The Super Bowl always brings predictions, but every so often a theme becomes impossible to ignore. As Super Bowl LX approaches, that theme is clear: a strong lean toward Seattle. From data-driven panels to old-school instincts, ESPN voices are lining up on the same side, and now one of the network’s most recognizable figures has added his name to the list.
Chris Berman’s latest “Swami Sez” column didn’t just offer a pick. It reinforced what has quietly become an overwhelming consensus across ESPN platforms ahead of Sunday’s matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.
Chris Berman leans into the Seahawks
Chris Berman has built a career on blending humor, history and gut feel, and his Super Bowl LX pick fits that mold. After laying out one of the strangest NFL seasons in recent memory, Berman landed on Seattle, projecting a 26–17 Seahawks victory over New England.
The logic was layered. Seattle’s defensive dominance. Their late-season surge. Their ability to close games cleanly in the playoffs. To Berman, this felt like the right mix for a Super Bowl that already feels different from the norm, with two teams that missed the playoffs a year ago now meeting on the sport’s biggest stage.
He also leaned into the narrative without letting it overwhelm the football. The Seahawks’ balance, from their front-loaded defense to their playmakers on offense, simply checked more boxes in his mind.
ESPN’s predictions point strongly in one direction
Berman’s pick didn’t land in isolation. It matched a broader ESPN trend that has steadily grown louder throughout Super Bowl week. In ESPN’s expert panel, a significant majority backed Seattle, with more than four out of five voters picking the Seahawks to win.
The most common projected score sat right in the same range as Berman’s call, reinforcing the idea that this isn’t just about who wins, but how the game is expected to flow. Competitive early. Seattle controls late.
That consensus has been reflected not only in predictions, but also in MVP projections, betting discussions and matchup breakdowns. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba dominated MVP picks, while New England quarterback Drake Maye was viewed more as the challenger trying to disrupt the script.
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Why Seattle fits the moment
Seattle Seahawks arrive at Super Bowl LX with a profile analysts love. The league’s stingiest defense by points allowed. A massive point differential. A group that has played its cleanest football when the stakes were highest.
Under head coach Mike Macdonald, Seattle’s defense has been built from the line forward, creating constant pressure and forcing opponents into mistakes. That identity has shown up repeatedly in the playoffs, where the Seahawks handled both division rivals and high-powered offenses without drama.
Offensively, Darnold’s playoff poise and his connection with Jaxon Smith-Njigba have given Seattle explosiveness without recklessness, a combination that tends to travel well in Super Bowls.
New England’s underdog path still matters
New England Patriots have not lacked respect, even if they trail in predictions. Their turnaround under head coach Mike Vrabel has been one of the league’s best stories, transforming a four-win team into an AFC champion in a single season.
Drake Maye’s efficiency, a resurgent run game and a defense that has stifled elite AFC opponents have kept the Patriots firmly in the fight. That is why even many Seattle backers still expect a competitive game well into the second half.
The skepticism isn’t about New England’s legitimacy. It’s about whether this specific matchup favors Seattle just enough in the margins.
A Super Bowl with history quietly attached
One more wrinkle adds texture to Berman’s pick. If Seattle does win, there will be a small piece of history attached to it.
If the Swami is correct, there will be at least one record set. Seattle assistant coach Leslie Frazier will have the longest gap between Super Bowl rings, 40 years. He was part of the iconic “Super Bowl Shuffle” Chicago Bears team in the 1985 season and later won another ring as an assistant with Indianapolis following the 2006 season.
It’s a reminder that even in a Super Bowl defined by fresh faces and unexpected paths, the past still finds its way into the moment.
Whether Seattle ultimately proves ESPN right or New England flips the script, one thing is clear heading into Super Bowl LX: when Chris Berman echoes the same pick as nearly everyone else, it says something about how this matchup is being read across the sport.
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