On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers meet at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida, for Super Bowl LV. Will Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and the powerful Chiefs offense defend their title and take home another Super Bowl championship? Can Tom Brady upset and get his seventh Super Bowl ring? Will one of the quarterbacks earn Super Bowl MVP honors, or will another playmaker emerge?
Before the kick-off, ESPN’s analysts, writers, commentators, columnists and experts are making their predictions for the big game.
Jump to: Who wins?
Chiefs | Bucs | MVP
The score: Chiefs have the advantage, 69-24
Of the 93 experts who weighed in, the Chiefs were elected by 69 of them (74.2%), while the Buccaneers demanded 24 votes (25.8%).
The most 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 biggest victory predicted 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 the spread, while 27 say the Buccaneers will cover it. Twelve have it as a pressure. The over / under is 56.5 in the Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill. Fifty-seven of the experts in this pool have the total of the game, while 36 like the below.
ESPN’s Soccer Power Index: FPI likes the Chiefs (52.1%) with an average of 0.7 points.
Predict a Chiefs Victory (69)
“The Chiefs were the better team when these two teams met in Week 12. While the Bucs have improved since then, so has the Chiefs. Kansas City wins 30-20.” – Adam Teicher, Chiefs Reporter
Aaron Schatz, Football Outsiders: 34-31
Adam Teicher, Chiefs Reporter: 30-20
Ben Baby, Bengals reporter: 31-17
NFL Writer Bill Barnwell: 31-24
Brady Henderson, Reporter for Seahawks: 26-21
Steelers Reporter Brooke Pryor: 38-35
Cameron Wolfe, Dolphins Reporter: 31-27
Chris Berman, NFL Studio Host: 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, anchor at SportsCenter: 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 Deporter: 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, Rams Reporter: 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
Mike Wells, Colts Reporter: 34-24
Mina Kimes, NFL Analyst: 31-27
Myron Medcalf, author: 31-21
Nick Wagoner, 49ers Reporter: 34-23
Nicole Briscoe, anchor at SportsCenter: 35-32
Pablo Viruega, ESPN Sports: 35-31
Paul Gutierrez, Raiders Reporter: 34-31
Peter Burns, ESPN Studio Host: 31-17
Rebeca Landa, ESPN Sports: 31-27
Rex Ryan, NFL Analyst: 28-21
Rob Demovsky, Reporter for Packers: 31-30
Ryan McGee, author: 34-27
Sarah Barshop, Texans 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
Tim Hasselbeck, NFL Analyst: 21-17
Tim Keown, NFL Writer: 35-24
Todd Archer, Cowboys Reporter: 31-27
Todd McShay, NFL Concept Manager: 30-26
Predict a victory for Buccaneers (24)
“The Bucs ‘defense has 7.0 bags and seven takeaways in three playoff games – and Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett can make Mahomes feel uncomfortable in the bag. But how will their defensive rugby hold up against the Chiefs’ speed? I think they will “Just enough. Bucs wins 29-27.” – Jenna Laine, Buccaneers Reporter
Chris Carlin, ESPN Radio: 34-30
Dan Graziano, NFL Writer / Reporter: 35-31
Eduardo Varela, ESPN Sports: 38-35
Jenna Laine, Buccaneers Reporter: 29-27
John Buccigross, anchor at SportsCenter: 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, anchor at SportsCenter: 31-27
Matt Schick, ESPN Studio Host: 34-30
Mauricio Pedroza, ESPN Sports: 30-27
Michelle Beisner-Buck, NFL Reporter: 28-21
Mike Clay, NFL Analyst: 30-27
Mike DiRocco, Jaguars Reporter: 31-24
Mike Reiss, Patriots Reporter: 30-27
Molly Qerim Rose, first host: 31-27
Randy Scott, anchor at SportsCenter: 32-27
Rich Cimini, Jets Reporter: 35-31
Seth Wickersham, NFL Writer: 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 Super Bowl MVP. This is not surprising, as he is the quarterback of the team that selected most of our experts to win the Super Bowl – and last season’s Super Bowl MVP. Fifty-two of the 93 experts who weighed in MVP voted for Mahomes, 55.9% of the vote. Eight of the past 11 Super Bowl MVPs have been quarterbacks.
Brady was the next choice and earned 17 votes. Eight other players earned at least one vote. The odds below are via Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill.
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 Ryan, 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
Tyrant 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