Our Super Bowl picks
The Daily Herald's football prognosticators take a crack at predicting the outcome of Super Bowl XLVI:
Giants 27, Patriots 24
Both teams have explosive offenses, and the Patriots have the edge, but they will not have tight end Rob Gronkowski at full strength. Neither defense is outstanding, but the Giants are excellent up front and capable of getting pressure on Tom Brady.
— Bob LeGere
Giants 26, Patriots 23
New York's quarterback has a superstar brother in Peyton Manning. New England's quarterback has a supermodel wife in Gisele Bundchen. Eli Manning's pedigree takes home the Lombardi Trophy. Tom Brady goes home with the trophy wife. So who wins here anyway?
— Mike Imrem
Giants 30, Patriots 27
The Giants are facing a better offense and much worse defense than they saw in the NFC title game, while the Pats see a solid defense and much better offense than they got in the AFC championship. The Giants' front four is the difference in a high-scoring game.
— Barry Rozner
Patriots 34, Giants 30
Last time I picked the underdog Giants. It's tough not to do it again ... but I just can't. Not with Belichick, Brady, two weeks prep, the revenge factor, being ignored this week, etc. Oh, did I mention Belichick and Brady?
— Mike Spellman
Giants 28, Patriots 24
When the Giants beat the Patriots four years ago, it was a stunning upset. They're underdogs again, but they are going to repeat recent history and it won't be so shocking this time around. Eli Manning is playing great football, and New York's defense is going to put some serious heat on Tom Brady.
— Scot Gregor
Patriots 23, Giants 21
The whole world likes the red-hot Giants to stifle Tom Brady and Co. But nothing motivates like revenge, so I like Bill Belichick's squad in a squeaker. Eli Manning throws a game-ending interception after Stephen Gostkowski boots a 42-yard field goal with under two minutes remaining.
— John Dietz
Patriots 31, Giants 24
What, the Eagles aren't playing Sunday? So much for my preseason Super Bowl pick. Philly went 8-8. The Giants had to rally to beat the Eagles in Week 3 and lost to them the second time around. Tom Brady channels his inner Michael Vick and runs for the game-winner.
— Joe Aguilar