Zach Turner

Senior year of high school I was eating $50 a piece steaks with baked potatoes and sides while pounding Dr. Pepper's and hanging out with a few close friends to watch a sports spectacle.

The date was February 3, 2008 and the aforementioned sports spectacle was Super Bowl XLII.

At the watch party I was at, I was alone. Not physically alone because there were plenty of other people, but mentally alone because I was the lone cat cheering for the New England Patriots to continue their undefeated, potential 19-0 season, and make NFL history.

The other goons at the party were rallying behind the NFC East New York Giants because, since they were all Dallas Cowboys fans, it made their division and season look that much more legit. Well long story short, as we all know, Eli Manning took note of Patches O'Houlihan's advice in the movie Dodgeball and remembered the Five D's when it came to the Patriots defense (dodge, duck, dip, dive, dodge). Manning refused to be brought down, and completed a pass to little known receiver David Tyree.

Actually it wasn't Tyree himself, but one of his paws and helmet that caught the pass which eventually set up a "pre self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg" Plaxico Burress touchdown catch from Manning to bring down the Patriots dream season by the score of 17-14.

Well those shenanigans, maybe known as fireworks for the Giants fans out there, won't be happening again this season but the matchup will.

The Golden Boy, Tom Brady, leads the most dynamic offense in the NFL against the Giants who are known for having a power run game complimented by the coldest defensive line in the league.

Bad news for those cheering for the Patriots, your defense can't stop a nosebleed.

Good news for Patriots, you have the best and most clutch quarterback in the league. There should be no doubt that Tom Brady will not let Eli Manning get the best of him in round two.

Just so we are clear on my fascination for Tom Brady, let me explain. All professional athletes, especially those in the most glamorous position, quarterback, have it made. They have lots of money and fame. However, not all professional athletes can pull a women to marry them that grosses more than twice the money they do, and looks as good as Giselle Bunchen.

Onto to the rundown of how I see the game playing out:

Super XLVI MVP: New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady

-        Not being biased at all considering Brady ripped a chance from my boy Donovan McNabb to get a ring in Super Bowl XXXIX. The Philadelphia Eagles are my favorite team, so picking Tom Brady to win MVP honors is the logical choice. Would not be surprised at all to see Brady pick apart the banged up Giants secondary with stud tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Calling it now, Brady has five total touchdowns.

Super XLVI Defensive MVP: New England Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes

-        Arkansas fans should be familiar with Spikes, the former Florida Gator All-American linebacker will have an impact on the game. Spikes made an athletic, textbook interception in the AFC Championship and had a team-high nine tackles. Spikes and company will need a strong performance to bring down the steamroller that is Brandon Jacobs and the shifty Ahmad Bradshaw.

Potential X-Factor: New England Wide Receiver Chad Ochocinco

-        Remember when New England beat Philadelphia 24-21 to win the Super Bowl in 2005 that I mentioned earlier? Well, Eagles receiver Terrell Owens had nine catches for 122 yards just four weeks after breaking his leg. Sure this was the same time that Ochocinco was named Chad Johnson and was in his prime with the Bengals, but receivers doing something crazy in the Super Bowl is nothing new (just ask Dwight Clark, Deion Branch, and David Tyree). Although he was inactive for the conference championship, expect Ochocinco to play and give the Patriots a missing link vertically.

Score Prediction: New England 31, New York 26

-        Wonder how many people called a rematch of this game for the Super Bowl when the season started? I do believe that many picked them to meet again in 2009 and that didn't work out, but now the 2012 matchup is about to go down and I am taking the better offense in the primetime showdown. Eli finally comes back down to Earth at the stadium older brother Peyton built, while Tom Brady will become forever linked with the great Joe Montana for winning four Super Bowls.