Pre-game prediction: Big Blue in a tight one

INDIANAPOLIS

Spent most of the week writing Super Bowl stories about players and coaches with ties to the Carolinas or the Panthers, so didn't get much of a chance to break down the Xs-and-Os.

Both quarterbacks, obviously, are big-time players with a history of fourth-quarter success. As brilliant as Tom Brady has been over the course of his Hall-of-Fame career, Eli Manning has showed a toughness and resourcefulness this postseason he didn't display early in his career.

Both quarterbacks will play well.

But I think the difference will be the defenses, and I'm not picking against the Giants'.

Any team that has Osi Umenyiora coming off the bench has a ridiculous front four, and that's the case with the Giants. I think the Giants will get pressure on Brady – enough to throw off his timing on a couple of critical third downs that will be the difference in a tight game that goes down to the wire.

GIANTS 27, PATS 21

--Joseph Person