Super Bowl XLVI: Predicting Each Over/Under

With the New York Giants and New England Patriots set for an infamous championship rematch this weekend at Super Bowl XLVI, many questions are going to be answered.

Are the Giants ready to prove that defeating the 18-0 Patriots in Super Bowl XLII wasn't a fluke?

Are the Patriots ready to revenge that loss and make the Giants pay for ruining their perfect season?

Will Tom Brady go down as the greatest quarterback to ever play the game if he wins his fourth title?

Will Eli Manning surpass brother Peyton, with his second Super Bowl victory and almost certainly punch his ticket to Canton?

Whatever storyline you're thinking about following, this Super Bowl could go down as one of the greatest and most important of all time.

So by paying attention to these burning questions and what the game will—and shouldentail, here are predictions for each relevant over/under.

Over/Under: 650 Total Passing Yards

OVER

It's easy to sit back and say this Super Bowl is going to be an over-the-top shootout, so that's exactly what I'm going to do.

Eli Manning and Tom Brady have both averaged over 300 yards passing a game during the 2011 playoffs. With performances against defensive heavy squads like the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens.

Now, despite both teams playing beyond their normal level of play on the defensive side of things,  in must wins games clutch quaterbacks always seem to come out on top.

Look for each of these Super Bowl MVP candidates to throw for at least 300 yards, ultimately combining to eclipse the 650 mark.

Over/Under: 4.5 Sacks by New York

OVER

Last time these two teams met in the Super Bowl the New York Giants defensive front-four controlled the line of scrimmage, which led to Tom Brady getting sacked five times.

Unfortunately for Brady and the New England Patriots, nothing has changed.

The Giants have proved during the playoffs that their tantalizing quarterback pursuers are back, and better than ever.  That includes sack machines Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck.

While the Giants have averaged three sacks in each of their three playoff games, they've also been able to recover five fumbles.  That spells disaster for Tom Brady.

Either the veteran quarterback needs to get rid of the ball quickly—and I mean quicklyor he's going to be on his back for the majority of the game.

Over/Under: 100 Rushing Yards by New England

UNDER

For both the New York Giants and New England Patriots, this year's playoffs have offered a different look at each team's rushing attack.

The Giants came into the postseason riding the worst-ranked rushing game in the league, while the Pats weren't much better at 20th.

But, despite season long woes, each team as been able to shift their fortune on the ground and pound the ball with success.  Their run games have been virtually identical.

However, the Patriots have had a little more success, especially when you consider that they've been able to utilize tight end Aaron Hernandez out of the back field.

With that said, I truly think the Giants defensive ends will come into this game with the mindset of stuffing the run.

Not for nothing, but when the Giants beat the Patriots 24-20 back in Week 9, they gave up a total of 106 yards rushing.  Which was without a healthy Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora.

You decide.

Over/Under: 0.5 Total Fumbles for New York

OVER

The New York Giants come into this game with zero postseason fumbles.

Heck, they only have one turnover in the entire playoffs.

Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs have done their very best to protect the ball against ball-hawking linebackers like Clay Matthews, Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith.  Not to mention Eli Manning's ability to avoid throwing bonehead interceptions, that he had done throughout his career.

However, with all of that said, it's about time the Giants running backs cough one up.  Combined, Bradshaw and Jacobs carry 34 career fumbles into Super Bowl XLVI.

You have to play the numbers.  Not to mention the Patriots defense recovered the second-most fumbles during the regular season with 10.

Over/Under: 0.5 Victor Cruz Salsa Dances

OVER

Despite nine regular season touchdowns and 17 receptions during the playoffs, Victor Cruz has yet to score this postseason.

That's partially do to the fact that fellow Giants wideout Hakeem Nicks has gone absolutely bonkers on every corner he has faced.  It's also a product of defenses finally paying attention to the biggest Pro Bowl snub in NFL history.

But beyond his last three games, Cruz has always seemed to come up large when the Giants need him the most.  What better time to score and showcase his popular salsa dance touchdown celebration, than the Super Bowl?

With New England having to pay attention to not only Nicks, but Mario Manningham, Cruz is going to see a lot of one-on-one coverage during the game, which bode wells for one of the biggest playmakers in the game today.

Over/Under: 2.5 Challanges

OVER

This is usually a toss up, but considering that Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin are two of the most intelligent, yet cautious head coaches in the NFL, there's a high possibility that Super Bowl XLVI will feature at least three challenges.

With the New York Giants defensive rush in full effect, along with their history of getting pressure on Tom Brady, two challenges will more than likely be dedicated to tuck rules and fumbles alone.

The other one should come on some sort of Rob Gronkowski touchdown catch on the goal line or a Hakeem Nicks one-handed grab over the shoulder.

Whatever it happens to be, this game should be full of out-of-shape coaches tossing red flags underhand.

For once I'd like to see someone spike the challenge flag, Gronk-style.

Over/Under: 2.5 Fourth Quarter Touchdown Passes

OVER

If you're following the outcome of Super Bowl XVII when these two teams last met for a championship, predicting three passing touchdowns in the fourth quarter may not be in your playbook.

But when you consider Eli Manning set the record for most regular season fourth quarter touchdown passes with 15 this year, you have to think he'll continue that trend against New England come Sunday.

Better yet, how can you discredit what Tom Brady has done his entire career?  The dude can get down the field with the best of them, from the end of first half to the the last 30 seconds of the game.

And since it seems as if both teams are ready to sling the ball around the field, three touchdown passes in the Super Bowl's last quarter doesn't sound so crazy, does it?

Over/Under: 7.5 Catches for Wes Welker

OVER

I honestly think this is the most clear-cut call on this list.

With a hobbled Rob Gronkowski giving it a shot and no solidified No. 2 wide receiver, Wes Welker should be Tom Brady's main target during Super Bowl XLVI, per usual.

Welker grabbed nine balls for 136 yards when New England played New York back in Week 9, and has caught 12 passes through two playoff games.

The main factor for Welker is going to be the before mentioned Gronkowski. The Giants want to stop the Patriots' biggest offensive weapon.  And if that means sacrificing one of their corners to take on Welker alone, then so be it.

With speed and excellent hands, Welker should have no problem weaving in and out of the Giants' suspect linebacker core, en route to proving why he is still the best slot receiver in the NFL.

Over/Under: 0.5 One-Handed Hakeem Nicks Catches

UNDER

This is in no way a discredit to Hakeem Nicks' skills as a wideout and his ability to do the unthinkable. It's more or less a testament to Eli Manning's clutch factor.

In a game as meaningful as the Super Bowl, I really don't see Manning making harsh reads and quick decisions that would lead to Nicks needing to somehow come down with a spectacular one-handed catch.

For the most part Manning has been dead on during this year's playoffs, and I'd expect nothing less heading into the biggest game of the season.

And while I could instantly be proven wrong because Nicks often bobbles balls and redirects his hands to snap them out of thin air, I'm sticking with my guns.

Manning won't allow this to happen. Trust me, it's a good thing.

Over/Under: 1.5 Rob Gronkowski Touchdowns

OVER

Tight end Rob Gronkowski is by far the biggest question mark heading into Super Bowl XLVI.

He has arguably become the biggest touchdown threat in all of football and with his past production against New York in Week 9 of the regular season sticking out like a sore thumb, you'd expect nothing less.

However, Gronkowski is battling a high ankle sprain, which is something that could either be re-injured during the game or bother the big man for the majority of his time on the field.

Either way, New England knows that without its best offensive weapon Tom Brady is going to find it difficult to not only battle Eli Manning in a shootout, but find targets quickly to avoid the Giants' pass rush.

With all of that said, it would be too bold of a prediction not to count on the record-breaking tight end in the biggest game of his young career.  The guy has gotten it down all year, why doubt him now?

Gronk gets it done.

Over/Under: 1.5 Eli Manning Super Bowl MVPs at Game's End

OVER

This is the burning question on everyone's mind.  Can Eli Manning cement his legendary Super Bowl XLII victory over the undefeated New England Patriots with a victory over the same team four years later?

The answer is yes. Manning has done everything an elite quarterback needs to do. Or at least knows he can do.

He has not only led a sometimes struggling New York offense out of the grasp of defeat on numerous occasions in 2011, but he has produced the stats that make his year the best a Giants quarterback has ever had.

So to discredit Manning during a game that he proved he can win four years ago seems like the "Haterade" is being sipped on a little too much.

Because when it comes down to it, the Giants have a defensive pass rush, outstanding wide receiver core, complimentary backs and a studious head coach to go along with one of the best arms in football.

Over/Under: Peyton Manning Will Be Mentioned 3.5 Times

OVER

I felt obligated to mention Peyton Manning in this slide. He's simply more relevant than ever and we'll find that out come Sunday.

Not only is Peyton's brother looking to win his second Super Bowl and surpass his older sibling, but he's doing it against a team that Manning had struggled to defeat throughout his career, leaving him short of more championship opportunities.

What makes it even more interesting is that Eli Manning will be preparing to capture NFL glory in his brother's house, Lucas Oil Stadium.  Clearly there's a story to follow here. 

Everything seems to be circling back around for Peyton and it's coming during a time in which  trade talks have him parting ways with his life-long club.

I wonder if he's going to sit with management in the press box or hide behind father Archie as he watches his little brother trump his slowly fading career.

Sorry, that was harsh.  But you get my point.

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