Super Bowl opinion poll

Super Bowl XLIX between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks is a pick’em game, and the total is 48. A survey of opinions from Las Vegas Review-Journal staff members, other media, oddsmakers and professional handicappers:

Mark Anderson, Review-Journal: Patriots, 27-21

New England is the better team, and the Patriots will use controversy as motivation.

John Avello, Wynn Las Vegas sports book: Patriots, 24-20

The Seahawks defense must be respected, but I have less respect for their inconsistent offense and don’t believe they’ll pull out the Houdini act against a determined and over-inflated Tom Brady.

Jim Barnes, Review-Journal: Patriots, 23-20

New England is not Denver, and the well-rounded Patriots, galvanized by Deflate-gate, will grab a lead and hold off Seattle’s late charge.

Brian Blessing, The Linemakers on SportingNews.com: Seahawks, 26-20

I give the Seahawks a slight edge, with recent Super Bowl experience the determining factor, but my stronger opinion is under the total, as both teams should move the ball but both defenses can force field goals.

Nick Bogdanovich, William Hill sports books: Seahawks, 24-21

Russell Wilson makes one more big play to win it.

Steve Carp, Review-Journal: Seahawks, 38-24

Russell Wilson will not have back-to-back bad games.

Norm Clarke, Review-Journal: Seahawks, 31-28, OT

Marshawn Lynch does his talking with his feet.

Steve Cofield, ESPN Radio 1100: Seahawks, 27-21

No video spying or deflated football shenanigans, Bill Belichick is cooked versus an all-time defense.

Dave Cokin, ESPN Radio 1100: Seahawks, 24-20

When in doubt, which is clearly the case for me on this game, trust the rushing numbers, so I’ll call for a Seattle repeat.

Buzz Daly, BuzzDaly.com: Seahawks, 27-17

Beast mode, Russell Wilson and the relentless Seahawks defense trump a gritty but battered Tom Brady and the Patriots, who weaken in the second half.

Joe D’Amico, Aasiwins.com: Patriots, 27-24

Seattle, which has started slowly lately, cannot play catch-up against Tom Brady, and its top-rated defense had trouble with pass-happy offenses.

Todd Dewey, Review-Journal: Patriots, 27-17

The “Legion of Boom” goes bust as the Patriots give the Seahawks “A Gronking to Remember.”

Brian Edwards, VegasInsider.com: Patriots, 27-23

With Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, I’m confident the Patriots have the advantage at quarterback and in the head-coaching department.

Chuck Esposito, Sunset Station sports book: Seahawks, 26-20

Although all the hype has been on New England, that won’t deflate the Seahawks and their defense.

Doug Fitz, SystemPlays.com: Seahawks, 26-21

Seattle has the better defense, and that is what usually wins championship games, especially with underdogs.

Mark Franco, FrancoSports.com: Patriots, 24-20

This will be a close game throughout, and I see the Patriots doing enough on offense to get it done, with edges going to Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.

Bernie Fratto, ESPN Radio 1100: Patriots, 27-20

Tom Brady’s steady diet of short-range, high-percentage passes will surgically soften the Seattle defense, and Bill Belichick’s defense will frustrate Russell Wilson by pressuring without blitzing.

Ed Graney, Review-Journal: Seahawks, 28-20

Marshawn Lynch is named MVP and finally gives a quote about Tom Brady’s balls.

Adam Hill, Review-Journal: Patriots, 24-20

There is little doubt in my mind that the Patriots are cheaters and deflated footballs to gain an edge, but Bill Belichick is brilliant and has done a masterful job using the hoopla around the scandal to quietly prepare his team behind the scenes.

Matt Jacob, Vegas Seven magazine: Seahawks, 24-17

New England has struggled this season against physical teams that can run the football, and no team in the NFL is more physical or runs the ball better than Seattle.

Ron Kantowski, Review-Journal: Seahawks, 31-30

I’m just here so I get my picture in the paper, I’m just here so I get my picture in the paper, I’m just here so I get my picture in the paper …

Aaron Kessler, Golden Nugget sports book: Patriots, 20-13

It will be a defensive struggle, but the Seahawks will struggle more to score.

Doug Kezirian, ESPN anchor: Patriots, 23-16

It’s an absolute toss-up game, and I prefer to avoid the foolish feeling of betting against the greatest coach in NFL history.

Jay Kornegay, Westgate sports book: Seahawks, 23-17

Russell Wilson will make more plays against the New England defense than Tom Brady will against the Seattle defense.

Dana Lane, DanaLaneSports.com: Seahawks, 27-24

The Seattle running game has an advantage on the right side of the offensive line behind Justin Britt, who will be matched up against the smaller Rob Ninkovich.

Allen Leiker, Review-Journal: Seahawks, 26-20

The Patriots will focus on taking Marshawn Lynch out of the game and dare Russell Wilson to beat them, and he will.

Bryan Leonard, Footballwinners.com: Seahawks, 35-10

The Seahawks are the better team off an embarrassing performance, despite the victory over Green Bay.

Vinny Magliulo, The Linemakers on SportingNews.com: Patriots, 27-20

Bill Belichick has had two weeks to refine the Packers’ game plan, and Tom Brady and the Patriots have more overall balance.

Art Manteris, Station Casinos sports books: Seahawks, 34-24

The better all-around team wins a good game in the fourth quarter, when the Patriots are sucking wind.

Bruce Marshall, Goldsheet.com: Seahawks, 26-17

There has been a recurring theme in New England’s annual postseason exits over the past decade in which Tom Brady and the offense have been often reduced to one-dimensional status.

Jason McCormick, Red Rock sports book: Seahawks, 23-20, OT

The Patriots come back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter only to lose in overtime as a Richard Sherman interception sets up the winning field goal.

Tony Miller, Golden Nugget sports book: Seahawks, 34-17

Just like last year, Seattle is laying in wait and takes apart the AFC team.

Mitch Moss, ESPN Radio 1100: Seahawks, 23-19

The health of Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman concerns me, but I like Seattle and also going against the massive overreaction after the conference championship games.

Bert Osborne, South Point sports book: Seahawks, 34-21

I like a higher-scoring game and trust the Seahawks just a little more.

Eric Parkila, ParkilaSports.com: Seahawks, 24-21

The Seahawks are the more physical and athletic team and will find a way to repeat as Super Bowl champions in what should be a close game.

Willie Ramirez, Review-Journal/AP correspondent: Seahawks, 23-20

We’ve seen tough battles in the NFC championship of late, and it results in the NFC team (on a 5-2 run) being battle-tested.

Micah Roberts, The Linemakers on SportingNews.com: Seahawks, 23-17

Good defenses always make Tom Brady a little uncomfortable, and Seattle’s defense is the absolute best, maybe even better than last year.

Jay Rood, MGM Resorts sports books: Seahawks, 17-10

The Seahawks deflate the Patriots’ hopes in the fourth quarter with equal pressure on both sides of the ball.

Ed Salmons, Westgate sports book: Seahawks, 23-20

Pete Carroll tries to outcheat the cheater.

Peter Sams, Samswins.com: Patriots, 27-23

The New England defensive backs match up with Seattle’s wideouts, so the Patriots will have an extra defender in the box to stop the run, and no teams run on the right side against defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.

Charlie Scott, CharlieScottSports.com: Patriots, 24-20

Most sharps are on Seattle, with the public on the Patriots, and sometimes the public wins.

Jeff Sherman, Westgate sports book: Seahawks, 23-20

Outside of the Green Bay game, the Seahawks were playing their best at the end of the season, and we had the NFC -2½ versus the AFC for the past couple of months, so it’s not time to overreact based on one weekend.

Alex B. Smith, AxSmithSports.com: Patriots, 34-24

The Patriots now have a solid running game to complement their passing attack, and with an extra week to prepare, I’ll take Bill Belichick over Pete Carroll.

Lee Sterling, ParamountSports.com: Seahawks, 24-21

The Patriots faced only two mobile quarterbacks this season in Ryan Tannehill and Alex Smith, losing two of those three games, and Russell Wilson is a step above those two.

Kelly Stewart, KellyinVegas.com: Seahawks, 35-28

It appears to me there is an exaggeration on how well the Patriots played and how lucky the Seahawks got two weeks ago, and this scenario is similar to last year when Seattle blew out the Broncos.

Dave Tuley, ESPN.com: Seahawks, 20-19

For the second straight year, I believe the oddsmakers had it right that the Seahawks are the better overall team and should be favored, though it’s not by a wide margin.

Mal Van Valkenburg, Review-Journal: Patriots, 24-20

This is not the same Seahawks team as last year, with the offense and defense a notch worse, and the Patriots pose some serious matchup problems.

Kenny White, The Linemakers on SportingNews.com: Seahawks, 24-20

The right line was the opener with Seattle -2½.

Mark Whittington, Review-Journal: Patriots, 28-24

Because the Madden video game says so.

Matt Youmans, Review-Journal: Patriots, 23-20

The Seahawks are not as strong as last season, and I’ll bet Bill Belichick and Tom Brady don’t lose a third straight Super Bowl.

Straight-up/ATS picks: Seahawks 32, Patriots 18

Total: Under 34, Over 13, Push 3