Super Bowl XLII Fearless Prediction

After what seemed like four months of endless Super Bowl discussion, it is finally the eve of the big game. The perfect New England Patriots will take on the ultimate underdog in the New York Giants. No matter what happens tomorrow, Super Bowl XLII will be remembered forever. Either the Pats go 19-0 or the Giants spoil the Pats chance at history.

Even though the Giants are the ultimate underdog, many "experts" are picking them to stay close or even win tomorrow. I've heard countless guests on Mike and the Maddog and other shows this week say they think the Giants will win. So for that, I am sick of the Giants and their fans saying that no is one giving them a shot. It simply isn't true. Yes, the majority is picking the Pats, but 35-40% for an ultimate underdog is a big number.

I really can't believe that many people are picking them. It is funny how perception works in the mind of people. The Patriots aren't playing well, and the Giants are playing great. The reality is the Patriots are still beating people by multiple possessions and the Giants have gone to the gun two straight games. The Giants have been impressive no doubt, but the Patriots are a team for the ages.

As for the game. I expect the Patriots to revert back to midseason form and put up well over 30 points. On the fast track in a warm climate, the Patriots can spread them out and pick apart the weak Giants secondary. I know the Giants secondary has played valiently shorthanded this postseason, but the Pats are a different animal than the Cowboys or Packers. Some players are coming back, but I don't think it will make much of a difference. I expect Tom Brady to use Randy Moss more than he has, but I really expect Wes Welker to have an enormous game.

The Patriots running game has also performed very well this postseason. Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk have been outstanding. There are just too many weapons for Brady to play with, and lets face it, his ankle will be just fine. Remember Super Bowl XXXVI when Brady came in with a legit injury? He did just fine leading a far inferior offense than this current one down the field in the final moments.

The Giants need a lot of things to go right for them to pull the upset. They will need Eli Manning to continue to play flawless football. The Pats' defense can be scored upon, but will the Giants score when the Pats really tighten up? While old in spots, the Patriots' defense has come up huge late in the game everytime they have needed to this year.

The Giants will have to score touchdowns and not settle for field goals, and definitely not turn the ball over. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw will have to eat up the clock and thus keep the ball away from Brady. If they can't run the ball tomorrow, they really have no chance to win. Because even if Manning throws five touchdowns and Plaxico Burress and company tare it up, they won't win a high-paced shootout with New England.

The Giants are also going to have to hope for their defensive front four to get to Brady a few times, and hopefully force a fumble. They will also need Domenik Hixon to continue to be extremely effective on kickoff returns. Remember he returned one against the Pats in Week 17.

The Giants winning tomorrow would be a bigger upset in my opinion than the Broncos over the Packers (XXXII), the Patriots over the Rams (XXXVI), and would be on par with the Jets beating the Colts in Super Bowl III. The extra week off would make it even more impressive. The Giants probably had a much better shot winning if the Super Bowl was last week and not this week. Giving Bill Belichick two weeks to prepare is almost illegal (maybe it is in some spots).

Therefore...

New England Patriots 38, New York Giants 24
MVP: Tom Brady (Going out on a limb!)

Pat Morgan