Giants vs. Patriots: Spread Info, Line and Predictions for Super Bowl 2012

The New York Giants and New England Patriots deserve to be in the Super Bowl. When the clock ticks down with the game on the line, no two quarterbacks were and are better than Tom Brady and Eli Manning.

In a year of elite quarterback play, there may be no two quarterbacks more deserving of the opportunity to play for a ring. They truly embody what it means to play quarterback in the NFL.

The Patriots and Giants will take the field as they did four years ago, and we can only hope we receive a performance like we saw in the fourth quarter in Super Bowl XLII.

Where: Lucas Oil Stadium; Indianapolis, Indiana

When: Sunday, Feb. 5 at 6:29 p.m. EST

Watch: NBC

Betting Line (according to Sportsbook): Patriots (-3)

The Pats lost to the Giants earlier this season in Foxborough, with the Giants prevailing in the final minute of the game.

Big Blue covered the spread in five straight, but have also won five straight games—all single elimination games. The Patriots have won 10 straight, but are 3-3 against the spread in their last six games.

Best bet is for the Giants to win outright or for the Patriots to win and cover.

Over/Under: 54

The Pats have gone over in four of their last five with the lone under coming against the Ravens.

But the last two times the Giants and Patriots have gotten together they've played to the under. 

Keys to Patriots Win

New England has one goal in mind: keep Tom Brady standing. The Pats know that the Giants are going to find a way to get after him, but they need to be able to minimize the damage and put themselves in manageable third-down situations.

Defensively they need to do all they can to limit the Giants from establishing any sort of ground game. If the Pats are forced to dedicate another man in the box, they'll be burned all night long by Eli and the Giants receivers.

Keys to Giants Win

Hit Tom Brady. Hit Tom Brady. And on third down, hit Tom Brady.

The Giants' defensive scheme won't change.

Offensively, the best way to make sure they take care of Tom Brady is to keep him off the field.

Establishing a running game and converting third downs will be the Giants' goal throughout this game. But if they can't do either, they'll count on their big-play ability.

Predictions: Giants 27, Patriots 20