LAS VEGAS -- The Super Bowl is the biggest American betting event of the year, and everyone has an opinion on which team will win -- and cover -- the game.
That's especially true here in the desert, and it's not just the oddsmakers and bookmakers at our casinos; the entertainers also want to get in on the action.
Below, ESPN Chalk gathers responses from professional handicappers, celebrities, Vegas bookmakers and more on how they see the game playing out.
All lines courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. Logo represents team picked to cover the spread.
New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons (in Houston, Texas)
Spread: Opened New England -3; now New England -3
Total: Opened at 58 points; now 59
Public consensus pick: 68 percent picked New England
Celebrities
Blue Man Group (headliners at Luxor Hotel & Casino):
"Winner: Blue. Loser: Red. #WeArePartialToBlue."
ATS pick: New England
Carrot Top (headliner at Luxor, aka "Scott Thompson"):
"Although Atlanta's offense is incredible, I am not sure they can stop the genius of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, who I am often compared to, especially when I am wearing my Uggs."
ATS pick: Push (Patriots 41, Falcons 38)
Terry Fator (headliner at The Mirage; winner of "America's Got Talent" Season 2 in 2007):
"As much as I'd like to see the look on Roger Goodell's face if he has to hand the Lombardi trophy to Tom Brady, I think this is the Falcons' year. Dan Quinn has Atlanta on a hot streak, the defense is jelling and Kyle Shanahan has designed a great offense for Matt Ryan. I predict 140 receiving yards for Julio Jones with two touchdowns, as he or Ryan wins MVP."
ATS pick: Atlanta (Falcons 31, Patriots 24)
Vinnie Favorito (comedian, host of Westgate Las Vegas football viewing parties):
"The Patriots win this game by 14 or more points, as Atlanta is 0-4 against us."
ATS pick: New England (Patriots 35, Falcons 21)
Piff the Magic Dragon (featured performer at the Flamingo; aka "John Van Der Put"):
"Atlanta has a chance to win its first Super Bowl ever and I'm behind the Falcons all the way. New England or not, I still don't trust a team whose name reminds me of that dark land of dragon slayers. Time for the Falcons to get that feather in their cap. I would say the total is going to be over 50."
ATS pick: Atlanta
Mat Franco (star of "Magic Invented Nightly" show at The Linq Hotel & Casino):
"It will take more than a few tricks up their sleeve for Atlanta to upset New England. The Patriots will prove once again that their dynasty is no illusion!"
ATS pick: New England (Patriots 34, Falcons 20)
Jon Lovitz (comedian/actor, in "Reunited" show with Dana Carvey on Feb. 3-4 at SLS):
"I think the Falcons will win. They're faster and have more ways to score, they're the underdog which will piss them off, and they're hungrier."
ATS pick: Atlanta
Louie Anderson (comedian):
"Dynasty out! Underdogs in! I won an Emmy, and the Falcons are going to win Super Bowl 51!"
ATS pick: Atlanta (Falcons 37, Patriots 12)
George Wallace (comedian and member of a family that owns seven Super Bowl rings; Steve Wallace with 49ers has three, Amani Toomer with Giants has two, Bobby Hamilton with Patriots has two)
"Atlanta is my team [publicist's note: George lives there and hosts family reunions there every other year with hundreds of family members attending each reunion]."
ATS pick: Atlanta (Falcons 31, Patriots 21)
Rick Harrison (star of "Pawn Stars" on History)
"Because I hate the Patriots." Is that why you sold the Patriots Super Bowl ring you had in the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop for several years? "No, I like money even more than I hate the Patriots."
ATS pick: Atlanta (Falcons 28, Patriots 21)
Corey Harrison (star of "Pawn Stars" on History)
"The Patriots because you don't bet against Tom Brady in a Super Bowl. Over 59 for the total."
ATS pick: New England
Chumlee (star of "Pawn Stars" on History, aka Austin Russell)
"Matt Ryan, Tom Brady -- all their weapons in a dome lead to a high-scoring game. Belichick will be the better coach, using timeouts and challenges more wisely, which will lead to the Patriots' small victory."
ATS pick: New England (Patriots 35, Falcons 31)
Nathan Morris (Boyz II Men founder; owner of a 49ers ring from Super Bowl XXIX gifted from Eddie DeBartolo Jr.)
"The Falcons now have a running game, which is what makes Matt Ryan and that offense so lethal. Not that Tom Brady isn't as well. I honestly believe Atlanta has the better defense and that defense wins championships. As long as Atlanta is not forced out of its regular game plan by Coach Belichick, who is notorious for making teams do that, I think this will be a shootout and Atlanta will have a slight edge."
ATS pick: Atlanta
Jennifer Romas (creator, producer and star of "Sexxy" show at Westgate Las Vegas)
"Atlanta's offense certainly deserves its No. 1 status, averaging more than 33.8 points per game; however, they really haven't faced too many of the NFL's elite stop-units. In comes the top defense in the league in New England, which allows a mere 15.6 points per game. The big edge here is that Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have won 24 playoff games together and go up against a very youthful Falcons D that ranks 17th vs. the run and 28th vs. the pass. And let's face it, Tom Brady is much better looking than Matt Ryan. New England all the way!"
ATS pick: New England
Vegas oddsmakers
Jerry Dufty (Jerry's Nugget, race and sports book director)
"I think that the fourth quarter is going to be a shootout with quite possibly the team with the ball last, winning."
ATS pick: Push (Falcons 33, Patriots 30)
Matt Youmans (longtime Las Vegas Review-Journal sports betting writer; now with VSIN.com and ESPN Radio)
"Betting against Brady and Belichick is a tough way to make a living. I'll side with the NFL's No. 1 scoring defense and the Patriots' big-game experience."
ATS pick: New England (Patriots 30, Falcons 24)
Ed Malinowski (Stratosphere, director of race and sports)
"Falcons come up just short against the greatest QB/coach combo ever."
ATS pick: Atlanta (Patriots 30, Atlanta 28)
Anthony Nevill (Treasure Island, director of race and sports)
"Both are quality organizations, and I believe the difference will be the experience of Tom Brady, head coach Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels."
ATS pick: New England (Patriots 31, Falcons 24)
Jay Rood (MGM Resorts, vice president of race and sports):
"Super Bowl 51 will be a game where the defenses of both teams step up and keep the big plays down and it turns out to be a grind-it-out game. The Pats will come down and score with less than 30 seconds in a relatively low-scoring affair and win the game 29-27 on a missed PAT to keep it from a PUSH, much to the relief of all of Vegas's sportsbooks."
ATS pick: Atlanta (Patriots 29, Falcons 27)
Jason McCormick (Red Rock, director of race and sports)
"The No. 1 scoring offense (Falcons) vs. No. 1 scoring defense (Patriots) is a matchup that has occurred seven times in the Super Bowl, with the defensive team winning six of them. Often-quoted coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant once said, "Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships" and the Falcons just don't have enough defense to stop Tom Brady & Co."
ATS pick: New England (Patriots 31, Falcons 24)
Tony Miller (Golden Nugget, director of race and sports)
"The master (Tom Brady) leads the Pats on the final drive of the game, as the Pats come from behind and win a thriller. One of the best Super Bowls ever."
ATS pick: Atlanta (Patriots 31, Falcons 30)
Jay Kornegay (Westgate, vice president of race & sports):
"I expect a very competitive, exciting game, but the Patriots make the better in-game adjustments. The experience of Brady and Belichick will be the difference."
ATS pick: Atlanta (Patriots 28, Falcons 27)
Nick Bogdanovich (William Hill U.S., director of trading):
"The reason that I am picking the Falcons is because it is the year of Matt Ryan. He will get Julio Jones involved, and Julio will have the late touchdown to win Super Bowl LI."
ATS pick: Atlanta (Falcons 28, Patriots 27)
Vinny Magliulo (vice president at Gaughan Gaming/VSIN):
"Two high-powered offenses, but the Pats hold an advantage of being experienced on this stage and have the better overall defense."
ATS pick: New England (Patriots 30, Falcons 23)
Damon Graham (2016 SuperContest champion, aka "pops2016"):
"I think Matt Ryan and that offense are gonna figure out the Pats' D. I also like the over for Mohamed Sanu [45.5] and Danny Amendola [17.5] receiving yards."
ATS pick: Atlanta (Falcons 34, Patriots 26)
James S. (2015 SuperContest winner and tied for third in 2015, aka "rounding again"):
"The Patriots' 'Drive for Five' stalls on Sunday, as Matt Ryan coolly orchestrates a late game-winning touchdown drive, earning MVP honors and validating his nickname 'Matty Ice.'"
ATS pick: Atlanta (Falcons 30, Patriots 27)