Four years ago the Patriots went into Super Bowl XLII with a perfect record, but it was the Giants who spoiled that chance at perfection and won the Super Bowl. The Giants and the Patriots will meet on Feb. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. After an offseason with lots of questions, the NFL has produced plenty of excitement throughout the season. Now it’s time for the biggest day of the year in all of sports.

Doc’s Sports is examining the Super Bowl from every angle possible to help the average bettor be well-informed going into the big game. There really is no such thing as too much information for a game of this magnitude. The oddsmakers put extremely sharp Super Bowl odds on this game each year, so be prepared to think outside the box if you wish to find value. Let’s take a closer look at the quarterback matchup in Super Bowl XLVI to help you with Super Bowl betting..

Handicapping the Super Bowl XVLI Quarterbacks: Tom Brady

The single biggest reason the New England Patriots have been one the league’s most successful franchises of late is Tom Brady. Brady is one of the smartest players in all of football and it shows on a game-to-game basis.

Tom Brady Strengths

With a guy as solid as Brady this list could go on forever, but we’ll take a look at the biggest strengths of his game. No one in the NFL has better pocket presence than Brady. He seems to know the perfect time to get rid of the ball is on nearly every snap. He also is one of the most accurate passers in the league. Brady knows exactly where the ball needs to be for only his receiver to have a chance at the football. Brady’s mechanics are nearly flawless in both his footwork as well as his passing motion.

Tom Brady Weaknesses

Brady does not have a ton of weaknesses, but mobility is definitely at the top of the list. He isn’t the type of guy that can elude a pass rush with his feet very often at all. Brady’s lack of quickness means that when teams get pressure right up the middle he often struggles to improvise. Brady needs a clean pocket to throw from if the Patriots are going to win this game.

Handicapping the Super Bowl XVLI Quarterbacks: Eli Manning

Eli Manning has taken quite a bit of heat in the media during his career, but it is hard to argue with the level of success he has had. Manning bested Brady the first time around in Super Bowl XLII, and he has stepped up in the postseason this year as well.

Eli Manning Strengths

Manning is terrific at standing in the pocket and waiting until the last second to deliver the football. Countless times in last week’s win at San Francisco Manning was hit hard just after he threw the ball, and many of those times the Giants picked up a big gain. Manning has great arm speed when he lets go of the football. This allows him to put a lot on passes even when he is on the move and can’t square his shoulders. Manning is about as good as you’ll find at going through all his progressions and spreading the ball around.

Eli Manning Weaknesses

The single biggest weakness in Manning’s game is clearly the fact that he throws too many interceptions. It seems he trusts himself too much for his own good. Manning has been at or near the top of the NFL in interceptions thrown almost every year since he has been in the league. Occasionally, Manning holds onto the ball too long and trusts his mobility more than he should.

Handicapping the Super Bowl XLVI Quarterbacks: The Edge

Brady gives the Patriots a minor edge at the quarterback spot, but there is not as huge a difference here as some may believe. It is obvious that Manning is a better quarterback than he was when the Giants beat the Patriots four years ago. Both guys have plenty of reliable targets to throw the ball to in a tough spot. Don’t be surprised if both of these quarterbacks put on a show in this biggest game of the year.

Before you bet on Super Bowl XLVI, be sure you factor in the play of the quarterbacks. There is no more important position on the field.  

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