Super Bowl prediction

Being on business trips back-to-back (first to Munich, then to Orlando last week), kept me from posting any new insights on the Super Bowl. Now, being just a couple of hours before the game, it’s time to make a prediction.

Lots has already been written, so a brief analysis will do. The Patriots are the favorite for this game, they’re simply stronger in every aspect of the game. And still being undefeated works in their favor. But the Giants have impressed me on the road and they might achieve what the Steelers did in Super Bowl XL. If the final game of the regular season can be any indication (I don’t think so), the Giants seem to have the weapons to beat the Patriots.

Anyway we look at it, this is one great matchup. The NFC has a contender that is strong enough to at least give us the impression the domination of the AFC will be broken. And the rivalry between New York and Boston is always good for a game. But like the Yankees not being up to the challenge of the Red Sox, I don’t see the Giants walk away with this one either.

So my pick for the Super Bowl XLII Champions: the New England Patriots.

Possible Super Bowl matches

With the AFC and NFC Championship games being played this weekend, there are only four possible match-ups for the Super Bowl. Some of them look better than others, so let?s take a look at each of them.

Green Bay vs New England
This one is the wet dream of every football fan. The two best quarterbacks this season, both already legends. Brett Favre is one of the best all-time, his stats prove that. And you can?t be any bigger than Favre is right now in Green Bay. Tom Brady is also a legend, getting three Super Bowl victories already. And his stats this season are brilliant, as the game against Jacksonville showed last week.

But can this game live up to the expectations? On paper it looks good, Green Bay certainly has the defense to stop New England. But as we?ve seen, you need more to stop Brady from executing. I don?t think Green Bay has the offensive weapons to stay in this game until the end and the Patriots will simply be too strong. Then again, Favre can create a scoring drive out of nothing. So this one certainly will be interesting.

New York Giants vs New England
Is there a bigger rivalry possible than those between Boston and New York? I know, technically the Patriots are not from Boston, but still. This one will bring up the best and worst in fans in both cities. There is so much more on the line than just a win in the Super Bowl, it?s about the honor of the city.

But looking at the game, I don?t think New England will have a lot of trouble with the Giants. The Giants have been inconsistent all season, even with Manning finding some stability in the final games. They will need Eli to play once again at his best, and even then I don?t give them much of a chance. But you?ll never know, in these rivalry games anything can happen.

And more remarkable, the Giants and the Patriots played each other in the last game of pre-season and the last game of the regular season. Wouldn?t it be nice to have them play the final game of the post-season as well?

Green Bay vs San Diego
This game brings nothing extra to the Super Bowl. San Diego has a nice team and is doing great this post-season, but there is not very much emotion. They did a remarkable job against Indianapolis, but that win can be put completely on the inability of Peyton Manning not to finish it.

Looking at the game, I think Green Bay would prefer the Chargers above the Patriots. They have a good shot at winning the Super Bowl against them. Both teams are about equal in strength, but I favor Green Bay to win this one. They look more like a team and will fight to give Favre his second title. This might be an interesting game, but it won?t excite neutral fans as much as the other possibilities.

New York Giants vs San Diego
The Battle of the Draft. Eli Manning and Philip Rivers where both in the 2004 draft, with Eli being picked first by San Diego. Rivers was the 4th pick by the Giants. That gives this game an interesting twist. And that is about as much excitement this game will bring.

Both teams have had inconsistent seasons. Both have shown they can step up during the playoffs. But these are not the strongest teams coming from their conference. So while there will be a lot to write about this game before the Super Bowl, I don?t think this one will be getting exciting reviews afterwards.