Super Bowl Odds 2012: Giants' Recipe for Success vs. Patriots

The New York Giants know they can beat the New England Patriots. They did it in the Super Bowl four years ago, and they did it in Week 9 of the 2011 regular season. 

Yet the Giants find themselves as underdogs heading into Super Bowl XLVI. The spread, per Bovada, has the Patriots favored by three. 

A lot of bettors are going to be picking the Giants to win outright, and there's a good reason for that. The Patriots have more than a couple advantages against the Giants, but the Giants' biggest strengths play right into New England's biggest weaknesses. This is a reality that has allowed them to get the better of the Pats in the past, and it could easily allow them to get the better of the Pats again.

It's no secret what the biggest problem for the Patriots is. We saw New York's defensive line tear Tom Brady apart back in Super Bowl XLII, and there's a very good chance we're going to see them do the same thing this year. The Giants' D-line is just as strong and just as ferocious this year.

There are two things that make New York's defensive line great. The first is simple talent, as it features beasts like Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora. They're among the best in the business, and it's hard enough to block one of them, much less all three of them.

The other thing that makes the Giants' D-line great is its versatility. It is comprised of great individual parts, and these parts are all moving parts. The Giants are going to give New England's offensive line different looks, constantly challenging it to adjust.

The Giants sacked Tom Brady five times back in Super Bowl XLII, and they were hurrying him every time he dropped back to pass. That's not likely to change in Super Bowl XLVI.

Offensively, I have no doubt that the Giants will look to establish their rushing attack early in the game. If they get anything out of Ahmad Bradshaw and/or Brandon Jacobs, though, it will be a bonus. The Giants aren't going to look to run the Patriots to death.

The Giants' offense doesn't work like that. It's at its best when Eli Manning is finding his wide receivers down the field, and that's something he does with regularity. He is very good at hanging in the pocket and waiting for plays to develop—and he rarely misses when they do.

This is a threat that the Patriots didn't have to deal with four years ago. Manning had some good players to throw to, but he wasn't consistent enough to be a threat in and of himself. Lo and behold, he ended up playing the game of his life anyway, proving that he can handle the big stage.

And this time around, Manning has the added luxury of facing one of the NFL's weakest secondaries.

All told, it's a pretty simple breakdown: rush the passer, keep 'em honest, hit 'em where it hurts.

Victory is not guaranteed for the Giants, but it is well within the realm of possibility. If ever there was a time to pick a Super Bowl upset, this is it.