Super Bowl 50: Heavily Favored Panthers Face Top-Ranked Broncos Defense

SUPER BOWL 50

Denver Broncos (+5.5) vs. Carolina Panthers

Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California

Television: CBS

Kickoff: 6:30 PM ET

Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms

National Anthem: Lady Gaga

Halftime Show: Coldplay, Bruno Mars, and Beyonce

*****

Carolina Panthers  (17-1 overall)

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Why they'll win...

Carolina has been the best team in the league and the last 3 months has basically been a march to winning the Super Bowl as part of their destiny. Cam Newton, just named league MVP, has turned into the type of winner and playmaker that college football fans saw in 2010 with Auburn on their way to the National Championship. An in-prime Cam Newton is facing, statistically, the worst quarterback to ever appear in a Super Bowl.

Why they'll lose...

The Panthers played a really weak road schedule and really feed off their home crowd. Everyone seems to worry about their offensive playmakers outside of Newton. Heart and soul defender Thomas Davis either won't play or could be terribly ineffective with a broken arm.

Denver Broncos (14-4 overall)

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Why they'll win...

Defense wins championships. The better defense and the top ranked defense has been highly successful in the Super Bowl. The Broncos have been pulling out close games all season and for as much as Carolina looks like a team of destiny maybe that team is Denver.

Why they'll lose...

Defense may only take you so far. The Broncos offense has been abysmal at worst and average at best. They've been averaging just over 20 points per game since mid-November and could get overwhelmed if their defense doesn't bring its A-game.

Prediction

I cannot in good conscience pick nearly 40-year old Peyton Manning against a fully swagged out Cam Newton. However, the history suggests Denver's defense should keep them fully in this game.

Carolina 27

Denver 23