NFL Mocks Makes Their Superbowl Prediction Against the Spread

Today is the big game and everyone is throwing out their predictions, even big time celebrities I’m pretty sure do not watch much football. I’ve been doing a prediction segment all year so why stop now.

Much has been made of the Giants and the Patriots history this week. The Giants beat the Patriots in Superbowl 42, a game in which featured very few of the same players for the New England Patriots, while many of the Giants “core” players were all involved in that game: Osi Umeinyora, Justin Tuck, David Diehl, Kareem McKenzie, Chris Snee, Corey Webster, Bradshaw, Jacobs, Bradshaw, Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin to name the lot. (There were others like Kicker Lawerence Tynes and LB Chase Blackburn). While on the Patriots the mainstays were mainly Vince Wilfork, Tom Brady, and Coach Belichick.

But these two teams are very different from what they were. The Patriots were then a down field threat highlighted by their terrific WR Randy Moss. Now the Patriots throw a lot of balls in between the numbers and rely on the yards after the catch from Welker and their tight ends. They rarely throw effectively down the field outside. The Giants were a ball control team that relied on a powerful run game and big more possession type wide receivers like Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress. Now the Giants throw the ball down field as effectively as any team in the league and are one of the worst teams in the league (statistically the worst) at running the football.

Even from earlier this season these teams are dramatically different.

In week 9 the New York Giants were without their starting center (David Baas) their top WR (Hakeem Nicks) and their best running back (Bradshaw). The Patriots defense was very different then, now the Patriots defense is mixing in a lot more fronts on defense and are playing much better.

The Patriots opened up as 3 point favorites (but in the gambling world, I believe the Patriots were “small” three point favorites and the giants were “large” three point favorites-where you make less money typically betting on the Patriots then you would a normal 3 point favorite), and have remained three point favorites through the whole process.

In week 9 the Giants and Patriots held each other scoreless in the first half before both teams exploded for 44 points in the second half. I expect that to continue in this game. The Giants have struggled to cover tight ends all year and the Patriots have struggled to cover everyone all year.

Here’s why I think the Patriots can win:

-Their defense is playing better and the Giants OL is one of the worst in the league.

The Patriots should be able to apply more pressure than people think with their improved player and the regression of the Giants offensive line.

-Belichick has had two weeks to prepare for the Giants offense

The Patriots might throw a lot at the Giants to keep them unbalanced early which could cause troubles.

-The Giants have struggled against two tight end sets this year and no team excels at that more than the Patriots.

-The Patriots have a big advantage on special teams.

Here’s why I think the Giants can win

-The Giants front four is the best in the league and they may not have to blitz a lot to get to Tom Brady.

-If the OL blocks fairly well the Patriots just do not have the defensive secondary talent to cover Hakeem Nicks, Cruz, and Manningham

-The field surface favors the Giants

This is an extremely fast track and this really helps the Giants on offense and defense. The Giants have a lot of athletic ability on offense and they should be at top speed.

On defense the Defensive linemen should be at their absolute fastest on that track and this could be bad for the Giants.

The prediction

The New England Patriots win 27-24. I’m a Giants fan, but this game really worries me. The Giants have beaten the Patriots in the last two meetings they have faced each other (outside of pre-season) and it is just so difficult to beat the Patriots consistently. Even though I’ve made a big deal about how different the teams are, one of these times it seems likely that Brady will have a huge game.

The Giants are talking too much. Every man on the Giants seems to be too busy yapping. Even though their coach says “talk is cheap, play the game” no one on the Giants is listening.

I don’t know what the Giants are doing in practice, but you hear all of the things the Patriots are doing n practice this week-they practiced in pads on Monday, they practiced an extra half an hour last week. This week they also took a thirty minute break in the middle of practice before getting back on the field. It just seems like this team is going over-board with preparation I’m sure the Giants are too, it just sticks out for me.

Really this game should come down to the final minutes and who makes a play. This game is a coin-toss game, but with how many people are picking the Giants and how much they are yapping it just feels like a Patriots win.

and leave you predictions in the comments

Home/NFL Draft