Super Bowl Odds 2016: Over/Under Line, Spread Picks for Panthers vs. Broncos

As the media obligations begin to dwindle for the players on the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos, Super Bowl 50 comes into clearer focus with each passing moment.

The Broncos deserve praise for a solid season in which they dominated on defense, came through in the clutch and beat a favored New England Patriots team in the AFC title game.

People will likely minimize their overall achievements unless they can come through with a victory over the Panthers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 7. The task they face is a daunting one.

These two teams are not equals because the Panthers are an explosive team that has won 17 of the 18 games they have played, and they have come through with two impressive offensive games against the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals in the postseason.

Seattle and Arizona were among the league's hottest when they came to Bank of America Stadium to confront Carolina. However, the Panthers took apart the Seahawks with a 31-0 blitz in the first half, and while they gave most of that lead back in the final 30 minutes, they were never in danger of losing.

Game	Line	Over/Under	Moneyline	Selections
Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers	Car. (-5.5)	44.5	Carolina -225; Denver +195	Carolina; Over

Carolina had no second-half letup against the Cardinals. Many considered Arizona to be the most well-rounded team in the league, but the Panthers simply took them apart in a 49-15 NFC Championship Game victory.

The Broncos have a championship-level defense, and that unit was never better than when it stopped the Patriots in the AFC title game. The Pats struggled to string first downs together, and the Broncos stopped future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, a four-time Super Bowl winner, on the most crucial play of the game.

Brady's two-point conversion attempt would have tied the game if it had been successful, but Bradley Roby intercepted the pass to send the Broncos to their second Super Bowl in three years.

The Broncos are up against it because of their offense. Peyton Manning is a proud man, and he compared his loss of velocity to an aging baseball pitcher who no longer has his dominating fastball. 

“He can still work the corners and get guys out,” Manning said at a Super Bowl media session, per USA Today's Lindsay H. Jones.

Manning may have come to grips with his limitations, but that's not going to make it easier on Sunday against the aggressive Panthers. The 39-year-old quarterback had a 9-17 touchdown-interception ratio during the regular season, and no starting Super Bowl quarterback has ever had worse numbers in those categories.

Manning's lack of productivity appears to be the primary reason the Panthers are favored by 5.5 points in Super Bowl 50, according to Odds Shark. The over/under has moved slightly, falling from 45 to 44.5.

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press/Associated Press

Manning doesn't compare with Carolina starting quarterback Cam Newton at this point in his career. Newton has been a brilliant athlete and a strong runner throughout his career, but he has become a polished quarterback and leader this year.

Newton has the numbers that few quarterbacks could ever achieve. He has thrown 35 TD passes and run for 10 more as the key performer for head coach Ron Rivera's NFC champions.

He will likely win the NFL MVP award when that honor is handed out Saturday night. 

He would like an even bigger honor Sunday night.

Prediction

If the Broncos are going to have a chance in this game, their defense is going to have to make a statement early in Super Bowl 50.

The Panthers have come flying out of the gates with 31-point and 24-point first-half efforts in their two playoff games against teams with powerful offenses. Rivera knows the best way to play Super Bowl 50 is to pressure the opponent from the start and make the Broncos react by altering their game plan.

Even if Denver's defense can hold Newton and the Carolina offense in check early, it is simply too much to expect to shut down the Carolina attack for the majority of the game.

Newton has an excellent supporting cast in running back Jonathan Stewart (989 rushing yards), tight end Greg Olsen (1,104 yards and seven TD catches) and speedy wideout Ted Ginn Jr. (10 TDs), and they should be able to find openings.

Additionally, the Panthers have a nasty, punishing defense that should be able to limit C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman in the running game. Manning is likely to struggle on his own, and that points to a Carolina victory.

Final Score: Carolina 33, Denver 14