Super Bowl Predictions: Will the Packers and Patriots Meet in Super Bowl XLVI?

Will Super Bowl XLVI be a rematch of Super Bowl XXXI?

Sporting News thinks so. 

In their latest Super Bowl predictions, Sporting News predicted that the Green Bay Packers will be given a chance to repeat as they'll take on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots:

Sporting News' panel of experts has looked ahead, boldly assuming that next NFL season will actually take place. We evaluated the contenders, and separated the two best from the rest. Our Super Bowl XLVI pick: Green Bay Packers over the New England Patriots."

This would be quite the Super Bowl as two of the league's top quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, will square off in Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium. 

The Packers and Patriots are the more popular early selections to play for the Super Bowl in the 2011-12 NFL season.

Both the Packers and Patriots are top of the league teams that have found the perfect mix of young talent and veteran leadership. 

Once the Packers concluded the 2010-11 season as Super Bowl champions, Rodgers assured the media that Green Bay will be a "hungry team" in 2011. 

As for the Patriots, head coach Bill Belichick has been doing a brilliant job as he's been rebuilding his entire defense while infusing young talent on the offensive side of the ball. 

New England finished a league best 14-2 record in 2010 before being knocked out in the Divisional Round by the hands of the New York Jets. 

Despite Brady and the Patriots losing three straight playoff games, New England will be a much more improved team entering 2011—if that's even possible. 

New England's pair of tight ends, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, both have stellar rookie seasons and will only get better with another season of Brady throwing passes to them.

Also, the Patriots added some more offensive firepower in this year's draft as they selected running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen—both are expected to team up with BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead to complete one of the league's most dynamic backfields.

New England will undoubtedly have an incredible offense in 2011, but it's just a matter of improving defensively with all of their young up-and-coming stars such as Brandon Spikes and Devin McCourty.

As for the Packers, it's just a matter of getting over the "Super Bowl hangover" as they're by far the most complete team in the NFL. In fact, the Packers should only get better as they did a nice job drafting and having most of their 15 players who were placed on injured reserve returning next season.

So, a Green Bay vs. New England Super Bowl makes the most sense of as right now, however we've yet to even begin free agency.

This article was first seen at PatriotsPlus.net. Be sure to follow Tony Santorsa on Twitter @   TonySantorsa.