The 54th edition of the biggest game on the planet could see the ascension of football’s next legend…
When your a Bengals fan, like myself, you get used to seeing other teams in this game. I was just a few months old the last time Cincinnati was vying for a Super Bowl championship, so I’ve tried to live vicariously through other fanbases. This year pits the team who beat the Bengals, both times, in the big game against a team who hasn’t been in this position in 50 years. I’m all about the Chiefs.
The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the most fun teams to watch, this year. They feature last season’s MVP, Patrick Mahomes, as their leader and driving force. As he goes, they go, and he usually goes. He was held without a passing touchdown in only one game this season (week four at Detroit). He is on the top tier of quarterbacks, but a Super Bowl ring in this, his second year as a starter, would vault him into legendary status.
Probably the real reason any Cincinnati sports fans are pulling for Kansas City, though, is Travis Kelce. Dude is the best tight end in the league but, in case you hadn’t heard, he’s a Bearcat. His talent is evident: over a thousand yards every season since 2015, over 80 receptions a year since then, and 37 touchdowns in seven seasons. In order to have the greatest Super Bowl performance, ever, for a tight end, Kelce will need to surpass the 9 receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns that Rob Gronkowski put up. That effort came in Super Bowl LII when the Patriots lost to the Eagles.
This year’s game will be interesting because it doesn’t involve a team that’s easy to root against (i.e the Steelers or Patriots). That doesn’t mean it won’t be fun. Both teams feature plenty of interesting talent to watch. The 49ers have a tight end, named George Kittle, who can at least make it an argument as to who is better between himself and Kelce, they have a possibly future great defensive end in Nick Bosa, and the next “coaching genius” in Kyle Shannahan. Yeah, I know, coaching geniuses sprout up every year, but Shannahan has the pedigree to stick around.
If you place wagers on the game, San Francisco is sitting at a 1.5 point underdog (as of 2:00 pm). The over/under sits at 54. It’s tough to call the total of this game, before kickoff, because it’s strength (Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense) versus strength (Bosa and the 49ers defense). Some say a good defense beats a good offense, any day, but Mahomes is something special. He willed the Chiefs to an AFC Championship against a team built very similarly to the 49ers (Tennessee Titans), so it’s not far fetched to think he can do it again. Should he pull it off, he will plant his name firmly into the top of the “Best QB in the game” discussion.
I’m rooting for the Chiefs, I’m picking the Chiefs, and I think there will be more than 54 points scored.
Also, a goofy prop bet I go for and got right, last year, was the color of the Gatorade that gets dumped on the winning coach. Last year, I guessed blue. Figure on going for blue, again, as it is sitting +600 on Bovada, currently. That means a five dollar bet, and some blue Gatorade getting dumped, will net you $30, if I’m right and you follow along.
Disclaimer: I am in no way an expert, I just watch a lot of football and tend to pick correctly, most of the time.
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