STEPHEN TSAI

STAR-ADVERTISER SPORTS REPORTER

Disclosure: I’ve been a fan of the New York Jets for 44 of my 51 years on this planet, which means I dislike the Patriots and Giants. Picking a favorite in the Super Bowl is like choosing the best “Whitney” episode.

That said, the Giants will win. The last time the Patriots lost in the postseason — to the Jets, by the way — the defense retreated into coverage until the pass rush caught up to quarterback Tom Brady. The Giants can have it both ways because their defensive line is good enough to provide pressure without help from blitzers. That will allow them to drop a couple of linebackers into coverage. Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski might be able to start, but the high-ankle injury won’t allow him to play at full speed the entire game.

The Patriots, meanwhile, have an average secondary. With the game indoors, the Giants receivers should have little trouble stretching their pass routes. That should open up the other parts of the attack.

Prediction: Giants 27, Patriots 13.

FERD LEWIS

STAR-ADVERTISER SPORTS COLUMNIST

Really, how can you bet against New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning now?

They guy has directed seven fourth-quarter comebacks and eight game-winning drives in the Giants’ once-improbable march to the Super Bowl. He’s 7-1 in the postseason.

Say what you will about New York’s running game or its defense — both of which have improved remarkably in the past months — but as long as they have Manning, the Giants have a chance in the fourth quarter. Which is what this could come down to.

Giants, 27-24

DAVE REARDON

STAR-ADVERTISER SPORTS COLUMNIST

It’s hard to go against Tom Brady and the Patriots in a big game.

But the Giants have significant matchup edges in a couple of key areas. Perhaps the most glaring is their pass offense against the Patriots’ pass defense. New England’s secondary has been mediocre to poor this season, while Eli Manning and his underrated receivers, led by Victor Cruz, have been extremely effective.

And I see the New York front four disrupting Brady enough to create some New England turnovers, or at least cut into New England’s third-down efficiency enough to make a critical difference.

Rob Gronkowski’s high-ankle sprain will likely be a factor. Unless he is a much faster healer than most humans, there’s no way the Patriots tight end will be at anything close to full efficiency. And with the kind of pressure the Giants expect to bring, the Patriots need all of their offensive weapons.

Giants 24, Patriots 20

JASON KANESHIRO

STAR-ADVERTISER SPORTS REPORTER

Everything in my brain is screaming to pick the Giants.

Eli Manning and the Giants receivers should find soft spots in a New England defense that ranked next-to-last in the league in passing and total defense in the regular season. New York’s pass rush remains ferocious, and there’s the lingering question of how Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski’s ankle will respond on game day.

The Giants have the confidence of a road conquest at New England in November and the motivation of entering the rematch as a three-point underdog, according to folks who come up with such figures.

Still, there’s a reason the Patriots command that respect, well, two actually — Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Somehow they find a way and the Patriots win 27-21.

CHRIS TANAKA

HAWAII NEWS NOW SPORTS DIRECTOR

When I look at what the Giants have, and what the Patriots don’t, it’s easy for me to think the Giants will win easily.

The Giants are playing ferociously on defense. Eli Manning has been lights out in the fourth quarter. The Patriots defense was ranked dead last in the NFL for much of the year. Rob Gronkowski will be limited with a high-ankle sprain. Yeah, this looks like a New York blowout.

But then I consider what the Patriots DO have. Tom Brady is playing obnoxiously, extremely well. Wideout Wes Welker and tight end Aaron Hernandez can more than pick up the slack should Gronkowski be slowed considerably. Plus, if the Pats need added protection, they can revert to their three-tight-end set with rookie tackle Nate Solder.

Ultimately, this game will resemble Super Bowl XLII. Whoever has the last meaningful possession will win. This time, the Patriots come through, 27-24.