Poll: Who Will Win the Super Bowl?

Another Super Bowl, another no-show for the Detroit Lions.

Though the Lions had one of their most successful seasons in years, they will not appear in the NFL’s biggest game. They remain one of only four franchises without a Super Bowl appearance.

Nevertheless, Super Bowl XLVI still is a big deal, and there are several Michigan connections to this year’s game between the New England Patriots and New York Giants.

Are you a Michigan Wolverines fan? Then you probably will root for the Patriots and star quarterback Tom Brady, who will try to win his fourth Super Bowl ring.

Punter Zoltan Mesko and backup quarterback Ryan Mallet, who played a season with the Wolverines before transferring to Arkansas, also are on the Patriots roster. (Then again, U-M alums David Baas and Mario Manningham play for the Giants.)

Are you a Michigan State Spartans fan? Then you probably will cheer for the Giants and rookie linebacker Greg Jones. (But former MSU quarterback Brian Hoyer is one of Brady’s backups.)

There are other local angles as well. Nick McDonald, a Grand Valley State alum and product of Utica Community Schools, will suit up for the Patriots.

And, of course, Michigan native Madonna will perform at halftime. That surely will have people talking.

So who are you rooting for in Sunday’s big game? Vote in the poll to tell us your Super Bowl pick, and leave a comment below to tell us why.