Super Bowl LIV: Chiefs the rational favorites, 49ers the sentimental ones

If the game had taken a couple of rounds back, the San Francisco 49ers would be the favorites to prevail, but after the last two appearances on the court, the Kansas City Chiefs are the favorites to win the Super Bowl LIV, to be held next February 2 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

In the first sample of the bookmakers, the name of the two finalists was hardly known; it leaned more towards the Chiefs by a small advantage of 1.5. A source linked to the ESPN channel says that never before in history has a Super Bowl had a completely even line when it comes to favoritism and only four of them have had a difference of less than 2 points.

Other bookmakers like William Hill and Westgate Super Book also reflected as the main candidate for the Kansas City team title. The favorite team has won 34 of 53 Super Bowls played to date, but when favoritism is light, as in this case, the result is shortened to 8-7. Everything indicates that we will have a very even match that will be decided by details and where the experience of the quarterbacks will not be as decisive as on other occasions.

How did they get to the Super Bowl?

The Chiefs started the season as favorites by consensus after their extraordinary previous campaign (they lost at the end of the Conference to the New England Patriots), and they did so by overcoming a knee injury midway through the campaign of their quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

In the postseason, they were stronger and bigger with a powerful offensive. First making an impressive comeback against the Houston Texans (51-31) with an impressive comeback and then against the Tennessee Titans (35-24) to reach their first Super Bowl since 1969.

In turn, The 49ers were considered contestants in the bulk of the teams at the beginning of the season but reinforced that theory by being the last team to lose the undefeated on the ninth date and then ending with a 12-4 record.

The path to decisive engagement was based on its fearsome defense, 27-10 over the Minnesota Vikings, and then 37-20 at the Green Bay Packers, sheltered in an impressive 27-0 at halftime, thanks again to his defending.

This next February 2 will be the first duel of debuting quarterbacks as starters since Joe Flacco and Colin Kaepernick in 2013.

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Details of a great match

Kansas City is not only the favorite in betting but also was designated as a local team thanks to the league system, which gives one year to one conference and the next to the other, and in this 2020 corresponds to the American.

In 2019, the locality was Los Angeles Rams, monarchs of the National. The 'hosts' will wear their red sweater and white tights. In turn, those in the Bay have already informed that they will wear their white sweater with gold-colored sleeves, although a proposal to use a third uniform, all white, is being studied.

Why are Chiefs favorite?

There are three elements that tip the balance towards those of the American Conference. The first is its explosive offensive, especially in the air item. Mahomes supported the entire campaign in Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins and Tyreek Hill, and thus managed to accumulate points quickly.

They also know how to make plays that need more methodology. In the season they scored more than 30 points 10 times. The point is that if they repeat that mark again, they will have many chances of triumph.

The second element is Andy Reid, considered one of the best coaches in the NFL, among the current offensive. The future Hall of Fame member has directed 28 postseason games and although he has never won a Super Bowl, it takes several years of learning to his daring and young counterpart Kyle Shanahan.

Although in this sector the 49ers have been more consistent, the defense of the Chiefs has improved in relation to the previous season, and above all, in relation to the regular calendar. The presence of men like Tyrann Mathieu and Daniel Sorensen have made it possible for them to be the seventh-best team in that section, (the 49ers were the fourth-best) when they were previously 24 out of 32 teams. A perfect complement to your fearsome attack.

Jimmy Garoppolo, the quarterback of the 'Niners', finally made a good campaign but the performance of his opponent in the position, Pat Mahomes, has only increased level since the previous campaign. Both are young but Mahomes, already played at the end of the Conference in 2019, something that Garoppolo was not even close to in his previous years. Another fact in favor of the Chiefs.