NFL Playoffs: 10 Bold Predictions for the 2012 Super Bowl

The New York Giants take on the New England Patriots in what promises to be an exciting and dramatic Super Bowl XLVI.

Here are 10 bold predictions for the Super Bowl.

10. Justin Tuck Will Sack Tom Brady Twice

The New York Giants didn't have trouble getting to Alex Smith last weekend. However, they had trouble bringing him down once they got a hand on him.

Even though Smith was sacked 44 times during the regular season, only 13 of those came at home.

Since the Giants still managed to accumulate three sacks against the 49ers, things should get a little easier when they face the New England Patriots.

Justin Tuck is coming in hot after his 1.5 sack performance last weekend. Plus, Tom Brady will be an easier target to tackle since he is less nimble than Smith, who is a surprisingly athletic quarterback.

With Tuck slated to line up against the rookie right tackle Nate Solder, it will be no surprise to see him have a big, two-sack game.

9. Is Eli Better Than Peyton?

You've been hearing about it all week.

Will Eli Manning, the younger brother of Peyton Manning, be considered the better quarterback of the two if he wins Super Bowl XLVI?

It's a legitimate argument since Eli will have one more Super Bowl ring on his fingers, and he's four years younger as well.

Expect this to be a popular topic of discussion throughout the game. Don't be surprised to hear the announcers harp on the Peyton Manning dilemma either.

8. Eli Manning Throws for More Yards Than Tom Brady

Both Eli Manning and Tom Brady are sizzling hot right now.

Manning has thrown for 923 yards and eight touchdowns during the postseason, while Brady has 602 yards and six touchdowns.

However, the New York Giants defense is also on a roll. They shut down the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers in route to a Super Bowl berth.

The New England Patriots defense, on the other hand, has yet to be tested this postseason. The secondary gave up the second-most passing yards during the regular season.

I fully expect both quarterbacks to have big games, but Manning is going to outshine Brady.

7. No One Can Escape Tebow Mania

But seriously.

Tim Tebow will be mentioned more than some of the players who are actually playing in the Super Bowl.

6. Aaron Hernandez Will Be Patriots X-Factor

Rob Gronkowski, the New England Patriots star tight end, was a little banged up after the game against the Baltimore Ravens.

He is expected to play, but how effective will he be is the burning question.

Even if he won't be playing at 100 percent, the Patriots have the luxury of having two excellent tight ends on the roster, the second one being Aaron Hernandez.

He has been overshadowed this year due to the presence of Gronkowski at the same position, but both are equally important to the Patriots offense.

The New York Giants just surrendered two big plays to an athletic tight end, Vernon Davis, last weekend against the San Francisco 49ers. He caught 3 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

Hernandez might not be as good as Davis, but he's extremely versatile. The Patriots will be looking to get him involved early and often, especially with an injured Gronkowski.

5. Patriots Will Miss Adam Vinatieri

You want to know why the New England Patriots haven't won the Super Bowl since 2004?

It's because that was the last year that Adam Vinatieri was on the team.

Yes, you heard it here first.

Stephen Gostkowski, the current kicker for the Patriots, is going to have an opportunity to kick a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending if you're a New York Giants fan, Gostkowski is going to miss the field goal and the Giants will come out victorious.

It will officially be the start of the curse of Vinatieri. Sorry, Boston fans. I know you're tired of these curses.

4. Hakeem Nicks Will Have a Huge Game

Hakeem Nicks got a little banged up against the San Francisco 49ers last weekend, which is why he wasn't able to contribute like he has during the rest of the postseason. But the Giants fully expect him to be healthy and ready to go for the Super Bowl.

During the first two postseason games, Nicks had 280 yards receiving and four touchdown catches.

He must be licking his chops looking at the matchup against the New England Patriots.

The Patriots not only struggle in coverage, but at tackling as well. This will be a problem with Nicks catching passes over the middle.

I can easily see Nicks being the leading receiver on either team this game.

3. Is Eli Manning an Elite Quarterback?

Be prepared to hear it talked about all game.

Is Eli Manning finally an elite quarterback?

Some think he is, but others want to hold back their opinion until after this game.

But if Manning is able to win this game, there should be no doubting him anymore. After the season that he has had in 2011, and will have had if he wins the Super Bowl, he'll cement his legacy as an elite quarterback.

If the New York Giants win, you know it will be because of Manning. This team will only make it as far as Manning can carry them.

2. NBC Will Replay David Tyree's Catch at Least Five Times

The national media was rooting hard for a 2007 Super Bowl matchup with the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. 

It would feature two of the biggest sports markets in the country, as well as the star-studded cast of players that each team has.

It will also give NBC the excuse to replay the famous David Tyree catch that helped win the game for the Giants in 2007.

Expect to see it at least five times during the broadcast.

1. Neither Team Will Score over 30 Points

My bold prediction of the day is that neither team will score at least 30 points in this game.

How many times have we expected a shoot-out in a game of this magnitude, but were surprised with a low-scoring affair?

This game will be no different. Both of the defenses are going to make plays throughout the game and prevent one another from breaking away.