I write it all the time. I am a football fan first. Above all else, I want to see compelling games. I embrace chaos. I seek drama.
The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs meeting in Super Bowl LIV provides each and every one of these desires.
Want compelling? We have the storyline of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid seeking his first Super Bowl title. Chaos? That comes in the form of San Francisco’s quarterback, who was once considered the successor to Tom Brady, playing in the Super Bowl – for Brady’s hometown team – in the same season in which Brady’s future is being called into question. And drama? That one’s easy. It’s the Super Bowl. Tyreek Hill. Richard Sherman. Nick Bosa. Patrick Mahomes.
And that’s before we even step onto the football field. Before we put arguably the most explosive offense in the league against a frighteningly dominant defense.
This is exactly what we could have wanted from the AFC and NFC.
Below are predictions for each game against the spread. Spreads have been taken from various websites and are subject to change. The spread in parenthesis denotes the selected team. An asterisk denotes a confidence pick.
*Confidence Picks – 2019 Season: 57-43-3 (Last Week: 0-1)
(2018 Season: 63-48-4) (2017 Season: 53-48-4) (2016 Season: 53-67-3) (2015 Season: 69-45-2) (2014 Season: 61-46-2) (5-Year Total: 299-254-15)
All Picks Against Spread – 2019 Season: 141-118-7 (Last Week: 0-2)
(2018 Season: 137-118-12) (2017 Season: 137-119-11) (2016 Season: 123-136-8) (2015 Season: 143-117-7) (2014 Season: 149-114-4) (5-Year Total: 689-604-42)
Super Bowl LIV – San Francisco 49ers at Kansas City Chiefs
Despite the fanfare and excitement to which I alluded in the introduction, it has been surprisingly quiet. As if there is nothing worth discussing. This silence is amplified by the fact that the league builds in a two-week hype period. Still, nothing.
The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs are playing in the Super Bowl, and it feels like no one cares. At least, not right now.
The most logical conclusion is that we are staring at the most logical conclusion. People simply expected these two teams to meet in the Super Bowl – or, at least, one of the two to get there – so there is little need to discuss it further. And, of course, if we use the spread to find an edge, we can see that no edge exists. Not one that is worth attacking, anyway.
As of this initial writing – which will take place over multiple days – the Chiefs are favored by a single point. Alone, this hardly tells us anything. Kansas City is a complete team with a lightning-strike offense. It can score on virtually any drive. The fact that the Chiefs are favored, regardless of the size of the spread, is not surprising.
Therefore, is the size of the spread surprising?
Actually,