The most anticipated day on the football calendar is here.
The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles are set to face off in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis Sunday.
New England enters with five titles since 2001, including one that came against the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.
Philadelphia is looking to reward its starved fans with its first NFL championship since 1960, when Hall of Fame linebacker Chuck Bednarik led the Eagles past the Green Bay Packers at Franklin Field.
With so many stars on each side of the ball, there are a wide variety of Most Valuable Player candidates. Expect it to go to a non-quarterback.
In addition to MVP and stat predictions is a look at some of the most intriguing prop bets involving the action on the field.
MVP Prediction
Danny Amendola, WR, New England
Although Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will engineer a fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the Eagles, it will be one of his wide receivers who wins Most Valuable Player.
Danny Amendola, who's caught 18 passes for 196 yards in two playoff games this season, will be Brady's top target in the second half, and he will record the majority of his receiving yards during the comeback.
Amendola will finish off his terrific second-half performance with a game-winning touchdown catch in the middle of the fourth quarter.
The 32-year-old, who spent time on the Eagles practice squad at the start of his career, will become the second Patriots wide receiver to win Super Bowl MVP against Philadelphia after Deion Branch did so in Super Bowl XXXIX.
Stat Predictions
Passing Stats
Nick Foles: 20-of-37, 275 yards, 2 TD
Tom Brady: 21-of-32, 260 yards, 3 TD
As mentioned above, Brady will lead another fourth-quarter comeback on the way to his sixth ring.
Although Brady will shine throughout the second half, Eagles quarterback Nick Foles will outplay the 40-year-old legend in the first half as the NFC champion surges in front.
Foles will connect with a variety of targets, including wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and tight end Zach Ertz, as he spreads out the Patriots secondary.
However, the adjustments New England makes during the extended halftime break will be too much to handle, with Brady leading the charge thereafter.
Rushing Stats
Jay Ajayi: 15 carries, 70 yards
LeGarrette Blount: 7 carries, 24 yards
Dion Lewis: 12 carries, 55 yards
James White: 9 carries, 34 yards
Both teams' ground games may not reach the spotlight in the second half, but each squad's running backs will feature in important roles in the first half.
Eagles running back Jay Ajayi should be able to get around the corner on a few occasions to set up Foles for a few deep throws, while LeGarrette Blount will shoulder the load in short-yardage situations.
The Patriots are expected to call on their running backs more in the passing game, but Dion Lewis and James White will find some success on the ground in the first two quarters with the Eagles homing in on Brady.
New England's signal-caller should take some pressure off himself by successfully handing off to Lewis and White in the first half, which could lead to a cleaner pocket in the second half as the Eagles show respect to ground attack.
Receiving Stats
Zach Ertz: 6 receptions, 76 yards, TD
Alshon Jeffery: 5 receptions, 68 yards, TD
Torrey Smith: 4 receptions, 55 yards
Nelson Agholor: 3 receptions, 45 yards
Corey Clement: 2 receptions, 31 yards
Danny Amendola: 8 receptions, 97 yards, TD
Rob Gronkowski: 4 receptions, 85 yards, TD
James White: 6 receptions, 60 yards, TD
Brandin Cooks: 3 receptions, 18 yards
Ertz and Jeffery will help the Eagles establish a foothold while Foles works into a rhythm in the pocket.
With so much attention being paid to the top targets in Philadelphia's passing game, wide receivers Torrey Smith and Nelson Agholor should burst open for a few major catches that produce first downs.
Running back Corey Clement could end up being the Eagles' X-factor, as he will be productive once again out of the backfield on third down.
Not only will Amendola step into the spotlight in the fourth quarter with the game-winning score, but he will also pop up on vital third-down plays to make catches that extend scoring drives.
If Amendola produces most of his receiving yards starting late in the third quarter, he will set himself up to take the MVP award away from Brady.
Tight end Rob Gronkowski will once again create a mismatch against an opponent, as he will defeat any Eagles player who tries to cover him, even if he's double-teamed.
Just like Clement, White will contribute to the passing game from the backfield. With so much focus on Gronkowski, White should be able to slither through the Eagles defense and sprint down the field for key first downs.
Wide receiver Brandin Cooks won't take up much of the spotlight like Amendola and Gronkowski, as he will be blanketed by Philly's defensive backs' attempts to prevent deep completions.
Prop Bet Predictions
Team to Score 1st in the Game
Philadelphia (-115); New England (+140)
The Eagles should come out strong and put the five-time Super Bowl champion Patriots under pressure.
Look for Foles to lead Philly down the field on its first offensive series to set up either a field goal or a touchdown.
If the Eagles get into field-goal range, kicker Jake Elliott, who is 4-of-4 in the postseason, should be able to convert and give the NFC champions the confidence boost they need to stay in the game.
Will The Team That Scores 1st Win the Game?
Yes (-180); No (+150)
It's been noted throughout this article that the Patriots will come back to defeat the Eagles for their sixth championship.
But given the Eagles will come out of the gates hot and score first, bet on no for this prop.
There is a chance New England marches down the field and asserts its dominance by scoring first and then finishes off the contest with the game-winning score, but the Philadelphia defense will be motivated to get a stop and will get to Brady early.
Will There Be an Onside Kick in the Game?
Yes (-200); No (+150)
Although another Patriots triumph is in the cards, they won't be forced to use an onside kick to gain an advantage.
New England's halftime adjustments should lead to a few defensive stops to set up Brady with a short field, which he will quickly turn into points.
The only way there will be an onside kick in the Super Bowl is if the Eagles try one out of desperation if they score late.
Who Will the Super Bowl MVP Mention 1st in His Speech?
Teammates (+200); God (+300); Coach (+700); City (+750); Owner (+1,000); Family (+1,200); None of the Above (+225)
Given how close the Patriots are as a team, don't be shocked to see Amendola thank his teammates first for helping him become the Super Bowl MVP.
Although there's a chance he could mention owner Robert Kraft, then head coach Bill Belichick and follow with a message directed at his teammates, it's unlikely given how the game will unfold.
With the comeback fresh in his mind, Amendola will be quick to mention Brady and the rest of his teammates.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Pro Football Reference. Prop bets according to OddsShark.
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