Gridiron Guide: Giants beat Pats, 31-27

GIANTS vs. PATRIOTS

6:30 p.m. Sunday

TV:Ch. 4. Radio: WFAN (660), WCBS (880).

Patriots by 3; O/U: 54

You can lump the Giants' postseason run with a strange collection of things I never saw coming: the first time I fell in love, the U.S. Olympic hockey team's win over the Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympics, and the passing of my childhood pet goldfish.

(I still miss you, Sammy).

While I was shocked by the Giants' Super run, Justin Tuck wasn't. After the Giants won the NFC Championship Game, he said, "I hate to compare this team to 2007, but it's kind of the same thing we did then."

SEE PHOTOSTop 11 Giants Super Bowl Moments

Tuck wasn't the first to bring up 2007. Even before the magical playoff run started with a 24-2 win over the Falcons, all you heard about was the run in 2007. I wasn't buying it when my co-workers wrote about the comparisons between those Giants -- which ended the Pats' run for perfection in Super Bowl XLII -- and this season's version.

But Big Blue has been on a monstrous run. Starting with the Jets game, they've won and covered the spread in all five games, and outscored them, 141-67 (81-39 in the playoffs).

So considering those numbers, I was surprised by the opening line for Super Bowl XLVI. I thought the Giants would be a slight favorite. The spread was still Pats by 3 last night, but most of the action will come in tomorrow and Sunday.

For Giants backers, place your bets now. I can't see the line going up any higher, and it could possibly drop as low as 1 1/2. It seems like everything has fallen into place for the Giants, 8-1 ATS in their last nine playoff games. The Pats are 1-7 ATS in their last eight.

The Giants' credo all season has been to FINISH, and come Sunday night, they'll FINISH as Super Bowl XLVI champs. Wow!

THE PICK: Giants, 31-27

STAFF PICKS

Boell (124-133-9)Giants

Glauber (130-127-9)Giants

Rock (137-120-9)Giants

Boone (128-129-9)Pats