by JM Van Horn

Created on: December 15, 2010   Last Updated: January 16, 2011

There are plenty of Super Bowl picks found at BetUs and nowadays – like most experts around the NFL – many of those picks include the New England Patriots.

It may have been a few seasons since the Patriots have been in the Super Bowl (2006 to be exact) but they appear to be on a collision course right now.

The season started off with more questions than answers – especially on defense – as the Patriots hadn’t really had a banner offseason. But the young defense has grown up as the season has progressed and the offense is clicking right now.

The Patriots allowed 24 points per game in their first four games, 23 points per game in their next four and then just 17.6 points per game in their following five contests. Clearly, the young unit is growing up together and is playing better by the week.

On offense, there are always concerns as the Patriots don’t appear to have a ton of playmakers. Randy Moss was the big man on campus early in the season but the Patriots traded him away and have only gotten better.

Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis has come around this season and has a decent shot at 1,000 yards. So far he has gained 786 yards on the ground this season and has helped bring balance to the offense.

The key on offense is quarterback Tom Brady, who is in the midst of another MVP campaign that will likely end up with another Super Bowl MVP award. He’s now up to 29 touchdowns and just four interceptions, and is coming of a season-high 369 passing yards in a blizzard contest in Chicago.

Considering that the San Diego Chargers and Indianapolis Colts – two of the Patriots biggest contenders – have seemingly fallen on hard times with injuries and disappointments, and the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is about as banged up as can be, the Patriots should have a clear path to Super Bowl 45.

Also, when you throw into the mix that the Patriots haven’t lost at home in 26 straight regular season games when Brady has started and the fact that only three wins stand between them and home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs (two of which are at home), the Pats are a shoe-in.

Just when you thought it was safe to write off the tandem of Bill Belichick and Brady, they are not only back in the horse race but they are the pace setter and the race leader. They’ll be tough to beat and look to be a lock for the Super Bowl.

The last thing we will leave is that we should remember the last time we thought the Patriots were lock to win the Super Bowl during their undefeated regular season.

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