NFL Picks and Predictions: Predicting the winner of Super Bowl 50 between the Panthers and Broncos

Super Bowl 50 is just hours away, and everyone is trying to predict the winner of the big game between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. There are several story lines present in this matchup between the best team in the AFC and their counterpart in the NFC.

Peyton Manning could be in the final year of his storied and legendary NFL career, and for him to win a second Super Bowl could be the perfect platform for him to ride off into the sunset a champion. A very similar story played itself out in such a way with Manning's boss John Elway when he won a Super Bowl and decided to retire after the season.

On the flip side is the young and exuberant Cam Newton. The 2015 NFL MVP is trying to not only cement his name in NFL lore, but to win the Panthers their first Super Bowl in franchise history. The 2004 Super Bowl where Jake Delhomme failed to beat the New England Patriots in Houston still has to linger with the fan base, and Newton and company can erase those memories with a victory in Santa Clara Sunday.

So, who do you think will win the game? You can enter your prediction in the Crowd's Line tool below. Will it be the Broncos winning their 3rd Super Bowl title? Or will the Panthers claim their first?

When looking at this matchup, the classic "offense vs. defense" discussion usually gets brought up. The dynamic Panthers offense against the league's top ranked unit in the Broncos defense; however, what isn't being discussed is the inconsistent Broncos offense against a very formidable Panthers defense led by Luke Kuechly. In my opinion, the Panthers possess too much on both sides of the football for the Broncos to handle.

Jeff Hartman's Super Bowl 50 Prediction:
Panthers: 38
Broncos: 27