ESPN Super Bowl XLVIII expert picks

— -- As the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos prepare to joust in Super Bowl XLVIII, ESPN's crack staff of experts, writers, analysts, columnists and pundits boldly makes its predictions for the big game.

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Super Bowl XLVIII betting guide   |   PickCenter

John Clayton, ESPN.com senior writer
Seahawks 21, Broncos 17 -- Peyton Manning has to conquer the Legion of Boom and weather conditions, making this a tough matchup for Denver.

Jeffri Chadiha, ESPN.com columnist
Broncos 28, Seahawks 24 -- The Legion of Boom won't stop the NFL's best offense.

Ashley Fox, ESPN.com columnist
Broncos 27, Seahawks 20 -- No more legacy questions for Manning.

Terry Blount, ESPN Seattle Seahawks reporter
Seahawks 27, Broncos 20 -- The Broncos have the best player, but the Seahawks have the best team.

Jeff Legwold, ESPN Denver Broncos reporter
Broncos 28, Seahawks 23 -- Drew Brees and Matt Schaub found enough room to throw for 300 yards against the Seahawks, and the Broncos have more weapons on offense than both the Saints and Texans.

Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas Cowboys reporter
Broncos 24, Seahawks 22 -- Eli won in Peyton's house; now Peyton wins in Eli's.

Bill Barnwell, Grantland.com
Seahawks 27, Broncos 16 -- Defense wins championships, and the Broncos don't have much of one after a season of injuries.

Scott Brown, ESPN Pittsburgh Steelers reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- The Seahawks will control the clock behind Marshawn Lynch, and their defense will contain Peyton Manning.

Rich Cimini, ESPN New York Jets reporter
Broncos 28, Seahawks 20 -- Peyton Manning owned the regular season, and he'll own the postseason, too. It's his time. Again.

Rob Demovsky, ESPN Green Bay Packers reporter
Seahawks 27, Broncos 24 -- If the officials allow the Seahawks' defense to get physical with the Broncos, then the best defense in the NFL will handle the league's best offense.

Jeff Dickerson, ESPNChicago.com
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- Seattle's fierce pass rush neutralizes Peyton Manning's ability to find his big-play receivers downfield.

Michael DiRocco, ESPN Jacksonville Jaguars reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 17 -- The Seahawks are one of the few teams with a secondary capable of physically badgering the Broncos' receivers and disrupting Peyton Manning's timing.

Gregg Easterbrook, Tuesday Morning Quarterback columnist
Seahawks 16, Broncos 13 -- The then-highest-scoring team ever flamed out in the '08 Super Bowl -- history repeats.

David Fleming, ESPN The Magazine, senior writer
Seahawks 31, Broncos 27 -- The bigger the game, the colder the weather, the more physicality trumps finesse.

Tania Ganguli, ESPN Houston Texans reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Defense wins in this tantalizing matchup between the league's most diverse receiving group and its best secondary.

Greg Garber, ESPN.com senior writer
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- No. 1 D trumps (barely) No. 1 O.

Ben Goessling, ESPN Minnesota Vikings reporter
Broncos 23, Seahawks 17 -- Peyton Manning went 5-3 against top-12 defenses this year, and while Seattle will give him trouble, he's got enough weapons and enough know-how to solve the Seahawks. This is his year.

Dan Graziano, ESPN New York Giants reporter
Seahawks 27, Broncos 24 -- No shame in this, but the Seahawks wear teams down, and they will be too strong for Peyton Manning to overcome in the fourth quarter.

Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Oakland Raiders reporter
Seahawks 26, Broncos 24 -- Seattle's defense proves to be more disruptive to Peyton Manning than the weather in New Jersey.

Coley Harvey, ESPN Cincinnati Bengals reporter
Broncos 23, Seahawks 17 -- The combination of Demaryius Thomas and some "Omaha!" magic will be just enough for Peyton Manning to overcome young counterpart Russell Wilson's Seahawks.

Jamison Hensley, ESPN Baltimore Ravens reporter
Seahawks 30, Broncos 22 -- Peyton Manning is the greatest regular-season quarterback in NFL history. Postseason? That's a different story.

Gary Horton, ESPN.com Insider
Broncos 27, Seahawks 20 -- When I first looked at film, I thought Seattle would impose its will. The more I watched, I saw that Peyton Manning is in a zone that very few players ever experience, and I don't know how Seattle can stop him.

KC Joyner, ESPN.com Insider
Broncos 27, Seahawks 20 -- Denver is 11-0 this season when giving up fewer than 27 points. Seattle's offense isn't hitting on all cylinders, and it's hard to see the Seahawks reaching that 27-point mark.

John Keim, ESPN Washington Redskins reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- I love everything about Seattle's defense and typically would pick them, but they're facing one of the best quarterbacks in history -- and he happens to be having one of his best seasons. But I also like Denver's run game – offensively and defensively.

Paul Kuharsky, ESPN Tennessee Titans reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 23 -- A deathblow, we can hope, to "Peyton doesn't win big games" and "Peyton can't win in the cold."

Vaughn McClure, ESPN Atlanta Falcons reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- All the talk will surround Peyton Manning and Richard Sherman, but Broncos kicker Matt Prater, coming off an illness, ends up being the hero no matter what elements he encounters in the cold-weather Super Bowl.

Pat McManamon, ESPN Cleveland Browns reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- Seattle's defense stops a lot of people, but it won't stop Peyton Manning. This is his year.

David Newton, ESPN Carolina Panthers reporter
Broncos 24, Seahawks 13 -- Peyton Manning is playing too well to give Richard Sherman a chance to gloat, and the Denver defense is playing too well against Seattle's offensive strength, the running game.

Mike Reiss, ESPN New England Patriots reporter:
Broncos 24, Seahawks 17 -- Was impressed with the way Denver played the run against the Patriots, and that is the key against Marshawn Lynch and Co.

Mike Rodak, ESPN Buffalo Bills reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- Hard to see a Super Bowl shootout in chilly New Jersey, so the edge goes to Seattle's stingier defense.

Michael Rothstein, ESPN Detroit Lions reporter
Seahawks 27, Broncos 21 -- The weather doesn't end up being an issue, but Richard Sherman does as he intercepts two passes to take the MVP award and the Lombardi Trophy.

Mike Sando, ESPN.com Insider
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Seattle was my preseason choice, and I'm not going to reverse course with the Seahawks' defense playing so well. I think they'll need something from Percy Harvin, too.

Kevin Seifert, ESPN NFL Nation writer
Seahawks 29, Broncos 24 -- Great defense always beats great offense, even in the Quarterback Era. Or something like that.

Phil Sheridan, ESPN Philadelphia Eagles reporter:
Broncos 27, Seahawks 16 -- Whether the opponent is Russell Wilson or the Seattle defense, you just have to go with Peyton Manning.

Adam Teicher, ESPN Kansas City Chiefs reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 20 -- Great offense beats great defense in the modern NFL.

Mike Triplett, ESPN New Orleans Saints reporter
Broncos 23, Seahawks 19 -- Despite the weather and Seattle's great defense, I'm going with the offense I trust more.

Nick Wagoner, ESPN St. Louis Rams reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Much will depend on how the game is officiated, but the notion that defense wins championships proves true as Seattle's top-ranked defense does enough to slow Denver's historic offense.

James Walker, ESPN Miami Dolphins reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- I picked Seattle over Denver in the Super Bowl back in August, so I'm sticking with my prediction.

Calvin Watkins, ESPNDallas.com
Seahawks 21, Broncos 17 -- The Seahawks' defense will be too much for the Broncos to overcome.

Josh Weinfuss, ESPN Arizona Cardinals reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- Unless it's a blizzard, Peyton Manning will be able to conduct the Broncos' offense as he wishes, picking apart a very good secondary as only Manning can.

Mike Wells, ESPN Indianapolis Colts reporter
Broncos 31, Seahawks 20 -- Seattle's got the best defense in the league, but Manning's had two weeks to figure it out. That's more than enough time for him to win his second Super Bowl.

Seth Wickersham, ESPN The Magazine senior writer
Seahawks 23, Broncos 20 -- In the Seahawks' minds, the real championship was against the 49ers. If they hit Manning early -- big if, but still -- it's their game to lose.

Eric D. Williams, ESPN San Diego Chargers reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Seattle's defense versus Denver's offense is a wash, but the Hawks' offense is better than the Broncos' defense.

Bill Williamson, ESPN San Francisco 49ers reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 21 -- The weather and the Seattle defense will not make it easy, but Peyton Manning's mind-blowing season is going to end with him on top.

Matt Williamson, ESPN.com Insider
Seahawks 23, Broncos 20 -- I think getting Percy Harvin back from injury is exactly what Seattle's offense needs. Because the Broncos are not used to the speed and physicality of what they will see from the Seahawks' defense, Seattle should be able to stick with Marshawn Lynch, which will pay off huge in the fourth quarter.

Michael Wright, ESPN Chicago Bears reporter
Broncos 31, Seahawks 23 -- Peyton Manning's precision and the Denver offense's picks and rubs will cause problems for Seattle's aggressive coverage schemes.

Pat Yasinskas, ESPN Tampa Bay Buccaneers reporter
Broncos 28, Seahawks 20 -- Coach John Fox came up just short in his previous Super Bowl with Carolina. He won't come up short this time.

Field Yates, ESPN.com Insider/ESPNBoston.com
Seahawks 24, Broncos 22 -- For all the talk of Manning and his legacy, it will be the Seattle defense and cool-under-pressure demeanor of quarterback Russell Wilson that will swing this game late.

Super Bowl XLVIII betting guide   |   PickCenter

John Clayton, ESPN.com senior writer
Seahawks 21, Broncos 17 -- Peyton Manning has to conquer the Legion of Boom and weather conditions, making this a tough matchup for Denver.

Jeffri Chadiha, ESPN.com columnist
Broncos 28, Seahawks 24 -- The Legion of Boom won't stop the NFL's best offense.

Ashley Fox, ESPN.com columnist
Broncos 27, Seahawks 20 -- No more legacy questions for Manning.

Terry Blount, ESPN Seattle Seahawks reporter
Seahawks 27, Broncos 20 -- The Broncos have the best player, but the Seahawks have the best team.

Jeff Legwold, ESPN Denver Broncos reporter
Broncos 28, Seahawks 23 -- Drew Brees and Matt Schaub found enough room to throw for 300 yards against the Seahawks, and the Broncos have more weapons on offense than both the Saints and Texans.

Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas Cowboys reporter
Broncos 24, Seahawks 22 -- Eli won in Peyton's house; now Peyton wins in Eli's.

Bill Barnwell, Grantland.com
Seahawks 27, Broncos 16 -- Defense wins championships, and the Broncos don't have much of one after a season of injuries.

Scott Brown, ESPN Pittsburgh Steelers reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- The Seahawks will control the clock behind Marshawn Lynch, and their defense will contain Peyton Manning.

Rich Cimini, ESPN New York Jets reporter
Broncos 28, Seahawks 20 -- Peyton Manning owned the regular season, and he'll own the postseason, too. It's his time. Again.

Rob Demovsky, ESPN Green Bay Packers reporter
Seahawks 27, Broncos 24 -- If the officials allow the Seahawks' defense to get physical with the Broncos, then the best defense in the NFL will handle the league's best offense.

Jeff Dickerson, ESPNChicago.com
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- Seattle's fierce pass rush neutralizes Peyton Manning's ability to find his big-play receivers downfield.

Michael DiRocco, ESPN Jacksonville Jaguars reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 17 -- The Seahawks are one of the few teams with a secondary capable of physically badgering the Broncos' receivers and disrupting Peyton Manning's timing.

Gregg Easterbrook, Tuesday Morning Quarterback columnist
Seahawks 16, Broncos 13 -- The then-highest-scoring team ever flamed out in the '08 Super Bowl -- history repeats.

David Fleming, ESPN The Magazine, senior writer
Seahawks 31, Broncos 27 -- The bigger the game, the colder the weather, the more physicality trumps finesse.

Tania Ganguli, ESPN Houston Texans reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Defense wins in this tantalizing matchup between the league's most diverse receiving group and its best secondary.

Greg Garber, ESPN.com senior writer
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- No. 1 D trumps (barely) No. 1 O.

Ben Goessling, ESPN Minnesota Vikings reporter
Broncos 23, Seahawks 17 -- Peyton Manning went 5-3 against top-12 defenses this year, and while Seattle will give him trouble, he's got enough weapons and enough know-how to solve the Seahawks. This is his year.

Dan Graziano, ESPN New York Giants reporter
Seahawks 27, Broncos 24 -- No shame in this, but the Seahawks wear teams down, and they will be too strong for Peyton Manning to overcome in the fourth quarter.

Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Oakland Raiders reporter
Seahawks 26, Broncos 24 -- Seattle's defense proves to be more disruptive to Peyton Manning than the weather in New Jersey.

Coley Harvey, ESPN Cincinnati Bengals reporter
Broncos 23, Seahawks 17 -- The combination of Demaryius Thomas and some "Omaha!" magic will be just enough for Peyton Manning to overcome young counterpart Russell Wilson's Seahawks.

Jamison Hensley, ESPN Baltimore Ravens reporter
Seahawks 30, Broncos 22 -- Peyton Manning is the greatest regular-season quarterback in NFL history. Postseason? That's a different story.

Gary Horton, ESPN.com Insider
Broncos 27, Seahawks 20 -- When I first looked at film, I thought Seattle would impose its will. The more I watched, I saw that Peyton Manning is in a zone that very few players ever experience, and I don't know how Seattle can stop him.

KC Joyner, ESPN.com Insider
Broncos 27, Seahawks 20 -- Denver is 11-0 this season when giving up fewer than 27 points. Seattle's offense isn't hitting on all cylinders, and it's hard to see the Seahawks reaching that 27-point mark.

John Keim, ESPN Washington Redskins reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- I love everything about Seattle's defense and typically would pick them, but they're facing one of the best quarterbacks in history -- and he happens to be having one of his best seasons. But I also like Denver's run game – offensively and defensively.

Paul Kuharsky, ESPN Tennessee Titans reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 23 -- A deathblow, we can hope, to "Peyton doesn't win big games" and "Peyton can't win in the cold."

Vaughn McClure, ESPN Atlanta Falcons reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- All the talk will surround Peyton Manning and Richard Sherman, but Broncos kicker Matt Prater, coming off an illness, ends up being the hero no matter what elements he encounters in the cold-weather Super Bowl.

Pat McManamon, ESPN Cleveland Browns reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- Seattle's defense stops a lot of people, but it won't stop Peyton Manning. This is his year.

David Newton, ESPN Carolina Panthers reporter
Broncos 24, Seahawks 13 -- Peyton Manning is playing too well to give Richard Sherman a chance to gloat, and the Denver defense is playing too well against Seattle's offensive strength, the running game.

Mike Reiss, ESPN New England Patriots reporter:
Broncos 24, Seahawks 17 -- Was impressed with the way Denver played the run against the Patriots, and that is the key against Marshawn Lynch and Co.

Mike Rodak, ESPN Buffalo Bills reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- Hard to see a Super Bowl shootout in chilly New Jersey, so the edge goes to Seattle's stingier defense.

Michael Rothstein, ESPN Detroit Lions reporter
Seahawks 27, Broncos 21 -- The weather doesn't end up being an issue, but Richard Sherman does as he intercepts two passes to take the MVP award and the Lombardi Trophy.

Mike Sando, ESPN.com Insider
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Seattle was my preseason choice, and I'm not going to reverse course with the Seahawks' defense playing so well. I think they'll need something from Percy Harvin, too.

Kevin Seifert, ESPN NFL Nation writer
Seahawks 29, Broncos 24 -- Great defense always beats great offense, even in the Quarterback Era. Or something like that.

Phil Sheridan, ESPN Philadelphia Eagles reporter:
Broncos 27, Seahawks 16 -- Whether the opponent is Russell Wilson or the Seattle defense, you just have to go with Peyton Manning.

Adam Teicher, ESPN Kansas City Chiefs reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 20 -- Great offense beats great defense in the modern NFL.

Mike Triplett, ESPN New Orleans Saints reporter
Broncos 23, Seahawks 19 -- Despite the weather and Seattle's great defense, I'm going with the offense I trust more.

Nick Wagoner, ESPN St. Louis Rams reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Much will depend on how the game is officiated, but the notion that defense wins championships proves true as Seattle's top-ranked defense does enough to slow Denver's historic offense.

James Walker, ESPN Miami Dolphins reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- I picked Seattle over Denver in the Super Bowl back in August, so I'm sticking with my prediction.

Calvin Watkins, ESPNDallas.com
Seahawks 21, Broncos 17 -- The Seahawks' defense will be too much for the Broncos to overcome.

Josh Weinfuss, ESPN Arizona Cardinals reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- Unless it's a blizzard, Peyton Manning will be able to conduct the Broncos' offense as he wishes, picking apart a very good secondary as only Manning can.

Mike Wells, ESPN Indianapolis Colts reporter
Broncos 31, Seahawks 20 -- Seattle's got the best defense in the league, but Manning's had two weeks to figure it out. That's more than enough time for him to win his second Super Bowl.

Seth Wickersham, ESPN The Magazine senior writer
Seahawks 23, Broncos 20 -- In the Seahawks' minds, the real championship was against the 49ers. If they hit Manning early -- big if, but still -- it's their game to lose.

Eric D. Williams, ESPN San Diego Chargers reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Seattle's defense versus Denver's offense is a wash, but the Hawks' offense is better than the Broncos' defense.

Bill Williamson, ESPN San Francisco 49ers reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 21 -- The weather and the Seattle defense will not make it easy, but Peyton Manning's mind-blowing season is going to end with him on top.

Matt Williamson, ESPN.com Insider
Seahawks 23, Broncos 20 -- I think getting Percy Harvin back from injury is exactly what Seattle's offense needs. Because the Broncos are not used to the speed and physicality of what they will see from the Seahawks' defense, Seattle should be able to stick with Marshawn Lynch, which will pay off huge in the fourth quarter.

Michael Wright, ESPN Chicago Bears reporter
Broncos 31, Seahawks 23 -- Peyton Manning's precision and the Denver offense's picks and rubs will cause problems for Seattle's aggressive coverage schemes.

Pat Yasinskas, ESPN Tampa Bay Buccaneers reporter
Broncos 28, Seahawks 20 -- Coach John Fox came up just short in his previous Super Bowl with Carolina. He won't come up short this time.

Field Yates, ESPN.com Insider/ESPNBoston.com
Seahawks 24, Broncos 22 -- For all the talk of Manning and his legacy, it will be the Seattle defense and cool-under-pressure demeanor of quarterback Russell Wilson that will swing this game late.

Ashley Fox, ESPN.com columnist
Broncos 27, Seahawks 20 -- No more legacy questions for Manning.

Terry Blount, ESPN Seattle Seahawks reporter
Seahawks 27, Broncos 20 -- The Broncos have the best player, but the Seahawks have the best team.

Jeff Legwold, ESPN Denver Broncos reporter
Broncos 28, Seahawks 23 -- Drew Brees and Matt Schaub found enough room to throw for 300 yards against the Seahawks, and the Broncos have more weapons on offense than both the Saints and Texans.

Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas Cowboys reporter
Broncos 24, Seahawks 22 -- Eli won in Peyton's house; now Peyton wins in Eli's.

Bill Barnwell, Grantland.com
Seahawks 27, Broncos 16 -- Defense wins championships, and the Broncos don't have much of one after a season of injuries.

Scott Brown, ESPN Pittsburgh Steelers reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- The Seahawks will control the clock behind Marshawn Lynch, and their defense will contain Peyton Manning.

Rich Cimini, ESPN New York Jets reporter
Broncos 28, Seahawks 20 -- Peyton Manning owned the regular season, and he'll own the postseason, too. It's his time. Again.

Rob Demovsky, ESPN Green Bay Packers reporter
Seahawks 27, Broncos 24 -- If the officials allow the Seahawks' defense to get physical with the Broncos, then the best defense in the NFL will handle the league's best offense.

Jeff Dickerson, ESPNChicago.com
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- Seattle's fierce pass rush neutralizes Peyton Manning's ability to find his big-play receivers downfield.

Michael DiRocco, ESPN Jacksonville Jaguars reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 17 -- The Seahawks are one of the few teams with a secondary capable of physically badgering the Broncos' receivers and disrupting Peyton Manning's timing.

Gregg Easterbrook, Tuesday Morning Quarterback columnist
Seahawks 16, Broncos 13 -- The then-highest-scoring team ever flamed out in the '08 Super Bowl -- history repeats.

David Fleming, ESPN The Magazine, senior writer
Seahawks 31, Broncos 27 -- The bigger the game, the colder the weather, the more physicality trumps finesse.

Tania Ganguli, ESPN Houston Texans reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Defense wins in this tantalizing matchup between the league's most diverse receiving group and its best secondary.

Greg Garber, ESPN.com senior writer
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- No. 1 D trumps (barely) No. 1 O.

Ben Goessling, ESPN Minnesota Vikings reporter
Broncos 23, Seahawks 17 -- Peyton Manning went 5-3 against top-12 defenses this year, and while Seattle will give him trouble, he's got enough weapons and enough know-how to solve the Seahawks. This is his year.

Dan Graziano, ESPN New York Giants reporter
Seahawks 27, Broncos 24 -- No shame in this, but the Seahawks wear teams down, and they will be too strong for Peyton Manning to overcome in the fourth quarter.

Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Oakland Raiders reporter
Seahawks 26, Broncos 24 -- Seattle's defense proves to be more disruptive to Peyton Manning than the weather in New Jersey.

Coley Harvey, ESPN Cincinnati Bengals reporter
Broncos 23, Seahawks 17 -- The combination of Demaryius Thomas and some "Omaha!" magic will be just enough for Peyton Manning to overcome young counterpart Russell Wilson's Seahawks.

Jamison Hensley, ESPN Baltimore Ravens reporter
Seahawks 30, Broncos 22 -- Peyton Manning is the greatest regular-season quarterback in NFL history. Postseason? That's a different story.

Gary Horton, ESPN.com Insider
Broncos 27, Seahawks 20 -- When I first looked at film, I thought Seattle would impose its will. The more I watched, I saw that Peyton Manning is in a zone that very few players ever experience, and I don't know how Seattle can stop him.

KC Joyner, ESPN.com Insider
Broncos 27, Seahawks 20 -- Denver is 11-0 this season when giving up fewer than 27 points. Seattle's offense isn't hitting on all cylinders, and it's hard to see the Seahawks reaching that 27-point mark.

John Keim, ESPN Washington Redskins reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- I love everything about Seattle's defense and typically would pick them, but they're facing one of the best quarterbacks in history -- and he happens to be having one of his best seasons. But I also like Denver's run game – offensively and defensively.

Paul Kuharsky, ESPN Tennessee Titans reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 23 -- A deathblow, we can hope, to "Peyton doesn't win big games" and "Peyton can't win in the cold."

Vaughn McClure, ESPN Atlanta Falcons reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- All the talk will surround Peyton Manning and Richard Sherman, but Broncos kicker Matt Prater, coming off an illness, ends up being the hero no matter what elements he encounters in the cold-weather Super Bowl.

Pat McManamon, ESPN Cleveland Browns reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- Seattle's defense stops a lot of people, but it won't stop Peyton Manning. This is his year.

David Newton, ESPN Carolina Panthers reporter
Broncos 24, Seahawks 13 -- Peyton Manning is playing too well to give Richard Sherman a chance to gloat, and the Denver defense is playing too well against Seattle's offensive strength, the running game.

Mike Reiss, ESPN New England Patriots reporter:
Broncos 24, Seahawks 17 -- Was impressed with the way Denver played the run against the Patriots, and that is the key against Marshawn Lynch and Co.

Mike Rodak, ESPN Buffalo Bills reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- Hard to see a Super Bowl shootout in chilly New Jersey, so the edge goes to Seattle's stingier defense.

Michael Rothstein, ESPN Detroit Lions reporter
Seahawks 27, Broncos 21 -- The weather doesn't end up being an issue, but Richard Sherman does as he intercepts two passes to take the MVP award and the Lombardi Trophy.

Mike Sando, ESPN.com Insider
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Seattle was my preseason choice, and I'm not going to reverse course with the Seahawks' defense playing so well. I think they'll need something from Percy Harvin, too.

Kevin Seifert, ESPN NFL Nation writer
Seahawks 29, Broncos 24 -- Great defense always beats great offense, even in the Quarterback Era. Or something like that.

Phil Sheridan, ESPN Philadelphia Eagles reporter:
Broncos 27, Seahawks 16 -- Whether the opponent is Russell Wilson or the Seattle defense, you just have to go with Peyton Manning.

Adam Teicher, ESPN Kansas City Chiefs reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 20 -- Great offense beats great defense in the modern NFL.

Mike Triplett, ESPN New Orleans Saints reporter
Broncos 23, Seahawks 19 -- Despite the weather and Seattle's great defense, I'm going with the offense I trust more.

Nick Wagoner, ESPN St. Louis Rams reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Much will depend on how the game is officiated, but the notion that defense wins championships proves true as Seattle's top-ranked defense does enough to slow Denver's historic offense.

James Walker, ESPN Miami Dolphins reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- I picked Seattle over Denver in the Super Bowl back in August, so I'm sticking with my prediction.

Calvin Watkins, ESPNDallas.com
Seahawks 21, Broncos 17 -- The Seahawks' defense will be too much for the Broncos to overcome.

Josh Weinfuss, ESPN Arizona Cardinals reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- Unless it's a blizzard, Peyton Manning will be able to conduct the Broncos' offense as he wishes, picking apart a very good secondary as only Manning can.

Mike Wells, ESPN Indianapolis Colts reporter
Broncos 31, Seahawks 20 -- Seattle's got the best defense in the league, but Manning's had two weeks to figure it out. That's more than enough time for him to win his second Super Bowl.

Seth Wickersham, ESPN The Magazine senior writer
Seahawks 23, Broncos 20 -- In the Seahawks' minds, the real championship was against the 49ers. If they hit Manning early -- big if, but still -- it's their game to lose.

Eric D. Williams, ESPN San Diego Chargers reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Seattle's defense versus Denver's offense is a wash, but the Hawks' offense is better than the Broncos' defense.

Bill Williamson, ESPN San Francisco 49ers reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 21 -- The weather and the Seattle defense will not make it easy, but Peyton Manning's mind-blowing season is going to end with him on top.

Matt Williamson, ESPN.com Insider
Seahawks 23, Broncos 20 -- I think getting Percy Harvin back from injury is exactly what Seattle's offense needs. Because the Broncos are not used to the speed and physicality of what they will see from the Seahawks' defense, Seattle should be able to stick with Marshawn Lynch, which will pay off huge in the fourth quarter.

Michael Wright, ESPN Chicago Bears reporter
Broncos 31, Seahawks 23 -- Peyton Manning's precision and the Denver offense's picks and rubs will cause problems for Seattle's aggressive coverage schemes.

Pat Yasinskas, ESPN Tampa Bay Buccaneers reporter
Broncos 28, Seahawks 20 -- Coach John Fox came up just short in his previous Super Bowl with Carolina. He won't come up short this time.

Field Yates, ESPN.com Insider/ESPNBoston.com
Seahawks 24, Broncos 22 -- For all the talk of Manning and his legacy, it will be the Seattle defense and cool-under-pressure demeanor of quarterback Russell Wilson that will swing this game late.

Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas Cowboys reporter
Broncos 24, Seahawks 22 -- Eli won in Peyton's house; now Peyton wins in Eli's.

Bill Barnwell, Grantland.com
Seahawks 27, Broncos 16 -- Defense wins championships, and the Broncos don't have much of one after a season of injuries.

Scott Brown, ESPN Pittsburgh Steelers reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- The Seahawks will control the clock behind Marshawn Lynch, and their defense will contain Peyton Manning.

Rich Cimini, ESPN New York Jets reporter
Broncos 28, Seahawks 20 -- Peyton Manning owned the regular season, and he'll own the postseason, too. It's his time. Again.

Rob Demovsky, ESPN Green Bay Packers reporter
Seahawks 27, Broncos 24 -- If the officials allow the Seahawks' defense to get physical with the Broncos, then the best defense in the NFL will handle the league's best offense.

Jeff Dickerson, ESPNChicago.com
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- Seattle's fierce pass rush neutralizes Peyton Manning's ability to find his big-play receivers downfield.

Michael DiRocco, ESPN Jacksonville Jaguars reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 17 -- The Seahawks are one of the few teams with a secondary capable of physically badgering the Broncos' receivers and disrupting Peyton Manning's timing.

Gregg Easterbrook, Tuesday Morning Quarterback columnist
Seahawks 16, Broncos 13 -- The then-highest-scoring team ever flamed out in the '08 Super Bowl -- history repeats.

David Fleming, ESPN The Magazine, senior writer
Seahawks 31, Broncos 27 -- The bigger the game, the colder the weather, the more physicality trumps finesse.

Tania Ganguli, ESPN Houston Texans reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Defense wins in this tantalizing matchup between the league's most diverse receiving group and its best secondary.

Greg Garber, ESPN.com senior writer
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- No. 1 D trumps (barely) No. 1 O.

Ben Goessling, ESPN Minnesota Vikings reporter
Broncos 23, Seahawks 17 -- Peyton Manning went 5-3 against top-12 defenses this year, and while Seattle will give him trouble, he's got enough weapons and enough know-how to solve the Seahawks. This is his year.

Dan Graziano, ESPN New York Giants reporter
Seahawks 27, Broncos 24 -- No shame in this, but the Seahawks wear teams down, and they will be too strong for Peyton Manning to overcome in the fourth quarter.

Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Oakland Raiders reporter
Seahawks 26, Broncos 24 -- Seattle's defense proves to be more disruptive to Peyton Manning than the weather in New Jersey.

Coley Harvey, ESPN Cincinnati Bengals reporter
Broncos 23, Seahawks 17 -- The combination of Demaryius Thomas and some "Omaha!" magic will be just enough for Peyton Manning to overcome young counterpart Russell Wilson's Seahawks.

Jamison Hensley, ESPN Baltimore Ravens reporter
Seahawks 30, Broncos 22 -- Peyton Manning is the greatest regular-season quarterback in NFL history. Postseason? That's a different story.

Gary Horton, ESPN.com Insider
Broncos 27, Seahawks 20 -- When I first looked at film, I thought Seattle would impose its will. The more I watched, I saw that Peyton Manning is in a zone that very few players ever experience, and I don't know how Seattle can stop him.

KC Joyner, ESPN.com Insider
Broncos 27, Seahawks 20 -- Denver is 11-0 this season when giving up fewer than 27 points. Seattle's offense isn't hitting on all cylinders, and it's hard to see the Seahawks reaching that 27-point mark.

John Keim, ESPN Washington Redskins reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- I love everything about Seattle's defense and typically would pick them, but they're facing one of the best quarterbacks in history -- and he happens to be having one of his best seasons. But I also like Denver's run game – offensively and defensively.

Paul Kuharsky, ESPN Tennessee Titans reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 23 -- A deathblow, we can hope, to "Peyton doesn't win big games" and "Peyton can't win in the cold."

Vaughn McClure, ESPN Atlanta Falcons reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- All the talk will surround Peyton Manning and Richard Sherman, but Broncos kicker Matt Prater, coming off an illness, ends up being the hero no matter what elements he encounters in the cold-weather Super Bowl.

Pat McManamon, ESPN Cleveland Browns reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- Seattle's defense stops a lot of people, but it won't stop Peyton Manning. This is his year.

David Newton, ESPN Carolina Panthers reporter
Broncos 24, Seahawks 13 -- Peyton Manning is playing too well to give Richard Sherman a chance to gloat, and the Denver defense is playing too well against Seattle's offensive strength, the running game.

Mike Reiss, ESPN New England Patriots reporter:
Broncos 24, Seahawks 17 -- Was impressed with the way Denver played the run against the Patriots, and that is the key against Marshawn Lynch and Co.

Mike Rodak, ESPN Buffalo Bills reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- Hard to see a Super Bowl shootout in chilly New Jersey, so the edge goes to Seattle's stingier defense.

Michael Rothstein, ESPN Detroit Lions reporter
Seahawks 27, Broncos 21 -- The weather doesn't end up being an issue, but Richard Sherman does as he intercepts two passes to take the MVP award and the Lombardi Trophy.

Mike Sando, ESPN.com Insider
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Seattle was my preseason choice, and I'm not going to reverse course with the Seahawks' defense playing so well. I think they'll need something from Percy Harvin, too.

Kevin Seifert, ESPN NFL Nation writer
Seahawks 29, Broncos 24 -- Great defense always beats great offense, even in the Quarterback Era. Or something like that.

Phil Sheridan, ESPN Philadelphia Eagles reporter:
Broncos 27, Seahawks 16 -- Whether the opponent is Russell Wilson or the Seattle defense, you just have to go with Peyton Manning.

Adam Teicher, ESPN Kansas City Chiefs reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 20 -- Great offense beats great defense in the modern NFL.

Mike Triplett, ESPN New Orleans Saints reporter
Broncos 23, Seahawks 19 -- Despite the weather and Seattle's great defense, I'm going with the offense I trust more.

Nick Wagoner, ESPN St. Louis Rams reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Much will depend on how the game is officiated, but the notion that defense wins championships proves true as Seattle's top-ranked defense does enough to slow Denver's historic offense.

James Walker, ESPN Miami Dolphins reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21 -- I picked Seattle over Denver in the Super Bowl back in August, so I'm sticking with my prediction.

Calvin Watkins, ESPNDallas.com
Seahawks 21, Broncos 17 -- The Seahawks' defense will be too much for the Broncos to overcome.

Josh Weinfuss, ESPN Arizona Cardinals reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 -- Unless it's a blizzard, Peyton Manning will be able to conduct the Broncos' offense as he wishes, picking apart a very good secondary as only Manning can.

Mike Wells, ESPN Indianapolis Colts reporter
Broncos 31, Seahawks 20 -- Seattle's got the best defense in the league, but Manning's had two weeks to figure it out. That's more than enough time for him to win his second Super Bowl.

Seth Wickersham, ESPN The Magazine senior writer
Seahawks 23, Broncos 20 -- In the Seahawks' minds, the real championship was against the 49ers. If they hit Manning early -- big if, but still -- it's their game to lose.

Eric D. Williams, ESPN San Diego Chargers reporter
Seahawks 24, Broncos 20 -- Seattle's defense versus Denver's offense is a wash, but the Hawks' offense is better than the Broncos' defense.

Bill Williamson, ESPN San Francisco 49ers reporter
Broncos 27, Seahawks 21 -- The weather and the Seattle defense will not make it easy, but Peyton Manning's mind-blowing season is going to end with him on top.

Matt Williamson, ESPN.com Insider
Seahawks 23, Broncos 20 -- I think getting Percy Harvin back from injury is exactly what Seattle's offense needs. Because the Broncos are not used to the speed and physicality of what they will see from the Seahawks' defense, Seattle should be able to stick with Marshawn Lynch, which will pay off huge in the fourth quarter.

Michael Wright, ESPN Chicago Bears reporter
Broncos 31, Seahawks 23 -- Peyton Manning's precision and the Denver offense's picks and rubs will cause problems for Seattle's aggressive coverage schemes.

Pat Yasinskas, ESPN Tampa Bay Buccaneers reporter
Broncos 28, Seahawks 20 -- Coach John Fox came up just short in his previous Super Bowl with Carolina. He won't come up short this time.

Field Yates, ESPN.com Insider/ESPNBoston.com
Seahawks 24, Broncos 22 -- For all the talk of Manning and his legacy, it will be the Seattle defense and cool-under-pressure demeanor of quarterback Russell Wilson that will swing this game late.