The most valid reason to root for the Giants is what it would likely do to New England next season. Super Bowl losers have been in a funk the following season, with barely a playoff victory and many of them missing the playoffs period.
On the other hand, a win would likely catapult New England to great heights next season. Soaring confidence. In this pass happy era with the pathetic rules and application of them I always dread the prospect of one of the superior quarterbacks winning the Super Bowl, considering the chance they'll threaten unbeaten the following season. Green Bay's pursuit this year was about as surprising as Apple's upturn once Steve Jobs returned. I couldn't stop laughing when the oddsmakers set Green Bay's season win over/under at 11.5. How was that team going to lose 5 times under these rules and coming off a Super Bowl win?
I'm rooting for the Giants today. They run a terrific camp in Albany. I've visited many times while summering in Saratoga and it's first class all the way, incredibly fan friendly. In summer 2007 when my mom was still alive but struggling to get around, Giants camp employees noticed her immediately and called for a golf cart. They took us to the VIP area directly in front of practice and treated my mom to drinks and snacks and whatever she wanted. The family became Giants fans from that point forth.
I don't have a bet on the game today since both teams were virtually even in Yards Per Pass Attempt Differential during the regular season. My related system went 6-2 vs. the number during the playoffs. Handicapping instinct tells me it will be the Patriots, probably by more than expected, maybe 7-10 points. The Giants have overcome huge odds many times against top quarterbacks in 2007 and 2011, more than sensible. They were +11.5 in the '07 season Super Bowl, +8.5 at New England this year, +8.5 at Green Bay a few weeks ago, and +2.5 against Alex Smith in the NFC title game. Today they are bouncing between +2.5 and +3 against Tom Brady.
Too much of an adjustment. The past two weeks there's been an unusually high percentage of analysts picking the Giants, wondering why they are underdog. Very common in sports handicapping for a team to struggle when assigned high favoritism but then to rebound and exceed all expectation when the odds are low and sentiment tilted the other way.
