Eagles vs. Patriots: Latest Expert, NFL Player Predictions for Super Bowl 52

What actually happens during Super Bowl LII is beyond anyone's ability to predict at this point but that doesn't stop NFL experts from trying.

The Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots Super Bowl rematch is an intriguing meeting between arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history and a backup quarterback in Nick Foles, who has willed his team to an opportunity to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

The Patriots are listed as minus-4.5 point favorites and seem to be the safe pick going into Sunday. After all, who could doubt them after their amazing comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in last year's game?

While many NFL experts still haven't made up their minds about how this game will play out, some have made bold predictions.

Here's a look at the expert predictions for Super Bowl LII, followed by some predictions regarding how individual players will perform:

Super Bowl LII

Date: Sunday, Feb. 4 at 6:30 p.m. ET

Location: U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis

TV: NBC

Point Spread: Patriots minus-4.5

Expert Predictions

Eric Gay/Associated Press

It's never easy putting your name out there with predictions—especially with the risk of being completely wrong. But a couple of experts at SportingNews.com are willing to put their money where their mouth is this week.

Vinnie Iyer

"Super Bowl 52 should not be a defensive struggle. There are too many ways for both teams to move the ball. Foles will get going with better support from his rushing attack, while Brady will keep letting it rip in the air.

"This game has the feel of a back-and-forth affair with neither team starting slow. It probably comes down to the last possession, and Brady will need only one final minute to push the Patriots to victory—and the first Super Bowl repeat since they beat the Eagles in Super Bowl 39. Patriots 30, Eagles 27."

David Steele

"It seems inconceivable that any defense can stop Brady if he decides he’s not going to be stopped. The Jaguars, ranked at or near the top of every regular-season defensive category, couldn't keep it up when it counted in the AFC Championship Game; neither could the Falcons in last year's Super Bowl.

"Yet this Eagles defense, fresh off of a lockdown of the Vikings in the NFC title game, has what it takes to finish the job. More important, the Eagles offense, Nick Foles and all, can handle the hard work of keeping Brady off the field, exploiting the Patriots' defense, holding and maintaining a lead, and keeping a foot on the Patriots' throats. The Patriots are historically great, but they're not infallible, and this will be proof. Eagles 26, Patriots 24."

Over at CBS Sports, the likes of NFL experts Pete Prisco, Jason La Canfora, Will Brinson, Ryan Wilson, Dave Richard and Jamey Eisenberg are all picking the Eagles to win it all, while Jared Dubin and John Breech are going with the Patriots to repeat as back-to-back Super Bowl champions.

Player Predictions

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Predicting the winner of the Super Bowl is one thing, but predicting the MVP and standouts of the game is a whole other ball game.

For the Eagles, their defense has to continue playing at a high level and a lot of that falls on the shoulders of Fletcher Cox, who has been one of Philadelphia's best defenders throughout the postseason.

So far, he has racked up 10 tackles and a sack in two playoff games, and he will need to do more of the same against an explosive Patriots defense that will have the services of tight end Rob Gronkowski back.

The 27-year-old will have a big game against New England, win or lose, recording five tackles, two tackles for a loss and a sack to give his Eagles a chance to halt Brady's offense.

But looking to give Cox and the Eagles defense fits will be the aforementioned Gronkowski, who returned to the practice field after getting knocked out of the AFC Championship Game with a concussion.

Gronkowski was missed against the Jaguars, even though Brady was able to orchestrate a fourth-quarter comeback without him.

With Gronkowski in the fold, the Patriots offense has no ceiling and can light up any opposition, which is why the tight end will be this year's Super Bowl MVP with a two-touchdown, 100-plus performance to guide the Patriots to a hard-fought victory for their sixth Super Bowl in franchise history.