Participants,

Since I last provided you with an update, the Ravens and 49ers not only suffered from a bad case of the “dropsies,” but also managed to come in second place in their respective conference championship games.  Had Lee Evans held on to that last minute TD pass just one more millisecond, or had K Billy “Bookend” Cundiff not gone wide left (to complement a kicker from western New York who went wide right a few years back in the biggest game) at the end, we may be talking about the smashmouth Ray-ven D on today’s biggest stage instead of how many glimpses of Giselle we will get from the Patriots owner’s box in Indy.  Had punt returner Ted Ginn, Jr been healthy for the 49ers (who would have thought he was the key player in the NFC Championship game?), then we wouldn’t have been feeling sorry for fill-in Kyle Williams the past 2 weeks.

Instead, we have the Patriots vs. the NY Football Giants today.  We’ve had 2 weeks to prep for this one, and all the talk has been about an injured TE and the brother of one of the starting QB’s.  Go figure…

So, before you submit your final pick and settle into that big easy chair with all the Super Bowl grub in front of you that will be washed down with a 6-pack of your favorite adult beverage, I offer you the official projections for today’s tussle:

Why You Gotta Like The Patriots
Even if the big TE Gronk is limping around the field as nothing more than a decoy, QB Brady has more than enough weapons to pick apart any D in the league with his precision.  And don’t forget Chad85, who has been pretty much off the radar and who did not even suit for the the Raven game due a death in the family.  Now that they have a running game (led by TE Hernandez?), look for a “balanced attack” (which means no more than 80% of the plays will be short passes across the middle).  When the Patriots are on D (which in their case stands for Disaster), you may want to be rooting for Eli…  Revenge for the last SB loss is weighing heavily on Coach Bumblechick’s mind.  Will Giants WR David Tyree be brought out of retirement for another Q4 miracle catch?

Why You Gotta Like The Giants
Because they are the underdogs and are playing better football right now.  Eli (or is it Peyton, since we’re in Indy?) has been playing well enough to beat everyone the past 6 weeks, and their is no reason to think that will not be the case today, either.  He beat up on the Patriots in NE earlier this year, too.  Who on the Patriots D is going to stop WR’s Nicks, Cruz and Manningham?  Oh, yeah – WR Julian Edelman…  That’s how bad the Patriots D is right now.  And speaking of D, how mobile will Brady be when that new “fearsome foursome” (can anyone name the original Fearsome Foursome?) is pressuring him to scramble out of the pocket, where he typically gives you that 10 second statue pose while scanning the field for an open receiver.

Prediction
If you’re a betting person, take the Giants and the 3 points before noon today.  If you’re vying for the Hewes Super Bowl Trophy (currently in the possession of 2-time repeat victor, 2012 Winner), then you better figure out how you’re gonna leap-frog everyone else:

• Buffalo Bill – started hot in the Wild Card games, and held on dearly the last 2 rounds, but is now facing a huge 206-point deficit.  Not very often has the 4th place holder jumped into the winners circle.  He is a NY-based guy, and has some allegiance to New York, so look for a Giants blow-out pick here.
• Comeback Kid – got a lot of coming back to do, as he’s 230 points in arrears.  But he’s been capable of pulling off the big win, although he hasn’t done so in a few years (6 to be exact – back in 2005 when he picked the Patriots to win and they didn’t).  Going from 6th to 1st will be a challenge.  Look for an outrageous pick, almost as bold as HenricoFiveOh’s historic picks.
• HenricoFiveOh – he’s been really quiet this year, but is currently in 2nd place and definitely has eyes on HSBT #6.  Look for a more predictable and conservative pick this year (remember those picks in 2004 and 2005?).
• Greg the Great – will need a “great” pick and a lot of help to claim trophy #6.  The mere fact that he is only 398 points behind and has earned only 277 so far, means a blowout pick is coming.  But who?
• Ben the Butler – well, he is the only participant with potential for the 100-point bonus, but needs the New England contingent to beat a NYC team.  Is a Giant win more important that the trophy?  His pick will tell the story.  Looking back to the 2008 SB, where the same 2 teams played, he picked the Patriots and would have most likely won the trophy had he stayed with the Giants.
• Pete the Terp – in the lead and recorded his second zero variance game (an all-time record) last week.  He’s been in this position only once before, so the butterflies are starting to migrate towards the neck area, where things will get a little tight as the day rolls on.  Will he claim his 1st trophy tonight?
• 2012 Winner – has already had an inquiry from another participant about the “conservative” (i.e., winning) SB picks from the past and has wonderd if he will line up trophy #6 with a 24-23 pick in today’s game…  All eyes have gotta be on the defending champion and probably not too many participants are hoping he “does it again” tonight.  We will see.

As for the final score (please, let’s not have everyone submit this – but Pete the Terp would be happy if it happened) here you go:

New England – 26
New York Football Giants – a few more or a few less

Well, that’s all the knowledge I can legally dispense at this time.  As usual, real-time scoring updates will be posted on the web site, so get that laptop with you on the sofa.  It’s primed to be a great game with no clear (to many) victor (Cruz?).  Who is gonna drop that crucial pass or make that helmet catch?  We have not had a SB ever go into OT.  Will this be the first one?

~~ The Commish