STATE YOUR CASE: Who’s going to the Super Bowl?
TYLER HUSKINSON
49ers 34, Giants 21
When it comes to teams rising to the occasion at the right time, not one team has been more opportunistic than the New York Giants. However, there isn’t a team that has more to prove than the San Francisco 49ers.
The Niners have not hosted the NFC title game since 1997 when Brett Favre led the Packers over Steve Young’s team. San Francisco’s defense shut down the NFL’s most prolific passer in Drew Brees last week, and New York’s Eli Manning won’t pose a problem at all to the 49ers’ defense.
Candlestick Park will be rocking and you can bet Alex Smith will be ready to lead his team to victory.
Ravens 17, Patriots 14
The score of this game might look boring, but it will be great to watch the No. 2 passing offense in the NFL go against the No. 4 pass defense. New England quarterback Tom Brady made a big statement against Tim Tebow last Saturday, but he didn’t have to worry about Ravens defenders Ed Reed or Ray Lewis hawking the secondary.
Brady won’t pass for 363 yards and putting together an effective running game against the No. 2 rushing defense will be difficult.
– ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu
CURTIS LUNDSTROM
New York 23, San Francisco 17
Eli Manning is the most underrated quarterback of the decade. Despite the ups and downs his team has had this season, Manning is having arguably the best season of his career statistically.
The Giants are road warriors and hitting stride at the right time. After starting the season 6-2, New York endured a 3-5 finish, including four straight losses at one point. Now they’ve won four straight with dominating wins over the Falcons and Packers.
New England 27, Baltimore 17
The old adage is defense wins ball games, but that is easier said than done. The Patriots have far too many weapons to be denied. Bill Belichick is one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game with a 191 wins in 16 seasons, including a 16-6 record in the postseason.
Tom Brady is playing like the elite quarterback everyone expects him to be. With a receiving core that includes Wes Welker, Rob Gronkoswski and Aaron Hernandez, even the Ravens’ defense, ranked No. 3 in the league, will have a hard time stopping the second-ranked offense.
– curtis.lundstrom@aggiemail.usu.edu