ASK THE EXPERTS appears weekly from training camp through Super Bowl with answers to a new question being posted Thursday morning. How the guest experts responded when we asked them: What will happen in Super Bowl 50?
DAVID DOREY
I cannot imagine not liking the Panthers who have been thoroughly impressive all year and in the playoffs. Both teams lose a home team advantage but that hurts the Broncos more than the Panthers. The Panthers bring a very different sort of offense to defend that will be a challenge. Conversely, the Panthers should be able to handle Peyton Manning. I’m a longtime fan of Manning and would love to see him go out with a Super Bowl win. But I just don’t see it happening.
Dorey is the co-founder and lead NFL analyst for The Huddle and author of Fantasy Football: The Next Level. He has projected and predicted every NFL game and player performance since 1997 and has appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, radio and television.
JOSHUA SIMMONS
While a lot can be said of the propensity of Denver's defense to take over a game, I'm feeling pretty confident in the Panthers. Carolina's offensive and defensive units are each exceptional in their right, while the most I can say for Denver's offense is that whenever their ground game is clicking -- not a given, come Super Bowl Sunday -- Peyton Manning & company are above average at putting points on the board. From a matchup standpoint, the Panthers zone running scheme will likely mitigate enough of Von Miller's and DeMarcus Ware's strengths to keep the game out of Denver's reach. Final score will be something along the lines of Carolina 23, Denver 17.
Simmons has been a contributor for FantasySharks.com since 2007. His responsibilities include dynasty rankings, weekly projections-driven content and staff representation in various leagues.
SAM HENDRICKS
The Panthers will have some newbie shock at the big dance and start slowly. First quarter score 0-0. Carolina scores first as Newton goes to the air to find Greg Olsen. Half time score CAR 7, Denver 3. Later the panthers score again on a pick six as Manning throws an interception late in the third putting the score at 14-6. A dramatic fourth quarter comeback from Peyton ties the game when he finds Demaryius Thomas on a deep ball. Overtime gives everyone some extra football and commercial sponsors an extra shot at glory. The winning score is ironic as Denver's defense sacks Cam Newton for a safety on their first possession. Peyton Manning does not even have to take the field in OT but still leads the Broncos back to Super Bowl victory and then retires on top.
Hendricks is the author of Fantasy Football Guidebook, Fantasy Football Tips and Fantasy Football Basics, all available at ExtraPointPress.com, at all major bookstores, and at Amazon and BN.com. He is a 20-plus year fantasy football veteran who regularly participates in the National Fantasy Football Championship (NFFC) and finished 7th and 16th overall in the 2008 and 2009 Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC). He won the Fantasy Index Open in 2013. Follow him at his web site, www.ffguidebook.com.
IAN ALLAN
Both teams have good defenses, but Carolina’s offense is way better. So I expect the Panthers will win this game big. Double digit points. They’ll either jump on them early, or once they get ahead, they’ll win it going away. I will be interested to check on the odds of a Pick Six, because when Peyton Manning is forced to start throwing against this defense, it could be only a matter of time before somebody jumps a route going the other way. Carolina has intercepted 30 points, with 6 going the other way for touchdowns (including scores in both playoff games).
Allan is the senior writer for Fantasy Football Index. He's been in that role since 1987, generating most of the player rankings and analysis for that publication. His work can be seen in Fantasy Football Index magazine, and also at www.fantasyindex.com.
ALAN SATTERLEE
I will confess I am a homer, now a Charlotte resident for eight years, I really like the Panthers. That said, and regardless, I think the Panthers win this one big. They have simply been destroying teams of late. I don't see how the Broncos can hang against this team. Panthers get up, Peyton is harassed and sacked and there is a Pick Six in this one. Cam Newton takes home the Super Bowl MVP award.
Satterlee is a co-owner and senior writer for Dynasty Football Warehouse. DFW is comprehensive site covering dynasty, redraft, IDP and Daily formats. DFW has a large writing crew with many people from the DFW community contributing to the insights and discussion. Alan is also the Fantasy Football Insider for the Charlotte Observer and is syndicated in a few other newspapers in the southeast.
MICHAEL NAZAREK
Panthers 27, Broncos 17. Cam Newton is the MVP.
Nazarek is the CEO of Fantasy Football Mastermind Inc. His company offers a preseason draft guide, customizable cheat sheets, a multi-use fantasy drafting program including auction values, weekly in-season fantasy newsletters, injury reports and free NFL news (updated daily) at its web site. He has been playing fantasy football since 1988 and is a four-peat champion of the SI.com Experts Fantasy League, a nationally published writer in several fantasy magazines and a former columnist for SI.com. For more info go to www.ffmastermind.com. Nazarek can be reached via email at miken@ffmastermind.com.
ANDY RICHARDSON
I think people are slightly underestimating the possibility of the Broncos defense making this a game. Didn't everyone say just two weeks ago that there was no way Denver could keep up with New England's high-powered offense? Cam Newton is a unique quarterback, but he's a youngster who maybe Denver's pass rush is able to pressure into a mistake or two. If -- and it's a big IF -- Denver is able to score early, they have a chance to control the game. I think it will be a good, low-scoring game, and while Newton is far more likely to make the plays to win it than a washed-up Peyton Manning, Denver's superior defense could also come up with a big play or two. I'm going to call the upset: Denver 20, Carolina 17.
Richardson has been a contributing writer and editor to the Fantasy Football Index magazine and www.fantasyindex.com since 2002. His responsibilities include team defense and IDP projections and various site features, and he has run the magazine's annual experts draft and auction leagues since their inception. He previews all the NFL games on Saturdays and writes a wrap-up column on Mondays during the NFL season.