According to the, uh, experts, Super Bowl XLVIII is going to be one for the ages, a battle between the NFL's top-ranked offense (the Denver Broncos) and defense (the Seattle Seahawks) that will probably come right down to the wire.

In fact, these two teams are so evenly matched that professional oddsmakers have basically declared the Big Game to be a "Pick 'Em," installing the Broncos as 2-point favorites — a line that, if it holds until kickoff, will make this the closest Super Bowl spread since 1982.

Who does Austin Mahone like in the Big Game? Find out now!

And that means folks are looking everywhere for a possible edge ... so as a service to anyone thinking of putting some money down on the Super Bowl, we're providing a little insight. We've broken down the matchup between Seattle and Denver the best way we know how: By comparing the two cities' pop-culture contributions.

If you're wondering which city has the advantage when it comes to stuff like "Real World" seasons, appropriate hair styles ("the all of us work for free, after all.

Who do you think will win the Big Game?

In news that's sure to not upset the Internet in any way, Jesse Eisenberg has been cast as Lex Luthor in the still untitled "Batman vs. Superman" movie, and Jeremy Irons has been cast as Batman's butler, Alfred. The announcement was accompanied by quotes from director Zack Snyder on the casting.

"Lex Luthor is often considered the most notorious of Superman's rivals, his unsavory reputation preceding him since 1940," Snyder said. "What's great about Lex is that he exists beyond the confines of the stereotypical nefarious villain. He's a complicated and sophisticated character whose intellect, wealth and prominence position him as one of the few mortals able to challenge the incredible might of Superman. Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions."

Meanwhile, on the casting of Irons as Alfred, Snyder added, "As everyone knows, Alfred is Bruce Wayne's most trusted friend, ally and mentor, a noble guardian and father figure. He is an absolutely critical element in the intricate infrastructure that allows Bruce Wayne to transform himself into Batman. It is an honor to have such an amazingly seasoned and gifted actor as Jeremy taking on the important role of the man who mentors and guides the guarded and nearly impervious façade that encapsulates Bruce Wayne."

The duo join Henry Cavill, who returns as Superman/Clark Kent, Ben Affleck, playing Batman/Bruce Wayne, and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.

The movie is set to open on May 6, 2016. More news on this as it ...

Super Bowl Sunday is always a drag for theater owners, but that's not going to stop Zac Efron from sneaking in a touchdown.

His Bromantic comedy arrives as many Americans prepare for a weekend spent in front of the television, where the closest they'll get to going to the movies is rewinding the "Captain America: Winter Soldier" and debuting during Super Bowl XLVIII.

Last year, zombie-rom-com "Warm Bodies" topped the box office with a $20 million Super Bowl weekend debut. Young adults and teens came out to see Nicholas Hoult wrestle with his undead heart. But Sylvester Stallone's "Bullet to the Head" suffered what turned out to be one of the worst openings of 2013.

In "Moment," Efron is joined by emerging stars Miles Teller ("The Spectacular Now") and Michael B. Jordan ("Fruitvale Station"), underscoring the "counter-programming" strategy employed by the studios. The idea is that women and young adults may skip watching the game to go watch Efron and crew instead. "Labor Day," starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin, hits theaters this weekend with the same idea in mind, as the drama is aimed at an older demographic.

Box-office watchers predict a close race between two-time champion "Ride Along" (which broke January records in its debut) and the latest from the "High School Musical" veteran.

"That Awkward Moment" should take in about $13 million according to most estimates, while Ice Cube and Kevin Hart's action/comedy could land anywhere between $9 million and $12 million. It's not quite the Seahawks vs. the Broncos, as those figures are still low ...

This week draws to a solemn close following the news that one of the Internet's most illustrious cats, Colonel Meow, has passed away. MTV News reached out to comrade in arms, Lil Bub, for her thoughts on the great cat's transition to the spirit realm.

Lil Bub wrote in an email to News:

Dear Colonel,

You are without question the most remarkable, impressive, and regal living creature I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Despite your intimidating facade, you were an incredibly kind and loving creature that brought millions of humans great joy. Your legacy will never be forgotten Colonel. See you in space my dear friend.

lub,

BUB

Owner Ann Avery broke the news of Meow's passing Thursday with a photo of the cat and a brief message: "Colonel Meow passed away yesterday evening. I will post more about the details when I've had a few days to grieve. Thank you so much for your understanding, Minions. Your love and support has meant the world to us both. — Slave Beast"

Photos: Colonel Meow & Lil Bub: Furry Friends Forever

According to Today, The Colonel was hospitalized in November due to heart issues. Before his passing, though, the 2-year-old kitty had garnered his share of Internet fame, as well as a Guinness World Record for Longest Fur on a Cat.

Bub, who spent some time with the record-setting cat, was kind enough to share a passel of photos of the two of them cavorting together with MTV News.

Feel free to share your own condolences in the comments below.

One Direction have no time for a lame house party in the new video — for the title track from Midnight Memories. When things get weird and boring, Harry, Liam, Zayn and the gang bust a move and hit the streets for some late night adventures.

After bum rushing a kebab shop for some unsanitary shwarma noshing and chili sauce challenges, they try to chase down some octogenarian hotties on their badass Hoverounds. The race ends with an illicit midnight boat ride on the Thames and then to London's iconic Tower Bridge, where, well, you'll have to see for yourself.

What do Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Zedd ,Lorde and Austin Mahone all have in common? They were all a part of MTV's Artist to Watch.

Each of these artists have gone on to have truly remarkable careers, and now there are a new batch of ATW performers, from all genres of music, who are hoping to follow in their footsteps.

Earlier this month, a few of those newcomers hit the stage at the first Artist to Watch Showcase of 2014 at Los Angeles' famed House of Blues, where they talked about just how excited they are to join the ATW family.

Fifth Harmony

The fierce fivesome that is Fifth Harmony have come a long way since finishing third on "The X Factor" back in 2012. They've had a hit single with "Miss Movin' On," released their first EP and are gearing up to hit the road with Demi Lovato next month on her Neon Lights Tour.

"Being chosen as one of MTV's Artist to Watch is super, super exciting for us," Ally Hernandez said. "There's been a lot of other artists who have been on this whose careers have escalated because of it."

Jake Miller

Jake Miller is an up-and-coming self-described artist with a million-dollar smile. The "Collide" singer is cooking up an album that he says will be a mix between Drake and Justin Bieber, which will be out later this year.

"It means so much to me ...

Even though Alanis Morissette's Grammy award-winning breakup anthem "You Oughta Know" is nearly 20 years old, it's still hard to believe the song was most likely written about "Full House's" Uncle Joey, a.k.a., Dave Coulier.

After a hilarious reunion on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," Coulier, along with former co-stars Bob Saget and John Stamos, stopped by Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live" on Thursday night.

While there, host Andy Cohen (doing his best Morissette impression) grilled the "Full House" stars about just how spot-on Morissette's lyrics were to the real-life relationship with Coulier.

Lyric: "An Older Version Of Me"
Morissette sings on the track that Coulier moved on from their relationship with an older woman, so is it true? Coulier, at first dodged the question, but then jokingly replied, "Yes, she was 87 years old."

Lyric: "Is She Perverted Like Me?"
Saget took the heat off Coulier for this one, confirming that "she was not."

Lyric: "Would She Go Down On You In A Theater?"
It's probably the most memorable line from the song, and something that many of us have been wondering for a long time. "You did that popcorn cup trick one time and it comes back to haunt you for the rest of your life," Coulier responded. We're going to take that as a yes.

Lyric: "I Hate To Bug You In The Middle Of Dinner"
Turns out this is 100 percent true. In fact, Saget was at Coulier's house and was an eyewitness when the '90s pop superstar allegedly called on the phone.

"I was at his house, and he said, 'Alanis just ...

There are a lot of people piling on Justin Bieber in light of his recent string of legal problems. But person who is definitely not turning his back on the Biebs is Dan Mathieson, the mayor of Justin's Canadian hometown of Stratford, Ontario.

Stratford-On-Bieber
"No matter what happens, it doesn't negate the fact that Justin is from Stratford," Mayor Mathieson told the London Free Press on Thursday, one day after Bieber turned himself in to Toronto police in connection with an alleged assault
 on a limo driver in December.

The trip back home to deal with that legal drama capped a hectic stretch for Bieber, who was arrested the previous week for suspicion of DUI and resisting arrest
 in Miami Beach after having his house raided by police in Calabasas, California, in connection with an alleged egging incident involving a neighbor.

"As far as I'm concerned, he is a 19-year-old person who has made some errors," Mathieson added. "I don't condone them, but I also understand that we all have made errors in our life. I hope for his sake that he can get a reset, and get back to music and doing what he loves."

Just Like Scooter Said
Mathieson's advice came just days after a new interview with Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, in which he said he offered his most famous client an ultimatum
 in the pages of GQ magazine.

"I think to help him get through that I have to hold him to a higher standard. I can't baby him, I can't tell him, 'You know what you ...