Super Bowl Predictions 2012: Power Ranking Top MVP Candidates

One of the great things about having two marquee teams playing in the Super Bowl is the abundance of elite players that will be on the field at the same time. The New York Giants and New England Patriots have rosters stacked with talent that will make picking an MVP for the game incredibly difficult. 

There are a few players who stand out above the rest, simply because of the position they play. For instance, a defensive player is at a disadvantage because it's not a sexy story to have someone not touching the ball constantly win an award. 

That's not to say there aren't defensive players on either team who can win the award, just that it will take a truly special effort for it to happen. 

Here are the players most likely to be battling over the MVP award this Sunday. 

5. Vince Wilfork, DT, Patriots

Ask anyone who saw the AFC Championship Game why the Patriots won. Nearly all of them will say Vince Wilfork. He was a force in the middle, wreaking havoc on Joe Flacco and Ray Rice all game long. 

The versatile defensive tackle is by far the best defender the Patriots have. He must break through the Giants offensive line and pressure Eli Manning to take pressure off the secondary. 

Very few teams have what it takes to stop Wilfork for an entire game, so it is on him to take advantage of his opportunities when they come. 

4. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, Giants

Remember back before the season started, with all the panic surrounding Osi Umenyiora and whether Pierre-Paul would be able to handle increased playing time. How foolish does that look now?

Pierre-Paul emerged as one of the premier sack artists in the NFL, finishing fourth overall with 16.5 sacks. He is going to be a monster in this game, forcing Brady into three- and five-step drops before throwing short passes. 

His performance will dictate how successful the Patriots offense is in this game. 

3. Victor Cruz, WR, Giants

In the NFC Championship Game against San Francisco, Cruz was a monster. He had 10 catches for 142 yards, most of them coming in the first half. He was the biggest reason that the Giants were able to take the lead before halftime. 

The Patriots don't have anyone in the secondary that can match his combination of size and speed, meaning that Manning is going to be looking his way a lot. 

It is hard for receivers to win the MVP, but Cruz could easily buck that prejudice with another terrific game. 

2. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots

There was a time when Brady would have been a lock to be the MVP of the Super Bowl. But his performance in recent playoff games has been less than stellar, to say the least. 

Aside from his game against Denver three weeks ago, he has been a mediocre postseason quarterback since the 2007 AFC Championship Game. 

Still, it is hard to overlook the fact that he is Tom Brady and has Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez and (presumably) Rob Gronkowski to throw to. 

1. Eli Manning, QB, Giants

No quarterback has been more valuable this postseason than Manning. He has carried this offense for the last three weeks and is the biggest reason that the Giants are in position to win their second championship in four years. 

He is more confident, poised and efficient than he was in Super Bowl XLII. The Patriots don't have a good defensive front seven, so he should have plenty of time to stand in the pocket to make something happen. 

Even if he doesn't, he proved against the 49ers that he can make things happen when the pressure is right in his face. 

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