Staff picks on who will win the Super Bowl
SUPER BOWL OPINION POLL
The Denver Broncos are 2½-point favorites over the Seattle Seahawks, and the total is 48 in today’s game.
Here’s survey of opinions from Review-Journal staff members, other media, oddsmakers and professional handicappers:
Mark Anderson, Review-Journal: Seahawks, 24-21
Seattle’s pass rush will throw off Peyton Manning’s timing just enough to give its offense a chance to win what should be a somewhat low-scoring game.
Richie Baccellieri, The Linemakers on SportingNews.com: Broncos, 22-20
Denver is 13 points per game lower in the postseason (25 ppg) than the regular season. And now the Broncos are playing a solid defensive team. Under the total is stronger for me than the side.
Jim Barnes, Review-Journal: Broncos, 26-17
Denver’s defense has played great in the playoffs and will be the difference. Manning will settle for some field goals but will get his second Super Bowl win.
Brian Blessing, DonBest.com: Broncos, 30-13
Manning simply has too many options at his disposal, even against a great defense. Seattle’s offense is not built to go up and down the field. If the Seahawks don’t create turnovers and short fields, Denver could win easily.
Nick Bogdanovich, William Hill sports book director: Broncos, 27-24
In the end, I just think Manning makes one more play than Russell Wilson.
Steve Carp, Review-Journal: Seahawks, 24-20
Both teams are good enough defensively to dominate, but the Seahawks have the better running game. Marshawn Lynch may not do a lot of talking off the field, but his play will speak volumes on the cold MetLife Stadium turf.
Norm Clarke, Review-Journal: Broncos, 24-21
The Broncos’ rush defense cancels out the Seahawks’ edge in the secondary. Ideal scenario: Manning is the MVP and announces his retirement. He’s playing Russian roulette.
Buzz Daly, BuzzDaly.com: Seahawks, 28-17
This is the year a favorite wins — not the bettors’ favorite (Denver), but the opening favorite. The Seattle defense is not smothering but will be relentless and dominant.
Joe D’Amico, Aasiwins.com: Broncos, 24-20
Broncos coach John Fox and Manning have a Super Bowl experience edge over Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and Wilson.
Todd Dewey, Review-Journal: Seahawks, 24-21
Destiny appears to be on Manning’s side, and 2014 is even the Chinese Year of the Horse (Broncos). But then again, they don’t play much football in China.
Chuck Esposito, Sunset Station sports book director: Seahawks, 23-20
With Lynch and the mobility of Wilson, Seattle will be able to control the clock and keep the ball out of Manning’s hands. Also, on the other side of the ball with Seattle’s big and athletic defensive backs, the Broncos receivers won’t have as much room to roam, making it more difficult for Manning to sustain drives.
Doug Fitz, SystemPlays.com: Seahawks, 26-20
The Seahawks’ pass rush should pressure Manning all day, and their secondary should contain Denver’s offensive tempo. Dominant defenses usually win big games.
Mark Franco, FrancoSports.com: Broncos, 24-20
The Broncos offense will get the running game going early and control the ball with short passes. The Seahawks will continue to struggle moving the ball on the much-improved Denver defense. Manning will do enough to win.
Bernie Fratto, ESPN Radio 1100: Seahawks, 24-21
The No. 1 defense has met the No. 1 offense four times in Super Bowl history, and the top defense has prevailed three out of four times. Seattle will make it win No. 4.
Ed Graney, Review-Journal: Seahawks, 27-24
Bob Marley said to trust the universe and respect your hair. I trust Seattle’s defense and Richard Sherman’s mop of locks most in this one.
Steve Guiremand, MyLVsports.com: Seahawks, 23-20
Hate to be a Manning party-pooper, but I’ve got to side with the better defense. Percy Harvin’s return is also a big plus for the Seahawks.
Adam Hill, Review-Journal: Broncos, 31-23
A far superior offense and an improving defense will combine to cement Manning’s legacy.
Matt Jacob, Vegas Seven magazine: Seahawks, 24-20
As great as Manning has been, the Broncos simply have not faced a defense anywhere close to as good as Seattle’s all season. I think this is one of the more difficult Super Bowls to handicap in recent memory.
Ron Kantowski, Review-Journal: Seahawks, 31-27
Talkin’ Shermans hang on to edge Passin’ Peytons on last-second pass deflection in end zone. Weather prediction: mediocre.
Jay Kornegay, LVH sports book director: Broncos, 23-20
Seattle is a physical and emotional team. Manning will get the Seahawks in a chess match and slow them down by making them think. #Omaha
Dana Lane, DiamondSportsConsultants.com: Seahawks, 28-17
Seattle will win by riding the shoulders of Lynch, who has four 100-yard rushing efforts in six playoffs games, including 249 yards and three TDs in two games this season. Seattle’s defense will frustrate Denver.
Allen Leiker, Review-Journal: Broncos, 31-28, OT
EA Sports’ simulation of the game, using the Xbox One version of Madden NFL 25, came up with this score. Don’t laugh. Madden is 8-2 since it began simulating Super Bowls. That’s good enough for me.
Bryan Leonard, Footballwinners.com: Seahawks, 24-20
Seattle has the far superior stop unit, and defense wins championships. The Seahawks played the much tougher schedule, and the wrong team is favored.
Vinny Magliulo, The Linemakers on SportingNews.com: Broncos, 24-21
While Seattle has a terrific defense, Denver is more diverse — especially with Manning, the “coach on the field.”
Bruce Marshall, Goldsheet.com: Broncos, 26-17
Flaws, such as Seattle’s spotty downfield passing game, are harder to camouflage the deeper a team advances in the postseason. Denver is better able to move the chains and the clock, and this will look a lot like the Broncos’ two previous playoff wins.
Jason McCormick, Red Rock sports book director: Broncos, 22-20
Matt Prater’s fifth field goal wins the game for the Broncos as time expires.
Tony Miller, Golden Nugget sports book director: Seahawks, 20-17
The Seattle defensive line and cold weather will slow Manning enough to allow the Seahawks to win a close game.
Mitch Moss, ESPN Radio 1100: Seahawks, 27-23
Lynch is the key to the game, and the Seattle defense will get pressure on Manning and be able to neutralize the Broncos’ outstanding wide receivers.
Micah Roberts, The Linemakers on SportingNews.com: Broncos, 31-20
The Seahawks are not playing at home, they have struggled offensively over their past six games, and their vaunted defense never has faced anything as good as Denver’s offense.
Jay Rood, MGM Resorts sports book director: Broncos, 24-23
The Seattle defense will play really well and be up by 10 points going into the fourth quarter, when Manning rallies for a comeback win.
Ed Salmons, LVH sports book manager: Seahawks, 27-10
Manning gets to face AFC defenses again next season.
Peter Sams, Samswins.com: Seahawks, 19-16
The winner of the San Francisco-Seattle game was just a better team than their counterparts in the AFC. Prior to this game, the NFC was the Super Bowl favorite, but due to the Broncos making it, that changed. The Seahawks win in a real stinker.
David Schoen, Review-Journal: Broncos, 19-13
Defense traditionally trumps offense at this stage, and the Seahawks are a brutal matchup for Manning and Co. But, ultimately, I’m not sold on Seattle’s pedestrian offense away from home.
Kelly Stewart, KellyinVegas.com: Broncos, 28-14
My favorite play is the Broncos on the first-half line. Per usual, Manning and the boys come out strong.
Ken Thomson, SportsXradio.com: Broncos, 27-23
Being a Colts fan, my heart is still with Manning, the best I’ve ever seen at QB. And my best numbers in my squares pool are Broncos 7, Seahawks 3.
Jimmy Vaccaro, South Point oddsmaker: Broncos, 24-23
Field-goal winner with 29 seconds left on the clock.
Mal Van Valkenburg, Review-Journal: Broncos, 27-17
Manning will exploit the matchups on the field and the very good Seahawks defense will not be able to cover everybody. Offensively, the Seahawks have their problems, and do not underestimate the factor of Wilson playing in his first Super Bowl.
Kenny White, The Linemakers on SportingNews.com: Broncos, 31-20
Defense gets you to the championship, but offense wins the championship.
Mark Whittington, Review-Journal: Seahawks, 19-14
My heart says Peyton gallops into the history books. My head says defense wins championships — with a big assist from Lynch.
Matt Youmans, Review-Journal: Seahawks, 24-20
Seattle will need to open up its offense, and its defense will watch Manning throw more than a few ducks and two touchdown passes.
ATS picks: Seattle 23, Denver 17Total: Under 31, Over 9
COMPILED BY THE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL AND THE LINEMAKERS ON SPORTINGNEWS.COM
