The long-suffering fans of the Kansas City Chiefs finally have a chance to watch their team lift the Lombardi Trophy as Super Bowl champions — as members of the National Football League. The Chiefs last appeared in a Super Bowl fifty years ago, as American Football League champions facing the Minnesota Vikings. Kansas City won then — and then went through an extended period of disappointment. They have only made the AFC Championship three times since the league merger, and they finally got back to the game’s biggest stage this year. Awaiting them are the San Francisco 49ers, winners of five world titles in six Super Bowl appearances. The Chiefs are slight favorites in a game expected to be an offensive showcase, as the point total started at 51.5 and has crept up since then. Will the Chiefs end a fifty-year run of title futility? Or will the 49ers make it six titles as a franchise? Don’t miss our sports betting preview.
Chiefs vs 49ers Super Bowl LIV Odds, Game Preview & Prediction
- When: Sunday, February 2, 2020, 6:30 pm ET ET
- Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
- TV: FOX
- Radio: Westwood One
- Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
- NFL Odds: Kansas City -1.5 / O/U 53.5
Why should you bet on Kansas City?
The argument for the Chiefs rests on the shoulders of their quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. We’ve seen him work magic time and time again in his first two seasons as the starter in Kansas City. In last year’s AFC Championship, he led the Chiefs on a roaring comeback and took the game to overtime, but the hapless Kansas City defense could not get a stop, and the New England Patriots scored to win in extra time.
This year, the defense is better. The team made some additions up front and in the secondary, and while they are still susceptible to the running game, the Chiefs just silenced Derrick Henry, who ran all over the Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens in a pair of shocking upsets. They will need to play the run even better with San Francisco up next, given the ways the 49ers use misdirection to keep defenses guessing. If you like the Chiefs, you think that their passing game can overcome that 49er pass rush — and can evade Richard Sherman in the secondary.
Why should you put your money on San Francisco?
If this game were just about quarterbacks, the Chiefs would probably be favored by a touchdown. Jimmy Garoppolo has stood tall in some big games, including a four-touchdown performance when he outdueled Drew Brees in New Orleans earlier this season. However, the 49ers are a lot more than a passing team. Their rushing game got over 200 yards from Raheem Mostert last week, which allowed Garoppolo the luxury of attempting just eight passes in the entire game.
Then there’s that 49er defense. Nick Bosa is just the biggest name in a defensive line that has four former first-round draft picks. They can get to opposing quarterbacks in a hurry, and as slippery as Mahomes can be, it’s hard to imagine him gashing the 49er defense for a 27-yard rushing touchdown, as he did against Tennessee. The secondary is led by Richard Sherman, who has already appeared in a pair of Super Bowls, winning one of them. If you like the 49ers, you recognize that, as a team, they are more complete than the Chiefs.
Final Score Prediction
The Chiefs have the higher ceiling on offense of the two teams. However, the 49ers are more complete all the way around, and they’re more disciplined. They don’t commit as many penalties, and they haven’t fallen into big holes early like the Chiefs have. This will be a tougher matchup for Kansas City, but I see them rising to the occasion and winning on a late drive, 34-31.
