Why the Chiefs Are Favorites Over the 49ers in Super Bowl 54
Following weeks of working this point, the Super Bowl 54 matchup is set with a showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. It has put forth some incredible star power on both sides looking like championship-worthy teams. With two weeks before the game, it has put forth plenty of time for discussion about the matchup, which includes who is the favorite to win it all.
Chiefs, 49ers take care of business
The respective conference championship games were each entertaining in their own ways, but the Chiefs and 49ers both handling things on their home field.
Kansas City fell into a quick 10-0 hole to the Tennessee Titans but rebounded from that deficit that turned into 17-7 at one point early in the first half. However, the Chiefs bounced back in similar fashion to their win over the Houston Texans in the divisional round by scoring the game’s next 28 points that gave them full control.
Reigning league MVP Patrick Mahomes was a huge factor with his arm and legs as he racked up 294 passing yards with three touchdown passes along with 53 rushing yards and a touchdown. That included an impressive 27-yard touchdown scramble late in the second quarter right before halftime. The Titans made a late push, but their defense sealed the deal.
Meanwhile, San Francisco jumped out to a commanding 27-0 lead through the first two quarters. The Green Bay Packers responded in the second half with 20 points behind a pair of touchdown passes from Aaron Rodgers. However, the first-half deficit was too much to overcome while their running game led by Raheem Mostert’s monstrous performance with 220 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns proved to be the difference.
Chiefs pinned as Super Bowl 54 favorites
With the matchup finally set for Super Bowl 54, it has put forth the task of labeling one of the teams as the favorites.
The early betting reception to the showdown is that it’s quite near being a pick’em for the contest, but the Chiefs have grabbed a slight betting lead at -1 1/2 point favorites in the contest. It’s a hard game to choose a winner, but Kansas City has the narrow edge for a reason as their offense is led by their star quarterback, who is playing some of the best football of his brief NFL career.
He has become the third player ever to win an MVP and make the Super Bowl in his first three seasons, joining Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Kurt Warner. Mahomes also put himself along another Hall of Famer in Joe Montana as the only players to have at least 250 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and at least 50 rushing yards in multiple postseason games.
Mahomes is the definition of a franchise quarterback, while the Chiefs have shown the ability to overcome any deficit as they came back from a pair of double-digit margins. Meanwhile, Jimmy Garoppolo hasn’t had to do much of shouldering the load as he had just 77 passing yards on 6-of-8 attempts in the NFC title game. Garoppolo is talented, but he may have to go toe-to-toe with Mahomes, and that may not be a task he could matchup up with him.
Ultimately, it’s hard to go against Mahomes at this point, given the momentum of the team behind his stellar play.
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs ready to prove it on the field
The betting line will without a doubt shift a bit over the next two weeks ahead of Super Bowl 54 as storylines and thorough analysis of the matchup are made.
What is clear is that Mahomes is playing at the top of his game, which has put the Chiefs ahead as the slight favorite. It won’t be easy as the 49ers possess arguably the best defense in the league that has created problems for many quarterbacks this season.
There is certainly much that could change during the game, but regardless of how things unfold, it should be another entertaining matchup on the grandest stage.
