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ESPN staff
The season finale is upon us. The Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams will end on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, for Super Bowl LVI.
Many questions will be answered. Can the Rams take advantage of playing at their own home ground, something few teams have experienced? Will be the number 1 choice in 2020 Joe Burrow and the first pick in 2021 Ja’Marr Chase limited to a dream season with a final victory? Will Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp put on a program and then rely on Aaron Donald to keep it down for defense? Whether the Bengals striker Evan McPherson win another game on one the ultimate goal of the second field? May Odell Beckham Jr. shine on the big stage and solidify his comeback? The possibilities with this game are endless. And if these two teams show what has made them great all season, we’ll have a treat on Sunday.
Before the game kicked off at 6:30 p.m. ET, we asked ESPN analysts, writers, commentators, columnists, and pundits for their predictions for the big game. More than 70 experts have so far weighed in on the Rams-Bengals winner, the final score of the match and who will win the MVP award. We will add more predictions leading up to the game.
Here’s how they chose, along with some breakdown of the numbers. And be sure to check out all of our Super Bowl previews.
Rams have the advantage, 43-33
Of the 76 experts who weighed, the Rams were supported by 43 of them (56.6%), while the Bengalis got 33 votes (43.4%).
The most commonly predicted final score is 27-24, chosen by seven of our experts. The lowest combined sum is 34 (18-16). The highest composite score is 83 (4 .)5-38). The biggest winning score is predicted to be 22 points (43-21). Fifty-six experts say this game will be decided by one encounter or less.
Betting Background: Caesars Sportsbook is currently leaning towards Los Angeles 3.5 points. Thirty-six out of 76 professionals have Rams covering the spread, while 40 say Bengal will cover. Over/under is 48.5 at Caesars Sportsbook. Forty-nine experts in this group think the game will surpass that total, while 27 like under.
ESPN’s Football Strength Index: FPI liked the Rams (66.3%) with an average of 4.4 points.
Rams winning prediction (43)
Aaron SchatzEIC at Football Outsiders: 31-20
Adam TeicherChief Reporter: 27-19
Alaina GetzenbergReporter: 31-27
Alden GonzalezReporter: 31-20
Alan HahnESPN: 34-17
Ashley BrewerNeo SportsCenter: 31-24
Bart ScottESPN: 28-20
Brady HendersonSeahawks Reporter: 26-21
Courtney CroninVikings Reporter: 30-21
Dan OrlovskyNFL Analyst: 27-23
David NewtonPanthers reporter: 23-20
Doug KezirianESPN Chalk: 24-20
Ed WerderNFL Reporter: 34-28
Eric WoodyardReporter Lion: 26-20
Freddie ColemanESPN: 28-24
Ian FitzsimmonsESPN: 28-20
Jamison HensleyRavens Reporter: 31-17
Jeffective saturdayNFL Analyst: 31-28
John KeimCommanding Officer: 23-16
Jordan RaananGiant reporter: 26-17
Kelsey RiggsAll ACC servers: 27-24
Kevin Connorsanchor studio: 26-19
Kevin NegandhiAnchor Sports Center: 31-27
Laura RutledgeNFL Live Host: 35-28
Marcus SpearsNFL Analyst: 31-24
Mel Kiper Jr.NFL Draft Analyst: 31-21
Michael DiRoccoJaguars Reporter: 31-27
Michael EavesAnchor Sports Center: 34-31
Michael RothsteinFalcons Reporter: 34-30
Michelle Beisner-BuckNFL Reporter: 24-21
Mike ReissPatriots reporter: 31-23
Mike TannenbaumNFL Analyst: 37-21
Mike Triplett, Saints reporter: 29-20
Mike WellsColts reporter 27-21
Mina Kimes, NFL Analyst: 31-28
Randy ScottNeo SportsCenter: 31-20
Rob DemovskyPackers Reporter: 27-23
Seth WalderWriter Analysis: 27-13
Seth WickershamNFL Writers: 23-20
Stan VerrettAnchor sports center: 31-24
Tim HasselbeckNFL Analyst: 24-17
Tim KeownWritten by: 31-14
Tim McManusEagles reporter: 34-20
Bengali victory prediction (33)
Ben BabyBengals reporter: 28-24
Brian CusterAnchor sports center: 30-28
Brooke PryorSteelers Reporter: 21-17
Chris CantyESPN: 26-23
Dan GrazianoNational NFL reporter: 27-24
David FlemingWritten by: 26-24
David LloydAnchor sports center: 26-24
Elizabeth MerrillWritten by: 21-20
Field YatesNFL Analyst: 30-26
Gary StrewskiSC on Snapchat server: 37-24
Jake TrotterBrowns Reporter: 21-20
Jason FitzESPN: 34-31
Jeremy Fowler, National NFL reporter: 27-24
Jordan ReidNFL Draft Analyst: 34-31
John BuccigrossAnchor Sports Center: 18-16
Josh Weinfuss, Cardinal reporter: 27-21
Kevin SeifertNational NFL reporter: 35-31
Kimberley A. MartinNFL Reporter: 27-24
Linda CohnNeo SportsCenter: 24-17
Marcel Louis-JacquesDolphin reporter: 28-27
Mike GreenbergGet Up Server: 27-26
Nick Wagoner49ers reporter: 27-24
Nicole BriscoeAnchor sports center: 45-38
Paul GutierrezRaid Reporter: 24-23
Cimini is richJet reporter: 27-24
Rob NinkovichNFL Analyst: 28-17
Ryan SmithAnchor Sports Center: 20-18
Sarah BarshopTexas reporter: 30-24
Sarah SpainESPNW: 26-21
Shelley SmithCharger report: 43-21
Todd Archer, Cowboys reporter: 27-23
Todd McShayNFL Draft Analyst: 27-23
Turron DavenportTitans Reporter: 27-24
Super Bowl’s MVP
Burrow is the most popular pick to win the Super Bowl’s MVP. It’s a bit of a surprise, since he’s the quarterback on the team that most of our pros chose to lose the Super Bowl. Thirty out of 76 MVP deliberations chose Burrow, with 39.5% of the vote. Seven out of 10 ago Super Bowl MVPs was a midfielder.
Stafford was the next most popular choice with 14 votes (18.4%). Kupp and Donald followed closely, earning 13 votes (17.1%) each. The odds below are through Caesars Sportsbook.
Joe BurrowQB, Bengals (+220): Ben Baby, Brian Custer, Brooke Pryor, Chris Canty, Dan Graziano, David Fleming, David Lloyd, Elizabeth Merrill, Field Yates, Gary Striewski, Jake Trotter, Jason Fitz, Jordan Reid, Josh Weinfuss, Kevin Seifert, Kimberley A. Martin , Linda Cohn, Mike Greenberg, Nick Wagoner, Paul Gutierrez, Rich Cimini, Ryan Smith, Sarah Barshop, Sarah Spain, Shelley Smith, Todd Archer, Todd McShay, Jeremy Fowler, Nicole Briscoe, Rob Ninkovich
Cooper KuppWR, Ram (+700): Alden Gonzalez, Ashley Brewer, Brady Henderson, Courtney Cronin, David Newton, Doug Kezirian, Mike Triplett, Mike Wells, Mina Kimes, Randy Scott, Seth Wickersham, Tim McManus, Jeff Saturday
Matthew StaffordQB, Rams (+120): Aaron Schatz, Adam Teicher, Alaina Getzenberg, Alan Hahn, Dan Orlovsky, Eric Woodyard, Freddie Coleman, Ian Fitzsimmons, Kelsey Riggs, Mel Kiper Jr., Michael Rothstein, Michelle Beisner-Buck, Rob Demovsky, Stan Verrett
Aaron DonaldDT, Rams (+1800): Bart Scott, Ed Werder, Jamison Hensley, John Keim, Jordan Raanan, Kevin Negandhi, Laura Rutledge, Marcus Spears, Mike Reiss, Mike Tannenbaum, Seth Walder, Tim Hasselbeck, Tim Keown
Ja’Marr ChaseWR, Bengals (+1200): John Buccigross, Turron Davenport
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Rams (+1600): Michael DiRocco, Michael Eaves
Tee HigginsWR, Bengals (+4000): Marcel Louis-Jacques
Jalen RamseyCB, Ram (+6000): Kevin Connors
