Prop Culture: Two staffers make unusual bet

Daily News staffers Ed Barkowitz take a look at some of the proposition bets for Sunday's Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and New York Giants.

Here's where they're going:

ED BARKOWITZ

1. The point spread: This will be the fifth Super Bowl featuring starting quarterbacks who already have won a title. The underdog is 3-1 in the previous four, with the only loss (Dallas to Pittsburgh in Supe XIII) by a half-point. That tells me that each quarterback is comfortable on the big stage and that a close game is at hand.

2. Player to score first touchdown: This is my longshot. The Patriots have struggled pounding the ball in from the goal line. Tom Brady ran for three scores in the regular season, a personal best, and had one in the AFC title game against Baltimore. Let's roll the dice and grab 20-1 odds that he'll score the first touchdown on Sunday. Plan B would be Aaron Hernandez at 6-1.

3. Eli Manning's pass attempts: The number is over 38 1/2, which is too high. Manning had 39 in the first game against New England this season, but only because he completed just 20. The Giants should be able to run the ball adequately, even with Vince Wilfork anchoring the Pats' d-line, making Eli's day a little more economical. Look for Manning to be in the low 30s in pass attempts.

4. Hakeem Nicks' longest reception: The Patriots' secondary has been playing better, but was so bad during the season, they used wide receiver Julian Edelman on defense. The over/under on the longest reception for Nicks is 28 1/2 yards. He had monster grabs in the first two playoff games (72 and 66 yards), before the Niners tightened things up. Look for Nicks to get loose again and rack up at least one catch of 29 yards or more.

5. Fourth-quarter over/under: These two quarterbacks have an ability to put the pedal to the metal when things are getting tight. The teams will score more than 17 points in the final quarter.

KERITH GABRIEL

1. Tom Brady completions: It's a lot to ask any quarterback to complete 26 passes to make you look like a genius. But we aren't talking about just any quarterback. Brady completed 401 passes on 611 attempts during the regular season. That's an average of 25.1 completions per game.

2. Rob Gronkowski receptions: Gronkowski is still hampered by a high ankle sprain, but if he's given the green light Sunday, trust he'll remain Brady's top target. The tight end caught 90 balls, racking up 1,327 yards and 17 TDs. Remember, Terrell Owens caught nine passes for 122 yards for the Birds in Super Bowl XXXIX, also with an ankle injury. Of course the Eagles lost that game but . . . anyway, 6 receptions? Gronkowski has 'em before the halftime show.

3. Total touchdowns: A showdown between two of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Brady boasted a 65.6 completion percentage during the regular season and Eli Manning was at 61.0 percent. And if you want to talk run game, the Giants have a pair of beasts in Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. Together, they combined for 16 TDs.

4. Length of time to sing the national anthem: I say over, and here's why. This makes the fourth time in the last 5 years that a former "American Idol" contestant received the honor of singing "The Star-Spangled Banner." And all three prior "Idol" singers, Jordin Sparks (2008), Jennifer Hudson (2009) and Tony Romo's former gal-pal, Carrie Underwood (2010), made sure to add some spice. Of the three, it took Hudson 2 minutes, 11 seconds, according to online handicapping forum MySBRforum.com. Trust Kelly Clarkson, known to embellish a tune or two (or so I am told), to follow in the footsteps of her "Idol"-mates.

5. Giants win the coin toss: This pick has been my baby for the past 3 years. Every year, I've gone with NFC, and every year, it hasn't disappointed. Now, I know the payout isn't substantial at +$110, but the NFC has won the toss 31 of 45 Supes and 14 in a row, including the Packers last year.