Gronkowski from at least barrelling into the Giants breezy secondary. Not everytime, but enough to cause some reservation or hesitation in the Patriots game management. Don't get me worng, "Gronk" will make some big plays, but I just don't think that he will be as effective as many people anticipate, but it's just a "gut feeling" more than anything else. If the defense condenses because there is no "real" threat at the RB position, the Giants will be able to double-team shifty WR Wes Welker and attack Gronkowski.

10. BJ27 will wear down the Pats D-Line: I don't think that the "football" world truly appreciates the dynamics of having a "hulking" RB in Brandon Jacobs coupled with a speedster rusher in Ahmad Bradshaw who can break to the edges and wreak havoc in the secondary. This football "change-up" keeps opposing defenses guessing and fairly off-balanced.

Whatever the case, it should be a good-one. There are pertinent arguments on both sides as to why either team could or should remain victorious, but in either case, we are talking about to storied franchises going head-to-head vying for footballs greatest prize! Enjoy! Take the Giants to cover by +3.

For complete Playoff Predictions from year-to-year please click on the link below:

http://chrishigashi.hubpages.com/hub/2011-NFL-Playoff-Predictions-Picks