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Super Bowl 50 preview and predictions

WTOP Staff

February 5, 2016, 2:15 AM

City Hall is framed by a Super Bowl 50 Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Predictions for Super Bowl 50 The WTOP sports staff brings you predictions on anything and everything on Super Bowl Sunday. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Idina Menzel sings the national anthem before the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Over/under length of national anthem: 1:57 The anthem has averaged 1:57 seconds over the past 10 years. Yes, people track this. With Lady Gaga lined up for this year’s Star-Spangled Banner, take your pick. J. Brooks, sports anchor: Over Chris Cichon, weekend sports anchor: Under Noah Frank, digital sports editor: Over Dave Preston, sports anchor: Over George Wallace, sports director: Under Rob Woodfork, sports anchor: Over (AP Photo/Matt York)
AP Photo/Matt York
Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano kicks a field goal to win during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Panthers won 38-35. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Which player will score the first points of the game? There are plenty of choices here, and yours probably gives some insight into how you think the game will go. JB: Brandon McManus CC: Graham Gano NF: Ted Ginn DP: Graham Gano GW: Cam Newton RW: Luke Kuechly (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
AP Photo/Kathy Willens
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR PAPA JOHN'S - In this photo released by Papa John's on Friday, Oct. 26, 2012,  Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, left, shoots a television spot with Papa John's Founder, Chairman and CEO John Schnatter, during which Manning reveals that he is Papa John's latest franchisee. Papa John's newest "franchise player" will own 21 Papa John's restaurants in the Denver area.  The spot will air Sunday, Oct. 28, during NBC-TV's "Football Night in America" telecast. (Photo by Jack Dempsey/Invision for Papa John's/AP Images)
How many minutes into the game will we get before a Peyton Manning commercial airs (pregame not included)? No face is likely to appear more, but will companies that choose to have Manning endorse them front- or back-load their ads? JB: 6 minutes CC: 7 minutes NF: First break after kickoff (within 10 seconds) DP: 5 minutes GW: 6 minutes RW: 5 minutes (Photo by Jack Dempsey/Invision for Papa John’s/AP Images)
Photo by Jack Dempsey/Invision for Papa John’s/AP Images
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) dances in the end zone after rushing for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Over/under on Cam Newton dabs: 2.5 The dab has been popularized thanks to Newton, but will he go back to the well in the biggest game of his life? JB: Under CC: Over NF: Under DP: Over (and over again) GW: Over RW: Under (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ted Ginn (19) hands the ball to a child int he stands after Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (88) scored a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Will more boys or girls in the crowd receive footballs after Panthers touchdowns (or tie)? We assume the tradition will continue for the Super Bowl, but who will be the beneficiaries? JB: Girls CC: Girls NF: Tie DP: Boys GW: Boys RW: Boys (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
AP Photo/Mike McCarn
Denver Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway, second from left, sits in court side seat to watch the Denver Nuggets host the Detroit Pistons in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Over/under on John Elway on-screen appearances before the final whistle: 3.5 The actual Vegas line on this is 2.5, but we think that’s too low. JB: Over CC: Over NF: Over DP: Over GW: Over RW: Over (way over) (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Chris Martin of Coldplay performs at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
Which Coldplay song will open the halftime show? Only the most important stuff here, folks. JB: “When I Ruled the World” CC: “Adventure of a Lifetime” NF: “Clocks” DP: Oasis’ “Champagne Supernova” GW: None — they’ll play a cover RW: “Viva La Vida” (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
FILE - In this Nov. 27, 2011, file photo, injured Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning meets with Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton after an NFL football game in Indianapolis. For the next two weeks, until Peyton Manning's AFC champion Denver Broncos face Cam Newton's NFC champion Carolina Panthers in the 50th Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California, most of the focus will be on the two quarterbacks who were No. 1 overall draft picks 13 years apart. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)
Who will have more combined yards, Peyton Manning or Cam Newton? This is less straightforward than it looks. If a team falls behind early, might their QB be forced to throw more to catch up? JB: Newton CC: Newton NF: Newton DP: Newton GW: Newton RW: Newton (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)
AP Photo/AJ Mast, File
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates with teammates middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) and free safety Tre Boston (33) after a interception against the Atlanta Falcons during an NFL football game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015. (Chris Keane/AP Images for Panini)
Who will win MVP? There are obvious choices, but with two top defenses, could there be a surprise here? JB: Peyton Manning CC: Luke Kuechly NF: Luke Kuechly DP: Cam Newton GW: Peyton Manning RW: Cam Newton (Chris Keane/AP Images for Panini)
Chris Keane/AP Images for Panini
In this Jan. 27, 2015 photo, a man looks through Super Bowl proposition bets at the Westgate Superbook Race and Sportsbook, in Las Vegas. A board behind displays the odds for different proposition bets. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Will the Panthers win and cover (-5.5), win without covering, or will the Broncos win? It’s all fun and good to pick winners and losers, but what about that line? JB: Broncos win CC: Panthers win and cover NF: Panthers win and cover DP: Panthers win and cover GW: Broncos win RW: Panthers win without covering (AP Photo/John Locher)
AP Photo/John Locher
A Super Bowl sign is placed outside of Levi's Stadium Tuesday, Feb 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Denver Broncos will play the Carolina Panthers in the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2015, at Levi's Stadium. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Will the combined score go over (45) or under? In a game of two top defenses, will points be at a premium? JB: Under CC: Under NF: Over DP: Over GW: Over RW: Under (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez
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City Hall is framed by a Super Bowl 50 Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Idina Menzel sings the national anthem before the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano kicks a field goal to win during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Panthers won 38-35. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR PAPA JOHN'S - In this photo released by Papa John's on Friday, Oct. 26, 2012,  Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, left, shoots a television spot with Papa John's Founder, Chairman and CEO John Schnatter, during which Manning reveals that he is Papa John's latest franchisee. Papa John's newest "franchise player" will own 21 Papa John's restaurants in the Denver area.  The spot will air Sunday, Oct. 28, during NBC-TV's "Football Night in America" telecast. (Photo by Jack Dempsey/Invision for Papa John's/AP Images)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) dances in the end zone after rushing for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ted Ginn (19) hands the ball to a child int he stands after Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (88) scored a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Denver Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway, second from left, sits in court side seat to watch the Denver Nuggets host the Detroit Pistons in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Chris Martin of Coldplay performs at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
FILE - In this Nov. 27, 2011, file photo, injured Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning meets with Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton after an NFL football game in Indianapolis. For the next two weeks, until Peyton Manning's AFC champion Denver Broncos face Cam Newton's NFC champion Carolina Panthers in the 50th Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California, most of the focus will be on the two quarterbacks who were No. 1 overall draft picks 13 years apart. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates with teammates middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) and free safety Tre Boston (33) after a interception against the Atlanta Falcons during an NFL football game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015. (Chris Keane/AP Images for Panini)
In this Jan. 27, 2015 photo, a man looks through Super Bowl proposition bets at the Westgate Superbook Race and Sportsbook, in Las Vegas. A board behind displays the odds for different proposition bets. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A Super Bowl sign is placed outside of Levi's Stadium Tuesday, Feb 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Denver Broncos will play the Carolina Panthers in the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2015, at Levi's Stadium. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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November 25, 2024 | (Noah Frank)

WASHINGTON — The best part about the Super Bowl is that the event is so much bigger than the game itself. It brings together hard-core, casual and even non-fans to watch the action, the commercials and everything in between.

And you can bet on all of it.

In that spirit, we’ve asked the members of the WTOP sports department for their predictions for a whole bunch of things on the field and off on Sunday. Click through the slides above, and feel free to play along at home and see if you can do better.

See the rest of our Super Bowl coverage below.

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