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Interestingly, the Packers faced a similar situation in the playoffs last year with the 49ers. After losing 37-8 in the regular season at Levi’s Stadium, they wound up facing the 49ers again on the road in the NFC Championship Game. Unfortunately, they were beaten soundly the second time, too, by a final score of 37-20.

Super Bowl LV is set to kick off at 3:30pm Pacific Time at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

While the 49ers are not playing in this year’s game, I decided to go through and jot down some thoughts, look at some prop bets, and make a prediction for Sunday’s showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Quarterbacks don't play against each other

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

I’m sensitive to the need to drum up interest in games through narratives. That’s especially true when it comes to the Super Bowl where a two-week layoff between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl leaves a ton of space to fill. The narrative that is most frustrating though is the “quarterback vs. quarterback” one. Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes are not playing against each other. They’re playing against the opposing defense. A Chiefs loss would do nothing extra to Mahomes’ “legacy.” If he wins 10 Super Bowls with this one loss, nobody is going to say “well he can’t be the GOAT because he lost to Tom Brady.” And if there are people who say that, launch them directly into space where their opinions will be confined to the abyss.

Some wagers

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No single game in the United States garners more wagering than the Super Bowl. I had some fun digging through BetMGM, the King of Sportsbooks, looking at some Super Bowl props. Here are some I like:

Leonard Fournette over 78.5 rushing + receiving yards (-105)

Fournette over 3.5 receptions (+115)

Total score under 56.5 points (-110)

Kansas City Chiefs under 28.5 points (+105)

Cameron Brate over 2.5 receptions (+110)

Travis Kelce over 7.5 receptions (-135)

Chiefs first reception by Mecole Hardman (+800)

Most tackles and assists by Lavonte David (+400)

Speaking of Lavonte David

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Bills Vs 49ers Prediction Usa Today

Lavonte David is a really good player. He’s made only one Pro Bowl and one First-Team All-Pro nod in his nine seasons, but he regularly stuffs the stat sheet and is always on the field. He’s missed only seven games in 12 seasons and never more than three in a year. He’s started all 137 games he has played, and racked up 806 solo tackles, 128 tackles for loss, 24.0 sacks, 12 interceptions, 51 pass breakups and 24 forced fumbles. Shoutout to David for quietly being an awesome linebacker for more than a decade.

The pass-catching talent is insane

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

There are SO many good wide receivers and tight ends playing in this year’s Super Bowl. Here they are via my personal power rankings:

1. Tyreek Hill
2. Travis Kelce
3. Chris Godwin
4. Mike Evans
5. Antonio Brown
6. Mecole Hardman
7. Cameron Brate
8. Sammy Watkins
9. Rob Gronkowski

Super Bowl halftime show

Perry Knotts/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports

I consider myself a fan of The Weeknd. That said, his choice as a Super Bowl halftime performer is perplexing. His hits are high-energy enough to make due, but his best stuff is not the dance-style music that makes a Super Bowl halftime show great. I’m looking forward to watching him perform, but it’s hard to imagine it’s going to be a strong representation of what makes him a good artist.

Bills Vs 49ers Prediction Seahawks

Prediction

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Chiefs being without two starting left tackles against a defense that boasts four of the NFL’s top 25 in sacks is a recipe that might be enough to slow down the Patrick Mahomes-led machine that is Kansas City’s offense. Combining that with the Buccaneers getting to be at home with Tom Brady starting his 10th Super Bowl and there are a lot of things pointing in Tampa Bay’s favor. Betting against Mahomes is probably the wrong move, but here we are.

Pick: Buccaneers 30, Chiefs 25