Jeff Gross - Getty Images
Mercifully. Finally.
We are finally getting our blindfolds and final cigarettes for the 2011 NFL season Cowboys fans. Rejoice!
I figured it would be fun for us to get one last round of Pick'Em embarrassment for the road, so I coerced some of my fellow FPW's to take a stab at picking a winner for Super Bowl XLVI, the New York Giants vs. the New England Patriots. This has to be one of the worst matchups for Dallas fans, right? I can only think of a couple that would be worse; San Francisco vs. Pittsburgh, Washington vs. Pittsburgh, Philly vs. Pittsburgh... you catch my drift.
Here's the "Vegas" breakdown for the contest.
New York Giants vs New England Patriots (-3) O/U: 54.0
Both teams fared well straight up away from home. The Giants compiled a 7-3 record and the Pats a 6-2 record on the road. NYG maintained that record against the spread (ATS), but NE dropped to 5-3. On the road, against teams with winning records at the time of the game, NYG went 4-2 S/U, ATS and O/U (W: @NE, @DAL, @GB, @SF L: @SF, @NO). NE went 3-2 S/U, ATS and O/U against winning road teams (W: @OAK, @NYJ, @DEN L: @BUF, @PIT).
Follow the jump to see how Dave, O.C.C., Tom and myself see the game shaking out.
KD: Patriots 24 Giants 20
I think Brady's tired of the BS 'Giants are in his head' and comes out, lighting up the Giants weak secondary, specifically Antrel Rolle. The interception Eli threw that went through Asante's hands four years ago, actually gets picked by Kyle Arrington this time around, as the Giants try to rally late but fall short on the turnover. Manning face for everyone!
O.C.C. Patriots 30 Giants 23
1. Tom Brady
2. The Patriots have the better offensive line
3. The Giants had a +7 turnover ratio for the season, they are +5 in the playoffs (one turnover and six takeaways). That luck will not last.
Tom: Giants 24 Patriots 13
Not because they are such a superior team. Just my expectation that one team usually comes out flat or tight and things tend to get out of hand, and this is my guess on it. It could easily go the other way, but I do expect a double digit margin this year. Just like I said, I think one of the teams will not have that great a game.
Dave: Patriots 31 Giants 24
Tom Brady needs to get his revenge, and with the help of good pass protection and a short passing game, he'll get it. This offensive strategy neutralizes the Giants biggest strength, their pass rush. On defense the Pats do not let Eli Manning roll out to his right, limiting the damage from Nicks and Cruz. It will be a competitive game with Brady being the difference-maker.
Here's a look Bodog.com's Bovada.lv's prop bets I found interesting.
| Prop Bet | Favorite | Top Odds | Interesting Long Shot |
|---|---|---|---|
| MVP | Tom Brady(7/5) | Manning (9/4) Cruz (8/1) Nicks (12/1) | Jake Ballard (100/1) |
| 1st TD | Gronkowski (6/1) | Hernandez (7/1) BGE (15/2) Cruz (15/2) | DJ Ware (50/1) |
| Gatorade Shower Color | Clear/Water (3/2) | Orange (5/2) Yellow (5/2) | Blue (10/1) |
| Manning TDs | 2 (+225) | 3 (+250) 1 (+275) | 0 (+600) |
| Brady TDs | 4+ (+230) | 2 (+250) 3 (+250) | 0 (+750) |
| 1st Giants TD | Nicks (7/2) Cruz (7/2) | Bradshaw (9/2) Jacobs (6/1) | Bear Pascoe (22/1) |
| 1st Pats TD | Gronkowski (3/1) | Hernandez (4/1) Welker (4/1) | Edelman (20/1) |
| 1st Interception | Arrington (13/2) | McCourty (15/2) Ross (10/1) | Boley (18/1) |
| MVP 1st thanked | Teammates(5/4) | No one (5/2) God (4/1) | Coach (12/1) |
Over/Unders
| Over/Under Prop | Benchmark |
|---|---|
| Dow Jones Day After | 0 |
| Online Viewers | 1.5 million |
| Robert Kraft Sightings | 3.5 |
| Excessive Celebration Penalties | 0.5 |
| Peyton Manning sightings | 3.5 |
| Kelly Clarkson's anthem will take | 1 min 24 sec |
| Manning Passing Yards | 315.5 |
| Manning Longest Completion | 45.5 |
| Bradshaw Rush Attempts | 13.5 |
| Bradshaw Yds 1st Carry | 3.5 |
| Nicks Longest Catch | 26.5 |
| Cruz Longest Catch | 29.5 |
| Tynes Total Points | 7.5 |
| JPP Tackles & Assists | 5.5 |
| JPP sacks | 0.5 |
| Brady Passing Yards | 320.5 |
| Brady Longest Completion | 42.5 |
| BGE Total Rush Yards | 47.5 |
| Woodhead Rush Attempts | 5.5 |
| Woodhead Catch Yards | 12.5 |
| Welker Catch Yards | 82.5 |
| Gostkowski Total Points | 8.5 |
| Mayo Tackles & Assists | 7.5 |
| Mark Anderson Sacks | 0.5 |
0 recs | 75 comments
Personally I think this is perhaps the worst SB match-up in history
You have two teams that spent the better part of the season proving that they were mediocre. A team with NE’s defense in the Super Bowl? Lombardi is rolling over in his grave. A team with Eli as it’s strength? Please!
My prediction follows the above guys, I see Brady taking charge early and often. I might even end up laying money on this game. JPP is not enough to keep the Giants in it. Nor should he have been when the Cowboys faced them at year’s end.
JMHO
DalaiLuke - February 5, 2012
Then again...
… the most fitting SB match-up in history for an altogether mediocre, corporately self-hyped BS season from Suckitude to BS SB. Hopefully forgettable, to boot.
Mmmm … draft
season…atime foroptimistsanotherTo the Trinity.
Game, Team and Fans.
Here’s to ya, ladies and gentlemen (term used loosely, guys). Thanks for the season. Savour the day, the game, ’cuz this is…
tanstaafl - February 5, 2012
I just wanted to say!
I have hated the last few SB attendees! Ok on to more important matters. I commented that the iPod/iPhone app needs a rec button. It seems that if you type it out the system registers it. I found this out by typing it on a new fan post that had not been recommended. Just thought I’d share the info!
mho - February 5, 2012 via iPhone app
oh yeah
Giants 35 Pats 21
mho - February 5, 2012 via iPhone app
KD you forgot one.....
How many times will Dallas fans say “Eli is so lucky , that should have been intercepted” I say 12………….because that’s what Dallas fans do when Eli plays
football mensa - February 5, 2012
Youre complaining about Cowboys fans complaining?
BrickTop - February 5, 2012 via mobile
no he's just complaining,
that’s what he does……….
scotscowboyfan - February 5, 2012
does that make him a bitch?
DIRE WOLF - February 5, 2012
Actually I find humor in the fact that Dallas fans don't want to give Eli credit.
I don’t know why that’s so hard to do. He has played well this season and he has been very good in the playoffs. You should never let emotion cloud your opinion. It’s a team game and he is part of that team. He plays the most important position on the team and he has delivered up to this point.
football mensa - February 5, 2012
then why not become a NY fan? Or maybe you are a NY troll in disguise.
fiverings37 - February 5, 2012
So fiverings would you admit Tom Brady is a great qb ? What about
Peyton Manning or Drew Brees ? All of those qb’s are better than Eli. Does that mean I should become a fan of their teams too ?
Retorting with the troll post shows your inability to use rationale.
Thanx for playing.
football mensa - February 5, 2012
Well
I don’t take anything away from Eli even though I can’t stand him. He is a very good QB and has played excellent this year. Especially against us. But, there are times when he does get a little lucky with dropped interceptions, and his receivers making some pretty unbelievable catches.
BrickTop - February 5, 2012 via mobile
Brick all qb's have int's dropped. It's part of the game.
I think people are pissed because the Gmen are playing today and Dallas isn’t that giving Eli credit seems blasphemous. I don’t see it like that at all. The guy has played well and delivered.
football mensa - February 5, 2012
Again, join the NY board ,Giant fan, Eli is very good , but also very lucky
as is his team, just about every would be/ should be pic seems to get dropped, every fumble , they seem to recover…time for the luck to run out today.
fiverings37 - February 5, 2012
Why , because my opinion is different than yours ?
snoooooze
football mensa - February 5, 2012
Hey fiverings I guess Eli was lucky on that throw to Manningham huh ?
LOL. Eli was money. There is no denying it. He stepped up huge . As did the d.
football mensa - February 5, 2012
I agree
Eli has delivered and has played well. However, I hope he doesn’t today. Ha!
BrickTop - February 5, 2012 via mobile
I'm just pulling for the Giants so I can finish up 7-0 in KD's contest.
Giants 27-Patriots 17. Nicks is MVP. Tails is the result on the coin toss, Clarkson sings one of the best anthems ever, Bradshaw will throw a TD pass tying him and Terry with the Manning Bros as the only players with same last names to throw a TD pass, Morganna will revive her career as the kissing bandit running onto the field and kissing referee John Parry, 139,402 hot dogs will be sold, & there will be at least one onside kick, player with illegal uniform code, & more shots of Peyton Manning than Eli Manning. Oh yeah…Madonna will be joined on stage at the halftime show by Nicki Minaj where they will lip lock and then body surf through the entire stadium. Enjoy the game.
Mikellie - February 5, 2012
I'd root for you, but that comes with the Giants winning, so I just can't :)
KD Drummond - February 5, 2012
Thanks. I certainly don't usually root for the Giants,
but when it comes to making picks, I tend to go with my head instead of my heart.
Mikellie - February 5, 2012
I've made other comments other places,
and I sent you an email.
CONGRATULATIONS on a perfect 7-for-7 in KD’s Playoff Contest.
That is an incredible accomplishment – picking all seven winners (four division, two conference championship, and one Super Bowl) – all in advance of the first division game beginning.
No one else got more than four right.
hookerhome - February 5, 2012
Giants/Patriots...uhg
Can both teams lose?
Pats 34
Giants 24
White Wolf - February 5, 2012
Then again, we all lose.
tanstaafl - February 5, 2012
Perhaps we could contain the collateral damage.
Instead of a comet we could use a greyhound bus.
No?
How about a blind lady in a Pinto?
[Arms crossed, staring.]
Would you believe a mean little kid with a pop-gun?
White Wolf - February 5, 2012
One of the pretentious palace's...
defectivepossessed golf-carts?tanstaafl - February 5, 2012
You ever get the impression that Cowboys Stadium is cursed?
That cart had radar better than any seeing-eyed grounder I’ve ever witnessed. It seemed to turn just to get everyone in the crowd. Hate to bring this out, but is there a Curse of Jerry? What’s scary is how many links I could have put up. Maybe Jerry shouldn’t have prayed in ’95.
White Wolf - February 5, 2012
Wonder if one of the local BtB brothers/sisters could...
… confirm or deny the tale of it being built on old-time sacred Native burial ground?
As you may recall Jerry’s out’s been given to his hubristic praying (preying?).
tanstaafl - February 5, 2012
Oh crap!
We’re going to need a hundred years to break the Curse of the Jerbino. Oh, wait!
Jeruh IS a hundred years old.
White Wolf - February 6, 2012
That one’s but a minor
deiondemon in this cursedness.tanstaafl - February 6, 2012
No, it was built on a suburban ghetto
Travlr - February 6, 2012
It's in the land's history...
…meaning one need go back before the time of the forked tongues.
But thanks for taking that first step.
tanstaafl - February 6, 2012
lol
LIttle Big Man. “You just go down there!”
White Wolf - February 6, 2012
Musta seemed near every Souix warrior in creation rose up to meet 'em
Outstanding flick.
Funny, our redcoats never had problem with that band, even seriously outnumbered. All in the way ya handle a situation and a man.
Gotta watch that movie again sometime> Good one, bud. Thanks for the recollect.
tanstaafl - February 6, 2012
Netflix is bringing back a bunch of good stuff for me.
Watch Netflix as much as I do cable.
White Wolf - February 8, 2012
Oh Max …
Superchicken - February 5, 2012
Don't worry, 99.
I’ve got a secret weapon.
White Wolf - February 6, 2012
Mmmm, yummy
tanstaafl - February 6, 2012
OCC, quick correction on your prediction...
Giants were +7 in turnover ratio during the regular season, not -7.
BigBlueIntervention - February 5, 2012
correct, and fixed.
One.Cool.Customer - February 5, 2012
wow
over half a sack for JPP is a prop bet I am salivating over
Archie Barberio - February 5, 2012
Giants 30 Patriots 24
Archie Barberio - February 5, 2012
Ill be watching the Polar Bowl
Where are my prop bets for that!
thebigham - February 5, 2012
Take the under!
And to Hell with the Giants!!
fiverings37 - February 5, 2012 via Android app
what are the odds on the meteor making an appearence?
TARHEEL PAUL - February 5, 2012
I can't find any online site giving those odds
and you KNOW that’s one thing I’d throw money away for… just hoping to influence.
KD Drummond - February 5, 2012
lemme see ... (fumbling for my fuel-injected HP 29c) ...
There are about 3,000 Earth Crossing asteroids (i.e., asteroids whose orbits intersect
Earth’s) and about 500 are bigger than 150 m and maybe 30 bigger than a few km in
size.
(punch punch ENTER punch punch punch punch ENTER)
The rough numbers are about one strike every 500,000 years. We had a close call
in 1908 (Tunguska – apparently a high altitude airburst of a low density asteroid) and XM1
came within 1/4 of the Earth-Moon distance from hitting us in 1994. So you could
argue we’re due.
(punch ENTER punch punch punch ENTER)
But a large asteroid impacting Indianapolis today at 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. EST?
(punch punch punch ENTER)
Well, the odds are astronomical …
Superchicken - February 5, 2012
Star bright brilliant.
tanstaafl - February 5, 2012
I'll say
24-16 Patriots
BrickTop - February 5, 2012 via mobile
If Pats win, Gronk gets MVP award. If Giants win, JPP gets MVP award.
But I’ll give the thumbs up to Pats. 35-31
LilZtretch - February 5, 2012
my forecast is,
Giants 27-24.
scotscowboyfan - February 5, 2012
Over/Under on how many times I think today what could have been.......8
We were 0-3 against these two teams during the regular season. However, with just a few minor breaks or just a little bit better defensive play, we could and should have been 2-1. And if we were 2-1 against these two teams what could that have meant…….The playoffs…..A playoff win…..A conference win…..A Superbowl appearance….A Superbowl win!
I reserve the right to have one last day to think what could have been and then I’ll move on to the draft.
staubachfan - February 5, 2012
It'll be alright.
We were close to them, and now we have better draft position than them. AS any racing enthusiast will tell you, drafting is how you get ahead.
CotySaxman - February 5, 2012 via mobile
lol
well played, sir
KD Drummond - February 5, 2012
We were 8-8, we weren't ready
If we restock with a great draft and sign the right free agents (Chris Myers!) we’ll be ready for a strong 2012… as long as we don’t ice our own kickers.
Blue Eyed Devil - February 5, 2012
As...
… any
racingbeer enthusiast will tell you, drafting is how you getaheada head.tanstaafl - February 5, 2012
draughting for non-offense/defense English-speaking folk, who know the difference between offence and defence, though it be offensive in and to both.
tanstaafl - February 5, 2012
Can you close the window?
There’s a draught in here.
CotySaxman - February 5, 2012 via mobile
well played
tanstaafl - February 6, 2012
or should I say, do you find it offensive?
tanstaafl - February 6, 2012
NE 34 - NYG 24
DIRE WOLF - February 5, 2012
NE 31- 21
fiverings37 - February 5, 2012
Take heart, Cowboys fans.
When you wake up tomorrow, the Eagles will still have 0 Lombardi trophies.
And give me the Pats, 27-17.
KeyOfZ - February 5, 2012 via mobile
+100000
fiverings37 - February 5, 2012
↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑
tanstaafl - February 5, 2012
LOL.
Fernie67 - February 5, 2012
26-23 Pats
Baby Vince MVP will return an interception for a Td and get a safety to win the game to honor the great late Mira Kraft.
letsgtld - February 5, 2012 via mobile
Giants 34-20
Gronk being hurt is huge. Read where he wouldnt be playing if this is regular season.
CowboyzRule - February 5, 2012 via mobile
neither would of TO
and we saw how that turned out.
thebigham - February 5, 2012
True
But Gronk will have to stay in and block some too with that bad ankle. TO didn’t have to worry much about that.
CowboyzRule - February 5, 2012 via mobile
Witten actually said blocking wouldn't be a problem.
His job will be more to just get in the way then try to stand anyone up.
thebigham - February 5, 2012
I guess he would know :-)
I’m sure there will be plenty of (over) analysis on it during the game.
CowboyzRule - February 5, 2012 via mobile
Yeah the only part of Superbowl coverage I saw was Witten was talking.
I guess he got tired of waiting to go with his team, so he’s in Indy this week.
thebigham - February 5, 2012
Gronk
Was a non factor. Limited their weapons to Hernandez and Welker.
CowboyzRule - February 5, 2012 via mobile
Ouch
pulled a hammy there, didja.
tanstaafl - February 5, 2012
The Pats have big lines, if I remember correctly.
But, Giants put together four quarters of strong line play.
This has strong potential to be the first OT SB, which I said about Titans-Rams…
BlueNSilverBlood - February 5, 2012
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