Super Bowl Predictions 2012: Why Points May Be at a Premium

When you think about the New England Patriots and New York Giants, it's the offensive players on both teams who grab the most headlines. 

Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Rob Gronkowski, Victor Cruz; these are just a few of the best offensive players who will take the field Sunday in Indianapolis. With all the big name players on each offense, it only makes sense that you'd predict a Super Bowl between the two teams as one that could see a boatload of points. 

I wouldn't be so sure.

While Vegas has an over/under of 55 points—the most since the Saints and Lions in the NFC Wild Card Round—and each team has a top 10 offense in both points and yards, there's reason to believe that this rematch between the Patriots and Giants won't be the shootout most are expecting.

You only have to look back over the last couple of seasons for the first reason. 

Back in November, the Giants beat New England, 24-20—which isn't exactly a pitchers' duel. But 31 of the 44 points scored in that game came in the fourth quarter, and the teams combined to go 9-of-29 on third down and turn it over six times.

Let's rewind a couple more seasons. In their last Super Bowl meeting four years ago, the Giants won 17-14. In that game, New England had under 300 total yards and averaged just 4.8 yards a pass. And once again, 21 of the 31 total points were scored in the fourth.

Both defenses are playing their best football of the season right now, too.

The Patriots shut down Tim Tebow's gadget offense in the divisional round, then kept the Ravens rushing attack in check (neither Ray Rice or Ricky Williams had a rushing average over 4.0).

The Giants have been even better on that side of the ball. After allowing zero offensive points against the Falcons, New York went into Lambeau Field and kept the No. 2 scoring offense in NFL history under wraps. In San Francisco, two long touchdown passes to Vernon Davis were about all the 49ers could muster in over in over 60 minutes of play.

And in the end, it's the pass rush of both teams that could make this another low scoring affair.

New England has eight sacks in two playoff games, and it's well-documented how dominant the Giants front four can be when rushing the passer. With two full weeks of preparation, you'd have to expect both defenses to find ways to get to the quarterback.

So before you go out betting the over of 55 in this game, take a quick look at both the history of these two teams recently and how well each defense has played in the postseason.

Another 17-14 game looks just as likely as a Saints-Lions type shootout.