it's Super Bowl Time!

Anyone who knows me on Facebook will know that I love the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. This is the Miles Miller Super Bowl, as one of my west coast friends put it, and a repeat of (in my opinion) the greatest Super Bowl ever from a few years ago.

Some people find it hard to believe or understand why I could be a Giants fan (NYC) and a Patriots fan (Boston). This really is not an issue. It is not like Yankees vs. Red Sox, two hated rivals from the same division that play 20 times a season, vying for the same playoff position and whose new coach declares "I hate the Yankees." These are teams from different conferences that meet once every four years during the regular season and only beyond that in the Super Bowl.

- I grew up listening to the Giants on the radio. I waited through the Dan Reeves and terrible Dave Brown years, cheered for the Jim Fassel, Kerry Collins and Tiki Barber team, and now root for the Eli and Coughlin team.
- I have not always been a Patriots fan, but I love Tom Brady. He has been my favorite player for the last 10 years. If you have a problem with me rooting for my favorite player's team then you need to get a life.
-Along with that, the Patriots and Giants are both the biggest rivals of the New York Jets, the football team I detest the most. That's another reason why I'm happy to see them succeed.

This game has so many of my favorite players: Brady and Eli Manning are my favorite QBs, Rob Gronkowski is an advancement in evolution, and Jason Pierre-Paul has emerged as one of the most exciting and explosive defensive players in the league.

What My Heart Says
A lot rides on this game for Tom Brady, Belichek and the Patriots. If Tom Brady wants to justify his claim as the greatest quarterback of all time he needs to win this game. And if he does win, there isn't much critics can argue about. But Bill and Brady haven't won the big game since like 2004, and frankly I don't think they will get another chance after this.

As for the Giants, they have already exceeded expectations this year. All I cared about was that they beat the Cowboys in Week 14 and the Jets in Week 16 and I was happy. They were picked to be 3rd in the division, but they split with the Eagles and swept the Cowboys to grab the playoff spot, then dominated the Falcons and the 15-1 Packers and squeaked past the 49ers, which is more than even Giants fans could expect. Eli has already won a Super Bowl MVP, and he will get more opportunities to repeat over the next decade.

What My Brain Says

The Patriots have Brady, Gronkowski, and Wes Welker, and are slight favorites, but the GMen are clearly the better team. They have beaten the Patriots twice in a row and have the recipe to do it again: an elite pass rush. They have better receivers, a better ground game, better defense. Brady and Belichek are possibly the best QB/coach combo in history, but at this point Eli and Coughlin are just as good. (Coming from someone who hated Eli a year ago, that is saying something!) 49er Alex Smith is probably the most improved offensive player in the NFL but Eli is the runner up.

Who is going to guard Victor Cruz? What about Hakeem Nicks? And if the Patriots manage to do that, what about Mario Manningham, last game's hero? The Pats can't put pressure on Manning and they won't be able to guard all those playmakers. Especially with how the GMen have been playing the last 6 weeks, the Giants will put a lot of points on the board.

Rob Gronkowski is the X-factor. He has a bad ankle right now and while it is highly unlikely that he won't play, his effectiveness is questionable. However, Gronk is the most unguardable player we've seen since, well... ever. If he's on he can score a couple touchdowns and be the difference. Brady will have to have an incredible game for the Patriots to win. Again, that is not outside the realm of possibility, he is Tom Brady. But four reasons for him to be worried: Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora, and Mathis Kiwanuka.

The Giants were 9-7 and the Patriots 13-3, but the Giants are the best and most complete team in the NFL right now and that's why they made it through the NFC. And since the Saints were eliminated already and they don't have to play the Redskins again...

I am only looking for a well-played, entertaining game, and I will be happy with either team winning.

Prediction

Giants 35, Patriots 27