The Carolina Panthers are favored to beat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50, so it's not surprising that most experts are picking Cam Newton and the NFC champions to win the franchise's first ever Lombardi Trophy on Sunday.
Super Bowl 2016 picks and predictions: Most experts picking Panthers, but it isn’t unanimous
Most experts are picking the Panthers to win Super Bowl 50, but it isn’t as one-sided as you might expect.
Carolina finished the 2015 regular season with the most points scored and the No. 6 scoring defense, but the high-powered offense of the Panthers now has to face the top-rated defense of the Broncos. The Denver defense, led by pass rushers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, finished the year No. 1 against the pass and No. 3 against the run, but has its hands full with the task of stopping Newton.
The fourth-year quarterback is the runaway favorite to win the NFL's MVP award after 35 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns in a 15-1 campaign, and he managed to lead the Panthers to blowout victories over the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals in the postseason.
Five of eight experts at CBS Sports are taking the Broncos to win with three others picking the Panthers. It's a similar story at FOX Sports with only Peter Schrager and Ross Jones picking Denver and the rest of the seven-man panel going with Carolina.
Things are split at ESPN, with five experts picking the Panthers and four taking the Broncos
SB Nation’s team is siding with the favorites, although Stephen White and PFT Commenter are going against the grain and projecting the Broncos to win. The other five experts are taking the Panthers, as is the OddsShark computer.
| Super Bowl 50 | Ryan Van Bibber | Stephen White | Joel Thorman | David Fucillo | Danny Kelly | Matt Ufford | PFT Commenter | OddsShark Computer |
| CAR vs. DEN | CAR | DEN | CAR | CAR | CAR | CAR | DEN | CAR |
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