Tim Ajmani
The Corsair
And then there were two… The 2011-2012 NFL season has given us many spectacular plays, games, and memories. But now the main event is finally here: Super Bowl Sunday. In what will probably be one of the most anticipated Super Bowl’s in quite some time, the New England Patriots will square off against the New York Giants for the chance to be called Super Bowl champions. It is a rematch of the memorable matchup in Super Bowl XLII a few years ago, when the Giants upset the heavily favored Patriots 17-14.
The Patriots come into the Super Bowl after a 13-3 regular season with the crown of AFC East champions. They won their first playoff game in the divisional round, a 45-10 destruction of the upstart Denver Broncos. New England found itself in a bit of a tussle with Baltimore in the AFC Championship game, but pulled through in the end 23-20. On the other end of the spectrum, the New York Giants traveled a much more difficult path.
In the Wild Card playoffs, the Giants defeated the Atlanta Falcons 24-2. Afterwards, the upset the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in the divisional round 37-20. They booked their second ticket in the past couple years to the Super Bowl by defeating the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 in the NFC Championship game. Sunday’s game looks to be a good one. Who do I think will win…?
New England Patriots vs. New York Giants – Sunday 5:29 CT
While being a rematch of a previous Super Bowl, these two teams met in New England during the regular season as well. The Giants beat the Patriots 24-20 in that game, with Eli Manning leading a late Giants scoring drive to secure the victory. I think this game will be different. Yes, both the Giants and Patriots have played very well defensively in the playoffs thus far. But I think this is the game that will feature two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL going at it blow-for-blow. One key that could decide the game will be special teams play. Special teams plays aided the Giants in their victory against the 49ers. Poor special teams play by Baltimore sealed their fate against the Patriots. But I think whoever has the ball last, will win the game. And that team will be…
The pick: Giants 34, Patriots 31
On the season:
Regular season picks: 63-33
Upset picks: 3-3
Playoffs: 5-5