I have counted all the Giants rumored to be under the weather.  I’ve noticed all the Patriots players limping around in everything from ankle boots to body casts.  I took into account the fact that the Giants are considered the ‘road team’ in this game, and that bids well for them.  I notched the advantage the Patriots have in the video tape they’ve gathered from all the Giants’ practices, walk-throughs and the cameras that Bill Belichick ordered hidden in the Giants’ hotel rooms, lockers and showers.  Why, I’ve even gone through the entire sixteen game regular season to look at points spreads, points scored and points allowed.  I took Plaxico Burriss’ forecast into consideration, and Tom Brady’s laughing about it.  I even prayed the Giants’ Psalms that my friends wrote me last week (couldn’t hurt, you know?).  Do you know where I ended up?

I ended up right back where I started - with my instincts on this stuff.  Were you aware that the previous two seasons I have picked the Super Bowl Champion BEFORE the regular season even kicked off?  Yep, ‘tis true.  So I took a quick look back at my 2007 NFL PREVIEW.  Some of you have pointed out that I missed badly on a few of my division calls.  Sure I did!  Stop and think for a moment.  I forecast over 32 teams with a combined active roster of 1696 players!  You never know when an Orlando Pace or a Deuce McAllister will go down for the year in week one.  You never know when a Trent Green will get hit on the head and start seeing double.  You never know when a Michael Vick will start strangling dogs or a Pacman Jones will shoot somebody.  You never know when a Ricky Williams will spark up… okay, forget those last few, but you see where I am going.  It’s no easy task to forecast such a huge field.  But I did it.  And I did it again.  And, yes, I believe I did again all over again!

Back in July I said the New England Patriots would be the Champs.  So, there you have it.  I stand by the pick.  Patriots over Giants.  It will be over by the fourth quarter.  People can start talking about how the ‘other ‘ Manning can’t win the big game.  Tiki will be vindicated.  Somebody will interview him so he can take a few jabs at Tom Coughlin.  And all my detractors will wake up to the reality that I’ve picked the third Super Bowl Champ in a row.  You better order your copy of my 2008 NFL PREVIEW early.

As for me, I’ll bask in the glory of it for a time, celebrating the hometown Patriots 4th title in 7 seasons.  Then I’ll be back to set up the off-season for you.  It’s an NFL world, and I’m its preacher!