Super Bowl opinion poll
The Carolina Panthers are 5½-point favorites over the Denver Broncos and the total is 45 in today’s game. A survey of opinions from Review-Journal staff members, other media, oddsmakers and professional handicappers:
Mark Anderson, Review-Journal: Panthers, 24-20
Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will do enough to keep Denver in the game and cover, but not enough to win.
John Avello, Wynn Las Vegas sports book: Broncos, 24-20
I know Peyton Manning is only a shell of what he once was, but I’m going with the experience factor, and Nationwide is on his side.
Jim Barnes, Review-Journal: Panthers, 27-13
Denver’s defense will prevent the game from getting out of hand, but it’s Cam Newton and Carolina’s time.
Brian Blessing, Sportsbookradio.com: Panthers, 30-16
Denver’s offense goes stagnant in the red zone settling for field goals, and I think Cam Newton makes several big plays running the ball to cap an MVP season in style.
Nick Bogdanovich, William Hill sports books: Panthers, 23-20
Denver’s defense will keep it close, but Cam Newton will make a couple of more plays than Peyton Manning, and that will be the difference.
Bill Bradley, Review-Journal: Broncos, 27-21
Defense wins championships, and the Broncos have enough defense to slow the Panthers’ offensive freight train.
Steve Carp, Review-Journal: Panthers, 38-13
Cam Newton makes sure the Broncos are as scared of him as he thinks the rest of America is, LeBron James notwithstanding.
Norm Clarke, Review-Journal: Broncos, 21-17
It’s one of those destiny games, with just enough Peyton Manning and a lot of Denver D.
Steve Cofield, ESPN Radio 1100: Panthers, 27-12
Peyton Manning’s interception-less streak ends, the Broncos won’t be able to run the ball and the incomparable Cam Newton will shine.
Dave Cokin, ESPN Radio 1100: Panthers, 23-20
Easy to make a case that the smokin’ hot Panthers romp, but Wade Phillips with two weeks to prep his top-notch Broncos defense makes me believe this is a ballgame.
Joe D’Amico, Aasiwins.com: Panthers, 27-20
The Broncos don’t have the luxury of playing in Mile High, nor will their defense have the same success blitzing Cam Newton, so I must side with the Panthers and their NFL-leading plus-28 turnover margin.
Todd Dewey, Review-Journal: Broncos, 21-20
Everybody loves the Panthers, and you know what that means.
Brian Edwards, BrianEdwardsSports.com: Panthers, 38-17
If Carolina had not lost at Atlanta, we would be talking about one of the best teams in NFL history led by Cam Newton, who has a 28-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his past 11 games.
Chuck Esposito, Sunset Station sports book: Broncos, 24-23
Wade Phillips’ defense has two weeks to prepare for Cam Newton, and the Broncos avenge their humiliating loss to Seattle two years ago as “The Sheriff” rides off a winner in his final rodeo.
Royce Feour, Review-Journal (retired): Panthers, 27-17
The Carolina Panthers sound like an old ABA team before the merger with the NBA, but the Panthers are for real.
Doug Fitz, SystemPlays.com: Broncos, 23-20
The better defense usually wins championships, and Old Man Manning rides off into the sunset with his second Lombardi Trophy.
Mark Franco, FrancoSports.com: Broncos, 23-20
The Denver defense does just enough to slow Cam Newton and the Carolina offense, and look for Peyton Manning to be the game manager and not make many mistakes.
Bernie Fratto, ESPN Radio 1100: Panthers, 23-17
Cam Newton will join the two Joe’s (Namath and Montana) as the only quarterbacks in history to win championships at the collegiate and NFL level.
Ed Graney, Review-Journal: Broncos, 24-20
It’s only fitting that before Peyton Manning retires, he wins one Super Bowl with a normal sized forehead and one with a forehead the size of Colorado (Hmmmm).
Adam Hill, Review-Journal: Broncos, 27-23
Between the way Carolina has steamrolled all comers and Denver’s noodle-armed quarterback, an easy Panthers win just feels too obvious.
Ron Kantowski, Review-Journal: Panthers, 30-21
This one’s not for John — or Peyton or Brock Osweiler — and still wish I could watch in Spanish out of necessity rather than choice.
Aaron Kessler, Golden Nugget sports book: Panthers, 24-13
Peyton Manning rides off into the sunset with one last playoff disappointment, as the Panthers’ defense is just too strong.
Doug Kezirian, ESPN anchor: Panthers, 30-13
Carolina will complete the blueprint of last year’s Golden State Warriors: surprise run to a historically dominant regular season with an unlikely and polarizing MVP, while constantly disproving myopic critics.
Jay Kornegay, Westgate sports book: Broncos, 24-20
In a bare-knuckle 15-round bout, the Broncos make a couple of key defensive plays down the stretch to hold off the Panthers.
Jim Kruger, VegasSportsAuthority.com: Panthers, 24-20
I have faith in Wade Phillips, Denver’s defensive coordinator, that he will have a game plan to limit the Carolina offense as he did against New England and Tom Brady.
Dana Lane, DanaLaneSports.com: Panthers, 24-17
As good as the Broncos are defensively, their turnover ratio is minus-4, which would make me uncomfortable if I have to rely on the Denver offense to cover some ill-timed turnovers.
Allen Leiker, Review-Journal: Panthers, 24-17
Two sure winners: Cam Newton will be the game’s MVP, and Beyonce’s belly button will be visible during her halftime performance.
Bryan Leonard, Footballwinners.com: Panthers, 23-20
Teams with the better defense are 40-9 in the Super Bowl, and Carolina played the weakest defensive schedule in the league.
Vinny Magliulo, The Linemakers on SportingNews.com: Panthers, 27-17
Two great defenses, two great quarterbacks, but only one is in his prime.
Ed Malinowski, Stratosphere sports book: Panthers, 24-20
Denver’s defense should be able to keep it close, but Cam Newton will do something special to get the win.
Art Manteris, Station Casinos sports books: Broncos, 27-17
It’s the best defense Carolina will have faced all season, obviously the most pressure-packed situation the Panthers will face, and of course they are away from home where they crush everyone.
Bruce Marshall, Goldsheet.com: Panthers, 30-19
Intangibles and defense give the Broncos a chance, but the case for Denver gets much harder to square when considering how its offense can generate enough points.
Jason McCormick, Red Rock sports book: Panthers, 23-20 (OT)
In the first overtime in Super Bowl history, Peyton Manning throws an interception leading to Graham Gano’s game-winning kick.
Tony Miller, Golden Nugget sports book: Broncos, 24-21
Giving Wade Phillips two weeks to prepare for the explosive Carolina offense is the key, as Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware will help the Broncos win a close one.
Mitch Moss, ESPN Radio 1100: Broncos, 17-14
Peyton Manning will ride out in style, similar to former Broncos quarterback John Elway.
Bert Osborne, South Point sports book: Broncos, 20-17
The better defense rules and controls tempo, and Denver’s defense is better.
Eric Parkila, ParkilaSports.com: Panthers, 26-21
The Broncos’ tough defense will keep them in the game, but they will fall short offensively and Peyton Manning will go to 1-3 in Super Bowls as the Panthers secure their first championship.
Mike Pritchard, ESPN Radio 1100: Broncos, 24-20
Denver’s defense is solid, and Peyton Manning turns back the clock to have a career game.
Willie Ramirez, Review-Journal/AP correspondent: Panthers, 25-20
At what point will we see Brylcreem offer Cam Newton an endorsement contract — after all, just “A Little Dab’ll Do Ya.”
Micah Roberts, The Linemakers on SportingNews.com: Broncos, 23-19
Gary Kubiak’s game plan will be to control the clock, keep Cam Newton off the field and let Wade Phillips’ No. 1-ranked defense go to work when Newton is on the field.
Jay Rood, MGM Resorts sports books: Panthers, 16-13
The Broncos will lead into the fourth quarter, but the Panthers will come back to win in a game with a lot of field goals.
Charlie Scott, CharlieScottSports.com: Panthers, 24-17
Peyton Manning winning the Super Bowl and then retiring is a nice story, but the fairy tale ends.
Jeff Sherman, Westgate sports book: Broncos, 23-17
My strongest lean is to the under, as has been the case all season with this Broncos team, as the Denver defense will frustrate Cam Newton and dictate the tone of the game.
Alex B. Smith, AxSmithSports.com: Panthers, 31-23
Both defenses are amazing, but with Cam Newton having a monster season and Peyton Manning looking worn out, the Panthers will be ‘Dabbing on ‘Em all game long.
Lee Sterling, ParamountSports.com: Panthers, 27-17
Third-down conversions will be key, and no one is better than Cam Newton passing and running versus an overrated Denver defense.
Kelly Stewart, KellyinVegas.com: Broncos, 28-24
Take the better defense plus the points, it’s as simple as that.
Dave Tuley, ESPN.com/chalk: Panthers, 19-16 (OT)
The key is for Denver’s No. 1-rated defense to keep Cam Newton & Co. from a fast start, and if the Broncos can do that, this turns into a relatively low-scoring game.
Mal Van Valkenburg, Review-Journal: Panthers, 31-17
Cam Newton will be able to negate the pass rush of the Broncos that gave the Patriots fits, and Peyton Manning and the Broncos are offensively challenged and will not be able to keep up.
Kenny White, The Linemakers on SportingNews.com: Broncos, 21-20
This should be a great game, but I see running back C.J. Anderson making the big plays late to get Denver the win.
Matt Youmans, Review-Journal: Panthers, 24-20
Cam Newton probably leads Carolina to a win, but against Denver’s top-ranked defense on a neutral field, this line looks a little high.
Straight-up picks: Panthers 31, Broncos 19
ATS picks: Broncos 31, Panthers 19
Total: Under 37, Over 13
