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Five outrageous predictions for Super Bowl 50
Will a defensive player like Denver cornerback Aqib Talib take home Super Bowl MVP? John Leyba/Getty Images

Five outrageous predictions for Super Bowl 50

We have read all the prop bet articles. How long is the National Anthem going to last? Who will score the first points? Those are all fine and dandy, but let's actually look at the game itself here.

From a scan at six-plus defensive players who stand a chance to earn the game's MVP to an expectation that this game might be closer than most people think, here's a look at five outrageous predictions for Super Bowl 50 between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos.

1. Defensive MVP

Only seven of the previous 49 Super Bowl MVPs were on the defensive side of the ball, with just one defender winning the hardware over the past 12 years.

That could very well change with the influx of talent on that side of the ball in Super Bowl 50.

The obvious names we want to talk about here are Josh Norman and Luke Kuechly from the Carolina Panthers as well as Von Miller of the Denver Broncos. While all three should factor in to the equation when all is said and done, there are lesser-known defensive players who could very well make a major impact at Levi's on Sunday.

Broncos corner Aqib Talib has returned two interceptions for touchdowns in each of the past two seasons. Going up against Ted Ginn Jr. on Sunday, he's likely going to find himself targeted multiple times throughout the day — opportunities that could lead to another pick-six.

Staying in Denver, future Hall of Fame pass rusher DeMarcus Ware should see one-on-one blocking assignments thrown his way with Miller on the field. It's something that has helped the nine-time Pro Bowler perform at a high level into the twilight of his career.

For all the talk about Manning potentially hanging it up, a 33-year-old Ware has to seriously be considering calling it quits. A huge game here with all the indicators pointing to him having success would go a long way in determining that.

In Carolina, there is a safety by the name of Kurt Coleman who led all players at his position with seven interceptions during the regular season. We could very well see a Dexter Jackson type of situation play out there.

Either way you spin it, there seems to be more legitimate options to win the game's MVP on the defensive side of the ball than on offense. It will be interesting to see if this comes to fruition.

2. Lowest-scoring Super Bowl since 1975

With a over/under of 45, oddsmakers are expecting the lowest-scoring Super Bowl since the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in February 2012.

We will take it one step further here. Look for the lowest combined points in a championship game since the Pittsburgh Steelers took out the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX.

All the indicators are here for both teams to struggle scoring.

While Carolina did finish the regular season with the top-ranked scoring offense, it's taking on a Broncos defense that yielded the fourth-fewest points in the NFL.

Carolina only faced two defenses that ranked in the top 10 of the NFL in points against during the regular season.

And while it did put up an average of 40 points against like squads in the NFC playoffs, there's very little reason to believe the Panthers will be able to have their way against a Broncos defense that has yielded less than 20 points 10 different times this season.

For the Broncos, it's all about keeping this a low-scoring affair. Simply put, they are not going to be able to keep up with the Panthers in a shootout. That's not the type of game Denver plays.

Instead, it's all about controlling the clock, managing the game, avoiding turnovers and playing elite-level defense. Heck, the Broncos have won 14 of 18 games while scoring just 30-plus points two times during that span.

All this leads me to believe Super Bowl 50 will be one of the lowest-scoring affairs in the five-decade-long history of the big game.

3. Denver Broncos running backs will outgain Carolina Panthers running backs

Cam Newton's ability to run (132 attempts) obviously played a role in this, but Carolina relied on the running game more than any other team during the regular season. In fact, it averaged 32.9 rush attempts per game.

On the other hand, Denver ranked in the middle of the pack with less than 26 attempts per game.

Don't let any of this fool you. Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak has been attempting to implement a run-first offensive attack since he took over as the team's head coach last January.

It's an attempt that's going to continue against a Carolina Panthers defense that allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards in the NFL during the regular season.

We saw it in the divisional round of the playoffs against the Pittsburgh Steelers when C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman combined for 31 rush attempts. We saw it again in the AFC Championship Game (30 combined attempts).

For the Panthers, it's pretty much a one-man show at running back. Jonathan Stewart put up 38 combined attempts in Carolina's two playoff games en route to the Super Bowl. Prior to a Week 14 injury, Stewart had put up 20-plus rush attempts in eight consecutive games.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, they are taking on a Broncos defense that yielded the third-fewest rushing yards and an NFL low 3.3 yards per attempt during the regular year.

Don't expect any of these running backs to break out big time, but the expectation has to be that Denver's tandem in the backfield will see more opportunities than Stewart. Whether that will translate to a win is anyone's guess.

4. Turnover-free game from Peyton Manning

After throwing 17 interceptions in his nine regular-season starts, Manning has yet to be picked off in the playoffs.

A lot of this has to do with Denver changing up its offensive scheme midstream. Manning is no longer being tasked with throwing the ball into tight windows. Heck, he's rarely asked to throw it down the field.

This has led to Manning pretty much turning into a game manager — something Denver needs with the type of defense it plays.

While Manning will likely have to improve off the 5.8 yards he's averaging per attempt in the playoffs, we won't see him suddenly morph back into someone who is going to be tossing the rock all around Levi's on Sunday.

We don't know whether this will lead to success for Denver when all is said and done. What we do know is that it's the way Denver is game planning heading in to Super Bowl 50.

5. Fourth Super Bowl in the past five years decided by one score

Most people expect Carolina to absolutely blow away the Broncos in this one. And while the Panthers surely have an upper hand heading into the big game, there is just too much veteran talent on the Broncos roster for Denver to put up a dud performance in this one.

Since Manning took over as the Broncos' starter back in 2012, their losses have come by an average of just one score. This is an indication that he's been prepared to help his team compete, even when the odds have been stacked against the squad — the obvious outlier here being Super Bowl XLVIII against Seattle.

A total of 10 of the past 16 Super Bowls have been decided by one score. This comes immediately after eight of the past 10 were decided by double digits.

Such is the nature of the beast when it comes to an NFL that's driven by parity.

While I fully expect Carolina to come out on top in this one, it isn't going to blow away the Broncos. There's simply too much pride on the Broncos' side for that to happen.

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