SUPER BOWL XLII COVERAGE: HOW DO YA HANDLE A HUNGRY MAN?

You feed him during the Super Bowl. And while I do have a prediction for the game, I believe it is much more important -- and relevant -- to create the perfect "Supper Bowl Menu" than to perfectly evaluate team rosters. To wit, here is my menu for the game:

Appetizers:
Bill Belichick's Mix
Osi Umenyio-rings

Soup:
Clam Chowder. Your choice between New England or Manhattan.

Main Course:
Boston Baked Beans
Eli Manning-wiches (I made "Manningwiches" for last year's Supper Bowl feast in honor of Peyton Manning. I figured, this year, I'd do it again, only they're a little smaller and not as good.)

Drinks:
Bruschis (Sam Adams Boston Lager is a house favorite).

I haven't thought about dessert yet. For last year's Colts-Bears game, I served Indian-apple pie and warmed Bear-claws a la mode.

Now, as far as the game goes: I believe my esteemed football-analyst/buddy Blayne offered the most cogent prediction: "Either the Patriots will blow 'em out, or the Giants will just squeak past 'em." So, really, Blayne, when you break it down, you believe that ultimately one of these two teams is going to win this game.

But I see your point. While the Patriots stayed perfect in week 17 with a 38-35 win over the Giants, the Giants showed that they can play tough defense and give themselves the opportunity to compete. Keeping their offensive strategy on the conservative side, and going to a hurry-up offense also put the G-men in a position to win the game. What they came away with was confidence, much more important than a week 17 "W" when they were going to the playoffs anyway.
So here's the thing: The Patriots have something like 653 Super Bowl rings among them, while the several of the Giants sport fake Rolexes that they bought from a guy in front of Penn Station.
Without the two-week gas-fest between the Conference Championship Games and the Super Bowl, the Giants' momentum might keep them in this game. That inertia may be gone. And with so much experience on their side, it's tough to bet against New England. New York has had two whole weeks to get inside their own heads and psych themselves out. Eli has won some big games, but this game has overwhelmed better than he.

And oh, yeah, the Patriots cheat.

I can hear you now: "So maybe the Patriots videotaped a few defensive signals during games. The players still have to execute. Besides, everyone does it; this is obviously just a case of sour grapes. Jealousy! They didn't really do anything so bad." And maybe they didn't. They did, however, provoke the league to fine coach Belichick a half-million dollars, fine the team an additional quarter million, and take away a draft pick. Now that tapes have apparently been destroyed by the NFL (to the chagrin of U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R)Pa.), we may never know the true extent or veracity of the signal stealing scandal. Right now, Barry Bonds wishes he were playing for the New York Giants, and not the ones in San Francisco, under a league commissioner who isn't as "pro-active" in protecting the giants of the game.

Bottom Line.

The two week wait is too long. The Patriots have too much experience; the Giants too little, Eli may not be completely overwhelmed, but if coach Tom Coughlin further simplifies the game for his junior QB by throwing shorter passes and running more often, New York simply won't generate enough offense to score enough points to win (and New England -- and Tom Brady in particular -- makes very few mistakes, so the door for defensive and special teams scoring by the Giants is way too tight to help their cause.) And even with the formidable New York Giant defense coming at Tom Brady, he's too cool under pressure, and did I mention Belichick and company have had TWO WEEKS to come up with new stuff that the Giants won't be ready for?

Pats by 14: 38-24.

P.S. Regarding Spygate, some people argue that bygones are bygones, and that you must hate the deed, not the men. Otherwise it would be like blaming the New England Patriots -- and not the officials who made the call -- for the Tuck Rule victory that has put the Oakland Raiders franchise in a virtual tailspin ever since. Right, Blayne?

P.P.S. All that having been said, I am going out to a Super Bowl party and will not be serving the menu described above. So just like my Super Bowl prediction, it sounds pretty palatable, but we should always remember that things rarely turn out the way we plan.

Enjoy Tom Petty.