Our experts’ Super Bowl predictions

It’s finally time for the biggest football game of them all. Our writers give their predictions for Super Bowl XLVIII:

Broncos 29, Seahawks 17

Same score that Peyton Manning beat the Chicago Bears by in Super Bowl XLI. The big difference is that Seattle’s Russell Wilson is no Rex Grossman, thank goodness. It’s a win-win pick anyway. If Denver wins, we’re correct. If Seattle wins, we can rip Manning as an underachiever.

— Mike Imrem

Broncos 31, Seahawks 23

Let’s see, I picked the final four last year, plus the winner (Baltimore). Picked the final four again this year, plus Denver over Seattle in the Super Bowl. I love the Birds, but it would be foolish to buck the trend.

— Barry Rozner

Broncos 23, Seahawks 20

The Seahawks have the better defense, and that’s what’s supposed to win championships. But the Broncos have Peyton Manning, and with two weeks to prepare, my money says he’ll find a way to win the game. Besides, how can you cheer for Richard Sherman? — Bob LeGere

Broncos 23, Seahawks 14

In August, I said Peyton Manning would do what Michael Jordan did one season after his “I’m back” declaration. Manning and Denver fell short last season, just as MJ and the Bulls did in 1995. The ’96 Bulls steamrollered through the NBA to win a title, and now it’s time for my Manning prediction to come true.

— John Dietz

Broncos 31, Seahawks 24

Please, Peyton Manning, silence Richard Sherman already. Silence the critics who insist you have to win another Super Bowl to validate your spot among the greatest QBs. Best Seattle’s best. Skip the sleeves and put up points in icy New York. That’ll shut them up.

— Joe Aguilar

Seahawks 27, Broncos 22

It’s all about Peyton and the Broncos’ O, right? Wrong. Just watch what Seattle’s defense does to Denver’s receivers (hint: it won’t be pretty). Combine that with heavy doses of Marshawn Lynch, some savvy clock management ... and the Lombardi Trophy will be bigfooting its way to the Pacific Northwest.

— Mike Spellman