On Sunday, Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will meet at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida, for the Super Bowl LV. Will Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and the Chiefs’ powerful attack defend his title and take home another Super Bowl championship? Does Tom Brady get a turn and get his seventh Super Bowl ring? Will one of the defenders win the Super Bowl MVP honors or will another star appear?
Before the kickoff, ESPN analysts, writers, commentators, columnists and experts make their predictions for the big game.
Jump to: Who wins?
Chiefs | Bucs | MVP
Result: bosses have an advantage, 69-24
Of the 93 experts who gave their opinion, the Chiefs were favored by 69 of them (74.2%), while the Bucaneiros obtained 24 votes (25.8%).
The most common predicted final score was 31-27, which was chosen by nine of our experts. The lowest combined total was 38 (21-17). The highest combined score was 78 (41-37). The largest expected margin of victory was 24 points (48-24).
Betting context: William Hill’s Caesars Sportsbook currently favors Kansas City by 3 points. Fifty-four of the 93 experts have the chiefs covering this spread, while 27 say the privateers will cover. Twelve have it as a push. The over / under is 56.5 in William Hill’s Caesars Sportsbook. Fifty-seven of the experts in this group have the game exceeding that total, while 36 prefer the lower.
ESPN Football Power Index: The FPI likes Chiefs (52.1%) by an average of 0.7 points.
Predicting the Chiefs’ victory (69)
“The Chiefs were the best team when these two teams met in Week 12. Although the Bucs have improved since then, the Chiefs have also improved. Kansas City wins 30-20.” – Adam Teicher, Chiefs reporter
Aaron Schatz, players outside football: 34-31
Adam Teicher, Chiefs reporter: 30-20
Ben Baby, reporter for Bengals: 31-17
Bill Barnwell, NFL writer: 31-24
Brady Henderson, Seahawks reporter: 26-21
Brooke Pryor, Steelers reporter: 38-35
Cameron Wolfe, Dolphins reporter: 31-27
Chris Berman, host of the NFL studio: 30-20
Courtney Cronin, Vikings reporter: 33-28
Dan Orlovsky, NFL analyst: 30-27
David Fleming, NFL writer: 48-24
David Newton, Panthers reporter: 31-23
Doug Kezirian, ESPN Chalk: 28-24
Ed Werder, NFL reporter: 34-24
Elizabeth Merrill, NFL writer: 31-30
Emmett Golden, ESPN radio: 41-37
Field Yates, NFL analyst: 34-26
Hannah Storm, SportsCenter anchor: 31-24
Ian Fitzsimmons, ESPN radio: 31-24
Jake Trotter, Browns reporter: 31-28
Jamison Hensley, Ravens reporter: 34-20
Jason Fitz, ESPN radio: 41-28
Jason Reid, the undefeated: 34-21
Jay Williams, ESPN radio: 34-21
Jeff Dickerson, Bears reporter: 30-26
Jeremy Fowler, NFL writer / reporter: 27-24
Joe Fortenbaugh, ESPN radio: 30-24
John Sutcliffe, ESPN Sports: 37-30
Jordan Raanan, Giants reporter: 33-32
Kary Correa, ESPN Sports: 27-24
Kenny Mayne, SportsCenter anchor: 35-28
Kevin Seifert, NFL writer / reporter: 37-34
Kevin Van Valkenburg, NFL writer: 41-24
Keyshawn Johnson, NFL analyst: 42-27
Laura Rutledge, NFL Live host: 35-31
Lindsey Thiry, reporter Rams: 31-28
Marcus Spears, NFL analyst: 31-24
Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: 31-23
Matt Hasselbeck, NFL analyst: 33-30
Matt Jones, ESPN radio: 38-28
Matthew Berry, fantasy writer: 30-24
Max Kellerman, first take: 31-27
Michael Rothstein, Lions reporter: 38-27
Mike Golic Jr., ESPN radio: 31-27
Mike Greenberg, get up! host: 30-27
Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst: 31-27
Mike Triplett, Saints reporter: 30-26
Colts reporter Mike Wells: 34-24
Mina Kimes, NFL analyst: 31-27
Myron Medcalf, writer: 31-21
Nick Wagoner, 49ers reporter: 34-23
Nicole Briscoe, SportsCenter anchor: 35-32
Pablo Viruega, ESPN Sports: 35-31
Raiders reporter Paul Gutierrez: 34-31
Peter Burns, host of ESPN studio: 31-17
Rebeca Landa, ESPN Sports: 31-27
Rex Ryan, NFL analyst: 28-21
Rob Demovsky, Packers reporter: 31-30
Ryan McGee, writer: 34-27
Sarah Barshop, Texan reporter: 34-24
Sebastian Martinez-Christensen, ESPN Sports: 27-23
Seth Walder, analysis writer: 34-21
Shae Cornette, ESPN radio: 31-21
Shelley Smith, Chargers reporter: 27-14
Stephen A. Smith, first take: 38-34
NFL analyst Tim Hasselbeck: 21-17
NFL copywriter Tim Keown: 35-24
Todd Archer, Cowboys reporter: 31-27
Todd McShay, NFL draft analyst: 30-26
Predicting a Buccaneers victory (24)
“The Bucs defense has 7.0 sacks and seven takeaways in three playoff games – and Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett can make Mahomes feel uncomfortable in the pocket. But how will his defensive back keep up with the Chiefs’ speed? I think they will do just enough. Bucs wins 29-27. ” – Jenna Laine, reporter for the Buccaneers
Chris Carlin, ESPN radio: 34-30
Dan Graziano, NFL writer / reporter: 35-31
Eduardo Varela, ESPN Sports: 38-35
Jenna Laine, reporter for the Buccaneers: 29-27
SportsCenter anchor John Buccigross: 26-23
John Keim, Washington reporter: 28-24
Jordan Cornette, ESPN radio: 27-24
Josh Weinfuss, Cardinals reporter: 35-34
Katie George, reporter: 31-28
Kirk Morrison, NFL analyst: 31-27
Mark Herzlich, analyst: 31-27
Matt Barrie, SportsCenter anchor: 31-27
Matt Schick, host of ESPN studio: 34-30
Mauricio Pedroza, ESPN Sports: 30-27
Michelle Beisner-Buck, NFL reporter: 28-21
Mike Clay, NFL analyst: 30-27
Mike DiRocco, reporter for Jaguars: 31-24
Patriots reporter Mike Reiss: 30-27
Molly Qerim Rose, host of First Take: 31-27
Randy Scott, SportsCenter anchor: 32-27
Rich Cimini, reporter for Jets: 35-31
NFL writer Seth Wickersham: 30-27
Tedy Bruschi, NFL analyst: 27-24
Turron Davenport, Titans reporter: 35-31
Super Bowl MVP
Mahomes was the most common choice to win the Super Bowl MVP. This is not surprising considering that he is the quarterback of the team that most of our experts chose to win the Super Bowl – and the Super Bowl MVP of last season. Fifty-two of the 93 experts who opined on MVP chose Mahomes, 55.9% of the vote. Eight of the last 11 Super Bowl MVPs were defenders.
Brady was the next most common choice, winning 17 votes. Eight other players won at least one vote. The odds below are via William Hill’s Caesars Sportsbook.
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs (-120): Aaron Schatz, Bill Barnwell, Brady Henderson, Brooke Pryor, Cameron Wolfe, Chris Berman, Courtney Cronin, David Newton, Doug Kezirian, Elizabeth Merrill, Field Yates, Hannah Storm, Ian Fitzsimmons, Jake Trotter, Jason Fitz, Jason Reid, Jay Williams , Joe Fortenbaugh, John Sutcliffe, Jordan Raanan, Kary Correa, Kenny Mayne, Kevin Seifert, Kevin Van Valkenburg, Keyshawn Johnson, Laura Rutledge, Lindsey Thiry, Marcus Spears, Mark Herzlich, Matt Hasselbeck, Matt Jones, Matthew Berry, Max Kellerman, Mike DiRocco, Mike Golic Jr., Mike Greenberg, Mike Tannenbaum, Mike Triplett, Mike Wells, Mina Kimes, Myron Medcalf, Nicole Briscoe, Pablo Viruega, Paul Gutierrez, Rebeca Landa, Rex, Rob Demovsky, Sarah Barshop, Sebastian Martinez- Christensen , Seth Walder, Shelley Smith, Tim Hasselbeck, Todd McShay
Tom Brady, QB, Buccaneers (+200): Chris Carlin, Dan Graziano, Jenna Laine, John Keim, Jordan Cornette, Josh Weinfuss, Katie George, Kirk Morrison, Matt Schick, Mauricio Pedroza, Michelle Beisner-Buck, Mike Clay, Mike Reiss, Molly Qerim Rose, Rich Cimini
Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs (+1100): Ben Baby, Dan Orlovsky, Emmett Golden, Jeff Dickerson, Jeremy Fowler, Matt Bowen, Todd Archer
Tyreek Hill, WR, Chiefs (+1100): David Fleming, Jamison Hensley, Nick Wagoner, Ryan McGee, Stephen A. Smith
Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers (+3000): Eduardo Varela, John Buccigross, Turron Davenport
Tyrann Mathieu, S, Chiefs (+4000): Adam Teicher, Michael Rothstein, Tim Keown
Devin White, LB, Buccaneers (+8000): Matt Barrie, Randy Scott, Tedy Bruschi
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Chiefs (+3000): Shae Cornette, Peter Burns
Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs (+8000): Ed Werder
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, Buccaneers (+10000): Seth Wickersham