The Super Bowl is finally upon us and it has all the makings of a classic. Both the Giants and Patriots are among the most storied franchises in the league. On top of that, you may not have heard but these two teams played each other in the Super Bowl four years ago. Here is my prediction for the game along with x-factors for each team.
Giants x-factor: Mario Manningham, wide receiver- Most of the national attention has gone to Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, but Manningham has played very well this postseason having caught a touchdown in all three games. He is also set to be a free agent after this game and a big performance on a worldwide spotlight could get Manningham a very nice payday with so many teams looking for big play threats.
Patriots x-factor: Aaron Hernandez, tight end- Most of the week leading up to this game the focus has been on Rob Gronkowski’s injured ankle. While Gronkowski has been fantastic this season, it is possible that Hernandez is the better overall receiver of the two. With the Giants linebacker corps banged up, Hernandez should be in for a big game as he is utilized as a traditional tight end or in the slot.
Prediction: Two aspects where the Giants are very strong include their wide receivers and their pass rush. Coincidentally, these are the two things that are huge blows to the Patriots as their secondary has been exposed all season long while the offensive line is a bit banged up. If the Patriots want to win this game, they will have to keep Tom Brady upright as the Giants rush certainly has the ability to create turnovers. The fact that Eli Manning has been excellent for the Giants in the clutch doesn’t hurt his teams’ chances either. My prediction is Giants 27 Patriots (-3.5) 21.
Aaron Resnick
The Field Goal Post 