NFL Football
2012-02-05 - New York Giants at New England Patriots
A Sports Betting Pick by Paddy
New York Giants v New England Patriots
Sunday, 5th February 2012 - 6:30pm (ET) - 11.30pm (GMT)
Sunday sees America’s biggest annual sporting event as Superbowl XLVI will be broadcast around the world from the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
After two hard fought and close Championship deciders, the NFC champions New York Giants play the AFC Champs New England Patriots for the biggest prize in American sport.
New England Patriots :
Fifth Superbowl in 11 years
The Patriots have arguably been American football’s dominant force over the last decade. Three Superbowl wins in four years between 2002 and 2005 were followed by a surprise defeat in 2008.
On that occasion, star quarterback Tom Brady was sacked five times in a 17-14 defeat to this year’s opponents, the New York Giants.
However, the Patriots have reached the end of season match for the first time since that 2008 defeat and Brady is still key to the Patriots hopes. He remains the conductor of a well-tuned, potent passing game and the Patriots finished second in the NFL with an average 317.8 yards per game through the regular season.
This season saw Brady throw for the second-most yards in NFL history (5,235) while Wes Welker, the Patriots’ wide receiver, caught 122 passes during the regular season, the fourth-highest total in NFL history.
Only the Steelers and the Cowboys have appeared in more Superbowls than the Patriots and so it’s no surprise that the AFC champions are the 8/11 favourites.
New York Giants :
Capable of repeating 2008 upset
While the New York Giants may be lucky to be in Indianapolis – only a late season collapse by the Dallas Cowboys paved their way into the playoffs and only an injury to San Francisco’s regular kick returner paved the way for them to sneak into the Championship game – the NY side are certainly peaking at the right time.
The Giants come into the game having won five straight games by a very impressive combined score of 141-67 and their rushing yards per game and yards per rush have improved greatly since Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs have both been fit at the same time, which they almost never were during the regular season.
Looking simply at the Giant’s defensive stats from the regular season may also give you a false impression of which way this game will go. The unit is now finally healthy and Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora are ready to take on Tom Brady who had his worst game of the season (239 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions) in the AFC Championship versus the Ravens.
Verdict
It’s worth remembering that when these two teams last met – in week 9 of the regular season in November – it was the Giants that came away with the win.
The Patriots went ahead, 20-17, with 1:36 remaining on Tom Brady’s touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski. However, the Giants snatched the lead with 15 seconds remaining as Eli Manning tossed the winning touchdown pass to Jake Ballard in the end zone. Ballard had beaten linebacker Tracy White to the ball and the Giants won the match, 24-20.
This Sunday’s showpiece is a very tough match to call. The Patriots are the rightful favourites but the Giants are the team in form and have shown that they can win close games.
I’m backing the NFC champions (the Giants) with a 2.5 point start at evens.
FYI: Super Bowl XLVI Money-Back Specials :
Paddy Power will refund all losing First Touchdown, First Team Touchdown, Anytime Touchdown, First 2nd Half Touchdown and Last Touchdown scorer bets if there is a Touchdown scored in the last 2 minutes of regular time in this match.
The Pick :
NY Giants with a 2.5 point start
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Back the NEW YORK GIANTS with a 2.5 point start at 2.00 at Paddy Power.
