On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will meet at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida for Super Bowl LV. Will Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and the high-ranking Chiefs defend their titles and take home another Super Bowl championship? Can Tom Brady cause a stir and get his seventh Super Bowl ring? Will one of the quarterbacks get the Super Bowl MVP award or will another playmaker show up? Could Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill score three touchdowns like he did in the Chiefs-Buccaneers matchup in the regular season? In the midst of the Buccaneers’ defense, will linebacker Devin White have enough influence to spoil the Chiefs offer for two championships in a row?
Before kicking off at 6:30 p.m. ET, we asked analysts, writers, commentators, columnists, and experts at ESPN to make their predictions for the big game. More than 100 experts rated the Chiefs-Buccaneers winner, the final result of the game and the MVP award. Here’s how they picked, along with a breakdown of the numbers. Also, check out our Super Bowl preview content.
Jump to: who wins?
Bosses | Bucs | MVP
The bottom line: bosses have the advantage of 80-27
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Out of 107 experts who weighed, the Chiefs were preferred by 80 (74.8%) while the Buccaneers received 27 votes (25.2%).
The most commonly predicted end result was 31-27, which was selected by nine of our experts. The lowest combined total was 38 (21-17). The highest combined score was 78 (41-37). The largest predicted profit margin was 24 points (48-24).
Betting context: Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill currently favors Kansas City by 3 points. Sixty-three of the 107 experts have the Chiefs covering that spread while 30 say the Buccaneers will cover. Fourteen have it as a push. The over / under is 56 at Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill. Sixty-six of the experts in this pool have the game over that total, while 37 like the under. Four have a push.
ESPN’s Football Power Index: FPI likes the Chiefs (52.1%) by an average of 0.7 points.
Predicting a Chiefs Victory (80)
“The Chiefs were the better team when these two teams met in Week 12. While the Bucs have improved since then, the Chiefs have improved too. Kansas City wins 30-20.” – Adam Teicher, chief reporter
Aaron Schatz, football outsider: 34-31
Adam Teicher, chief reporter: 30-20
Ben Baby, Bengals Reporter: 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, NFL studio host: 30-20
Ciro Procuna, ESPN Sport: 31-24
Courtney Cronin, Viking reporter: 33-28
Damien Woody, NFL Analyst: 34-27
Dan Orlovsky, NFL analyst: 30-27
David Fleming, NFL writer: 48-24
David Newton, Panthers Reporter: 31-23
Domonique Foxworth, NFL Analyst: 38-31
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
Freddie Coleman, ESPN Radio: 38-30
Greg Cosell, NFL Analyst: 34-27
Hannah Storm, SportsCenter anchor: 31-24
Ian Fitzsimmons, ESPN Radio: 31-24
Jake Trotter, Brown’s reporter: 31-28
Jamison Hensley, Raven’s reporter: 34-20
Jason Fitz, ESPN Radio: 41-28
Jason Reid, the undefeated: 34-21
Jay Williams, ESPN Radio: 34-21
Jeff Dickerson, Bear Reporter: 30-26
Jeremy Fowler, NFL writer / reporter: 27-24
Joe Fortenbaugh, ESPN Radio: 30-24
John Sutcliffe, ESPN Deported: 37-30
Jordan Raanan, Giants Reporter: 33-32
Kary Correa, ESPN Sport: 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
Kimberley A. Martin, NFL reporter: 31-28
Laura Rutledge, NFL Live Host: 35-31
Lindsey Thiry, Rams reporter: 31-28
Marcus Spears, NFL Analyst: 31-24
Martenzie Johnson, The Undefeated: 34-27
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 recording: 31-27
Michael Eaves, SportsCenter anchor: 42-30
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, Reporter for the Saints: 30-26
Mike Wells, Colts Reporter: 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 Sport: 35-31
Paul Gutierrez, Raiders reporter: 34-31
Peter Burns, ESPN studio presenter: 31-17
Rebeca Landa, ESPN Sport: 31-27
Rex Ryan, NFL Analyst: 28-21
Rob Demovsky, Packers Reporter: 31-30
Ryan McGee, writer: 34-27
Sarah Barshop, Texas reporter: 34-24
Sarah Spain, ESPNW: 30-24
Sebastian Martinez-Christensen, ESPN Deported: 27-23
Seth Walder, analyst: 34-21
Shae Cornette, ESPN Radio: 31-21
Shelley Smith, Chargers reporter: 27-14
Stephen A. Smith, first recording: 38-34
Suzy Kolber, NFL studio presenter: 28-27
Tim Hasselbeck, NFL Analyst: 21-17
Tim Keown, NFL writer: 35-24
Todd Archer, Cowboys Reporter: 31-27
Todd McShay, NFL Design Analyst: 30-26
Zubin Mehenti, ESPN radio: 31-24
Predicting a Buccaneers Victory (27)
“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 is their defensive back going against speed the Chiefs claim? I think you’ll do just enough. Bucs wins 29-27. “- Jenna Laine, Buccaneers reporter
Alan Hahn, ESPN radio: 34-31
Chris Carlin, ESPN Radio: 34-30
Dan Graziano, NFL writer / reporter: 35-31
Eduardo Varela, ESPN Sport: 38-35
Jeff Darlington, NFL reporter: 24-21
Jenna Laine, Buccaneer’s reporter: 29-27
John Buccigross, SportsCenter anchor: 26-23
John Keim, Washington Reporter: 28-24
Jordan Cornette, ESPN Radio: 27-24
Josh Weinfuss, Cardinal 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, ESPN studio presenter: 34-30
Mauricio Pedroza, ESPN Sport: 30-27
Michelle Beisner-Buck, NFL reporter: 28-21
Mike Clay, NFL Analyst: 30-27
Mike DiRocco, Jaguar Reporter: 31-24
Mike Reiss, Patriot Reporter: 30-27
Molly Qerim Rose, First Take Host: 31-27
Randy Moss, NFL Analyst: 32-30
Randy Scott, SportsCenter anchor: 32-27
Rich Cimini, Jets Reporter: 35-31
Seth Wickersham, NFL writer: 30-27
Tedy Bruschi, NFL analyst: 27-24
Turron Davenport, titan reporter: 35-31
Super Bowl MVP
Mahomes was the number one choice to win Super Bowl MVP. That’s not surprising, considering he’s the quarterback for the team most of our pundits picked to win the Super Bowl – and last season’s Super Bowl MVP. 60 of the 107 experts who dealt with MVP elected Mahomes with 56.1% of the vote. Eight of the last 11 Super Bowl MVPs were quarterbacks.
Brady was the second most popular choice with 18 votes. Eight other players received 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, Ciro Procuna, Courtney Cronin, Damien Woody, David Newton, Domonique Foxworth, Doug Kezirian, Elizabeth Merrill, Field Yates, Freddie Coleman, Greg Cosell, 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, Kimberley A. Martin, Laura Rutledge, Lindsey Thiry , Marcus Spears, Martenzie Johnson, Matt Hasselbeck, Matt Jones, Matthew Berry, Max Kellerman, 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, Sarah Spain, Sebastian Martinez-Christensen, Seth Walder, Shelley Smith, Suzy Kolber, Tim Hasselbeck, Todd McShay
Sunday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Barnwell’s Super Bowl preview »
• Our selection for the winner, MVP »
• Ranking of the players in the Super Bowl »
• Schedule »| More about the playoffs »
Tom Brady, QB, Privateer (+200): Alan Hahn, Chris Carlin, Dan Graziano, Jenna Laine, John Keim, Jordan Cornette, Josh Weinfuss, Katie George, Kirk Morrison, Mark Herzlich, Matt Schick, Mauricio Pedroza, Michelle Beisner-Buck, Mike Clay, Mike DiRocco, Mike Reiss, Molly Qerim Rose, Rich Cimini
Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs (+1 100): Ben Baby, Dan Orlowski, Emmett Golden, Jeff Dickerson, Jeremy Fowler, Matt Bowen, Todd Archer, Zubin Mehenti
Tyreek Hill, WR, Chiefs (+1 100): David Fleming, Jamison Hensley, Michael Eaves, Nick Wagoner, Ryan McGee, Stephen A. Smith
Mike Evans, WR, Privateer (+3000): Eduardo Varela, John Buccigross, Randy Moss and Turron Davenport
Tyrant Mathieu, S, Chiefs (+4000):: Adam Teicher, Michael Rothstein, Tim Keown
Devin White, LB, privateer (+8000):: Jeff Darlington, Matt Barrie, Randy Scott and Tedy Bruschi
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Chefs (+3000): Shae Cornette, Peter Burns
Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs (+8000):: Ed Werder
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, privateer (+10000):: Seth Wickersham
