Giants basically have same type defense that whipped up on NE in 2008 in the desert.

TAMPA - Pardon my lateness, but when it comes to predicting the Super Bowl, you need to get all the “super” facts.

One lone question was answered today when Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said that TE Rob Grankowski was coming along fine.

In Bill speak, that means he’s going to play.

Quarterback Tom Brady is going to need that big target.

Why?

Brady will be under fire from the Giants pass rush ala 2008 when NY sacked TB five times in a super stunner in the Arizona desert.

Some of the names have changed on the Giants' defensive line, with young Jason Pierre-Paul terrorizing opposing quarterbacks instead of Michael Strahan, but they still come with the pressure from a quartet of defensive ends.

Here’s a little tidbit for foddler:

A victory over NY would allow Belichick and Brady to match the coach and quarterback duos of Bill Walsh and Joe Montana (49ers), and Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw (Steelers) with four Super Bowl rings.

Grant you, the Giants have the better defense, but Brady can carve up any defense with with his talent, knowledge and an arsenal of talented targets including tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, and Wes Welker.

Another weapon in Brady's arsenal is the threat of effective, inside running by BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Where Brady and company excel is in the two-minute offense.  They’ll roll up to the line of scrimmage quick and boom, boom, boom, they’re in the endzone.

As for the Giants, the question marks hanging over the Manning, Eli are gone.

He’s more polished, and some are saying this week they’d take this Manning over Brady to win the big one.

I think they’re nuts, but some have said the same of me- on more than one occasion.

Manning did set an NFL record with 15 fourth-quarter touchdown passes this season and led seven late game-winning drives.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

New England, ranked a lowly 31st in the league in yards allowed per game at 411.6, has given up 325 yards a game in the postseason and are on a 10-game winning streak.

New York yielded only 67 points during their current five-game winning streak and has registered 20 sacks in that span.

Oh, by the way, those five straight NYG wins came in must-win situations.  Two to win the division and kick the Cowboys out of the postseason, and three in the playoffs, all on the road.

Here’s one more morsel to chew on.  New England did not, I repeat, did not beat a team with a winning record in the regular season.

So, now it comes down to the prediction.

NY or NE

I am going with the underdog in this game.

Yes, the NY Giants to win Super Bowl XLVI.

They’re getting three points, and we’ll take ‘em.

So, fill up on salsa and chips, and some one billion chicken wings someone with no life predicted will be consumed on Sunday.

I think his first name is Colonel.

Anyway, enjoy the grub and the game.

Go Giants, at least this week anyway.