Super Bowl 2016: Predictions, Updated Bracket Odds and Schedule Guide

There haven't been many surprises on the road to the Super Bowl this season, leaving fans with the four best teams in the NFL still competing for a title.

It wasn't always easy, but the top two seeds in both the NFC and AFC advanced to their respective championship games. While America usually loves the underdog, it also loves football played at its best, and that is what we will get Sunday.

Now the challenge will be for these teams to play at their best against the elite competition still ahead. All of them have the ability to go the distance, but only one will bring home the Lombardi Trophy. 

Team	Odds
New England Patriots	+200
Carolina Panthers	+200
Arizona Cardinals	+350
Denver Broncos	+400

There is a tie at the top of the Super Bowl odds for the two teams favored to win this week, per Odds Shark. With that said, there shouldn't be too much confidence in any of them since all have a legitimate chance to win.

The New England Patriots looked as good as ever last week with a 27-20 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in last weekend's AFC Divisional Round. They have gotten healthier offensively, with wide receiver Julian Edelman and tight end Rob Gronkowski providing quarterback Tom Brady with serious threats in the passing game. The team moved quicker, and the Chiefs weren't able to generate any pass rush—a strategy that will be key against the Denver Broncos.

On the other hand, it might be tougher to succeed with the passing attack on the road in Denver. Without the ability to run, New England's one-dimensional offense could be easy to beat, especially with elite cornerbacks on the other side of the field. The Patriots also dealing with injuries on defense could lead to major problems.

This is part of the reason to keep faith in the Broncos despite questionable play recently. They were the No. 1 seed in the AFC thanks to a defense that allowed the fewest yards in football. It's hard to drive against this unit, especially at home.

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning hasn't gotten a lot of respect nationally lately as he struggles with his arm strength, but even Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn't taking him lightly, per Kimberly Jones of NFL.com:

He still knows what he is doing under center, and Belichick knows Manning has what it takes to lead his team to victory.

There could be a lot more offense in the NFC Championship Game, with the top two scoring units in football facing off. The Carolina Panthers might have been known for their defense earlier in the year, but Cam Newton and the offense actually led the NFL with 31.3 points per game in 2015.

Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images

The offense's strength has been the rushing game between Newton and Jonathan Stewart. The running back missed the final few games of the year but looked fully healthy in a big win against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round.

It's important not to underrate the Arizona Cardinals, though, with arguably the most dynamic offense in the league. Wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, John Brown and others key a downfield passing attack that is tough to stop, and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com notes how well Carson Palmer has done getting the ball to his receivers in any situation:

With an added run game behind rookie running back David Johnson, this attack could be incredibly difficult to stop.

There are a few more questions on defense with defensive back Tyrann Mathieu injured, but this is an aggressive unit that puts pressure on the quarterback throughout the entire game. The playmakers in the secondary could also create some mistakes regardless of the opponent.

Still, if you have to choose one team to bring home the title, it would have to be the one you can trust to make the necessary plays to win. One remaining squad has proved time and again it can come through in big moments with a coach, quarterback and even kicker who have handled the pressure. This describes the Patriots, who should remain the favorite to win it all going into the weekend.

Super Bowl Prediction: Patriots over Cardinals 

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