Super Bowl 2012 Spread: Vegas Is Smart Giving New England Patriots 3-Point Edge

The New England Patriots have opened as three-point favorites against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI, according to the Associated Press. It's a perfect line from the oddsmakers since it wouldn't surprise anybody to see the game decided by a late field goal.

It's a stark contrast from when the team's played four years ago. In that game, the Giants entered the game as 12-point underdogs, but still managed to upset the previously undefeated Patriots. This season's clash is more evenly matched from the outset and could very well be another instant classic.

Here are three reasons the Super Bowl line is perfect.

Great Quarterbacks

Tom Brady has long been considered one of the NFL's top passers, but Eli Manning is starting to prove he belongs in that upper echelon as well. His performances during the first three rounds are the main reason the Giants were able to go from wild-card long shot to Super Bowl participant.

It's more important than ever to have a capable quarterback under center if you want to survive the playoff journey. There are just too many high-powered offenses for a mediocre player at that position to be good enough anymore.

Brady and Manning will be good shot for shot next Sunday, which means a close game is in the cards for Super Sunday.

Improving Defenses

Both teams featured much-maligned defenses during the regular season. Those questionable units were the main reason it took awhile for each bandwagon to fill up, but the improved play from both teams on that side of the ball has helped them reach this point.

Pass rushing has been the name of the game for both sides, and that trend will need to continue if they plan on slowing down the opposing team's passing attack. It won't be any easy task, but it will probably only take a handful of stops to pick up the win.

The other aspect, as always, is turnovers. In a game that's expected to be as close as this one, and big play on defense would turn the tide in a heartbeat.

Revenge Factor

New England will enter the game with a chip on its shoulder and memories of the 2008 encounter still fresh in the team's mind. The Patriots had a chance to become just the second team in league history to go unbeaten through an entire season, but couldn't finish the job.

You know that's going to weigh heavily on perfectionists like Bill Belichick and Brady over the next couple weeks. They are going to do everything within their power to ensure no stone is left unturned when it comes to preparations for the pesky Giants.

That's why the Patriots deserve to be minor favorites heading into the game. That is the type of motivation most coaches can only dream of to help a team survive two more weeks of the daily grind.