The Casper Journal :: Casper's Community Newspaper

I have been hearing that question a lot this week as football fans look forward to Sunday’s Super Bowl showdown. The unbeaten New England Patriots have been installed as heavy favorites to beat the New York Giants by as much as two touchdowns.

The Giants have claimed the role of the unexpected overachiever in winning a record 10 road games leading up to the big game. This is a team that didn’t figure to be anywhere near the Super Bowl. But Tom Coughlin’s outfit has proven to be resilient and opportunistic.

That was especially true in the NFC championship game in which New York managed to hang around and edge the Green Bay Packers in overtime on a frigid Sunday in Wisconsin. The Giants have been blessed in their march to the big showdown in Arizona this Sunday.

On the other hand, the Patriots have been just about overwhelming in rolling through the regular season and the playoffs without a loss. New England has been dubbed the team of destiny, and that undefeated record makes this game with the Giants especially intriguing.

So, why not go out on a limb and pick the Giants in a major upset? It is always more fun to watch a Super Bowl with a little extra inspiration. So my choice is: the Giants to upset the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

I just like the way the Giants have been able to overcome the odds on their way to the title game. Their defense has been stingy, and the incredible Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has been showing signs of actually being human.

Perhaps the Giants can do enough on defense to keep New York in the game and to allow Eli Manning to do just enough to affect the outcome. No one can honestly expect Manning to outshine Brady.

However, the Giants have been able to succeed by not asking their quarterback to do more than he is capable of and that could be the case on Sunday. New York has a decent running game, and that could keep New England off balance enough to allow Manning to overcome the odds and capture the big NFL trophy. At least that is my guess.

The Super Bowl has become a remarkable event, far more than just a championship football game. It has become a huge social event that a great many Americans look forward to as a chance to enjoy gathering with friends and family to do more than just watch a football game.

People who normally don’t care at all about football can socialize with those who do and like the experience. So enjoy Sunday’s game and don’t bet the rent money.

One last shot at major college football, where there is no Super Bowl or true national championship game. In the NFL, the Patriots and the Giants are in the Super Bowl because they earned that right through the regular season and then the playoffs.

In big-time college football, Ohio State and LSU were chosen to play for the BCS championship by computer rankings and poll results. Major college football stubbornly refuses to adopt a playoff format, and that fact continues to cast a shadow of doubt on the collegiate game.

The NFL has it right. The good old boys who run college football should take a clue from the pros and set up a playoff system that would make the college championship game as popular as the Super Bowl. But don’t make any bets on that happening anytime soon.

Print this story | Email this story

Add Your Comments Here:

To submit your comment you must enter your name, comment, and the letters and/or numbers from the Image Verification box. This is a feature to help protect against spam.

Casperjournal.com encourages readers to engage in civil conversation with their neighbors. We will never edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to remove comments that violate our code of conduct.

Potentially libelous statements.
Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
Personal attacks, insults, or threats.
Commercial product promotions or consumer complaints.

Click here to report offensive or inappropriate comments. The comments below are from readers of casperjournal.com and in no way represent the views of The Casper Journal or Lee Enterprises.