Super Bowl 2012: MVP Odds for the Top Playmakers

The 2011 NFL season will culminate this Sunday in Indianapolis when the New England Patriots take on the New York Giants in a rematch of Super Bowl XLII.

The story lines are numerous, and the game itself promises to be just as good as what we have seen over the course of the last half-decade. You have two elite offenses going up against two defenses that sure have their shortcomings.

You have two Super Bowl MVPs and future Hall of Fame quarterbacks squaring off for a shot at history. For Tom Brady , it is a chance to cement his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play. For Eli Manning, it is about winning a second Super Bowl against  Brady and surpassing his brother in the NFL record books.

So which player will be this year's Super Bowl MVP?

Here are the MVP odds for the top players from each team.Of course, Brady and Manning will find themselves on this list. But you might be surprised with who else I have included.

5. Jason Pierre-Paul

Only six defensive players have won the Super Bowl MVP. This usually happens when that player has been so dominate that it is impossible to ignore his contribution to the victory.

While defenses don't get the glitz and glamor that the offense gets, it is equally as important come Super Bowl Sunday.

The New York Giants possess a scary pass rush that could take over this game. You are looking at six or seven players along their front seven that have the capability of blowing up a play on their own.

Among these is second-year defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, someone who  has continually dominated opposing offenses all season. He has performed at an extremely high level against some of the NFL's best offensive lines and destroys opposing player in one-one situations.

This has forced teams to double-team the physical beast. However, that is going to be an extremely tough task for the Patriots. That's because the Giants front seven is completely healthy, making it impossible to double-team all the talented pass-rushers along that defensive front.

This means that Pierre-Paul will find himself in those one-on-one situations at times come Sunday. If he is able to put pressure on Tom Brady, cause errant throws, force a fumble and get multiple sacks, the former first-round pick might see himself win the MVP.

4. Rob Gronkowski

I could have gone with Wes Welker or even Aaron Hernandez here, but what "Gronk" has done in 2011 is nothing short of amazing. He broke multiple records for a tight end, dominated the hashes and put the Patriots on his back more than once.

The New York Giants are going to rotate their coverage in an attempt to stop Rob Gronkowski. However, that is much easier said than done. Tom Brady and Co. have a wide array of weapons all over the field. This leads me to believe that they are going to have to single-up the star tight end more than they want.

Gronkowski going against a linebacker or safety in one-on-one coverage has to scare Perry Fewell and the Giants defensive coaching staff. Still, it is going to happen more than once on Sunday.

I can easily envision a scenario in which Gronkowski grabs double-digit catches and scores multiple touchdowns. If that happens and the Patriots win, he will be in the conversation for game MVP.

3. Victor Cruz

I flirted with putting Victor Cruz higher on this list, but it was nearly impossible to ignore the two players I have ahead of him: Eli Manning and Tom Brady.

With that said, Cruz is a game-changer in every possible way. He will be going up against inferior cover corners the likes of which he hasn't seen thus far in the playoffs. Eli Manning is also going to target the former undrafted free agent early and often.

If Cruz can burn a Pro Bowl corner like Carlos Rogers for 10 receptions, just imagine what he can do against the lackluster corp of corners that the Patriots reluctantly field on a weekly basis.

Manning will be on his game Sunday. That much isn't really in question.

So, if Cruz continues his progression as one of the elite receivers in this game, he will undoubtedly be in line for game MVP.

2. Eli Manning

Eli Manning probably will get some support as the MVP of the regular season. What he has done is nothing short of amazing, as he has cemented his status as an elite quarterback who will be enshrined in Canton one day.

Manning has shown up game after game, coming through in the most crucial of situations and carrying this team on his back multiple times.

Don't expect this to change on Sunday. There is no way that Manning comes out in his brother's backyard and lays an egg. Instead, he is going to be on top of his game and fully prepared to lead New York to its second Super Bowl win in the last five seasons.

Technically speaking, his advantage lies with the huge mismatches the Giants receivers have on the outside against the Patriots corners. If he is on target and has time to pass the ball, there is no reason to believe that Manning will not break some records on Sunday.

The only reason he isn't No. 1 on this list is because one of those receivers, Victor Cruz, might actually take some of the press away from him with an equally amazing performance.

1. Tom Brady

You don't win multiple Super Bowl MVPs without being one of the best players in NFL history. Tom Brady already has accomplished that and is looking to cement his status as the best "big-game" quarterback to ever play.

This will be his record-fifth appearance in the Super Bowl. Brady also will be looking to avenge his only Super Bowl loss four seasons ago against these same Giants in Glendale, Ariz.

It is times like this that separate the greatest from the great. Every single time that his performance has been questioned, Tom Brady has come through with flying colors. He continues to stare failure in the face and never flinches. He he picks it up, throws it down, spits on it and laughs it off.

Not since Joe Montana has a player been so calm, cool and collected in crunch time. Not since Montana has a quarterback taken a team on his back and consistently led them to greatness.

If you plan on questioning whether Brady will show up, just look at his previous success and understand that failure hasn't been an option for the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

It also doesn't hurt that he has the likes of Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez to help him to the promised land.

Make no mistake about it, if the Patriots win the Super Bowl on Sunday, it will be because, not despite Tom Brady. And if they end up victorious, he will win the MVP.

It really is that simple.