Thursday night saw the NFL Honors given out. The biggest winner was Ravens’ Quarterback Lamar Jackson who secured his second MVP award after winning it in 2019. As a team, the Cleveland Browns picked up the most awards with head coach Kevin Stefanski winning the Coach of the Year for the second time, Defensive End Myles Garrett winning his first Defensive Player of the Year award and Quarterback Joe Flacco picking up the Comeback Player of the Year award. The Houston Texans’ rookie duo, CJ Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. picked up the Offensive Rookie and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards, further proof that the future is bright for their organisation. There was only one award winner from Thursday who will be at the Super Bowl, San Francisco’s star Running Back Christian McCaffrey who was named Offensive Player of the Year. Speaking of the Super Bowl, let’s look at what to expect while dishing out some free betting tips.
**San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs** ● Embarking on a karaoke performance after only one drink. ● Skydiving from a plane thousands of feet in the air. ● Picking against Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl These are three things that require the most courage. The 49ers and Chiefs meet in a rematch of the 2020 Super Bowl which the Chiefs won 31-20. In that memorable encounter, the 49ers held a commanding 20-10 lead heading into the 4th Quarter, only to witness the Chiefs stage a remarkable comeback, scoring 21 unanswered points to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Since then, several changes have occurred. The 49ers have notably strengthened their lineup, boasting talents such as Pro Bowl Tackle Trent Williams, Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk, Defensive End Chase Young, Running Back Christian McCaffrey, and Quarterback Brock Purdy. The Chiefs, on the other hand, have had a slight dip in quality in their roster. They’ve also had their struggles this season, including a stretch where they lost four out of six games. The 49ers’ ability to apply pressure without resorting to blitzing, enabling multiple defenders to fall back into coverage is going to be key in this game. While Mahomes is the best player on the planet, the Chiefs don’t have quite as many weapons as the 49ers. On the offensive front, San Francisco boasts a plethora of quality pass-catchers. So, while the spotlight, both from the online betting community and the Chiefs’ secondary, may shine on Aiyuk, Samuel, and Kittle, this creates a promising opportunity for Jauan Jennings and McCaffery to make a significant impact in the passing game. Kansas City has won five of the last six meetings with the 49ers, scoring at least 31 points in each of those five victories. As they face the 49ers once again, this time as the AFC’s No. 3 seed, they aim to defy history. Only on two occasions since playoff seeding began in 1975 has a No. 3 seed clinched the coveted Lombardi Trophy. In contrast, the 49ers boast a more favourable history, with the No. 1 seed producing 26 Super Bowl champions, surpassing the combined total of all other seeds (22). For the 3rd time in this playoff, the Chiefs are the betting underdogs. Look, the 49ers are the better team on paper. Despite that, I can’t bring myself to pick against Patrick Mahomes & the Chiefs. He is that good. Scratch that. He is that great. I picked against him twice in the last 2 games and he made me pay on each occasion. So, while they say "third time’s the charm," I’m not willing to take that chance. **Betting Tips**
**Super Bowl MVP** I know what you’re assuming—it’s Patrick Mahomes. And you’re not off base there. Despite Lamar Jackson’s recent MVP accolade, Mahomes is the best player on the planet. However, let’s consider this: Mahomes hasn’t exactly shone brightly in these playoffs. While he’s been reliably efficient, when necessary, he hasn’t delivered anything exceptional, at least not by his standards. It’s understandable; he’s opted for error-free football, taking fewer risks. Among all the quarterbacks in the playoffs, he ranks 7th in Pass Completion Percentage, 8th in Yards Per Game, 8th in Passer Rating, and 9th in Yards Per Pass Attempt. Instead, Travis Kelce has been the Chiefs’ best offensive player in the playoffs. If the Chiefs win, Kelce could very well earn the MVP title. Besides, this outcome would delight Taylor Swift fans and generate excellent publicity for the league - something every marketer would absolutely love. Now, IF the 49ers win, we see Christian McCaffrey being named MVP. He’s their best player and, despite playing just two playoff games, McCaffrey leads all players in touchdowns (4) and points scored (24). **Betting Tips:**
**Position of MVP** Quarterbacks are considered the safe choice for MVPs. However, it’s worth noting that in the last two decades, there have been instances where non-QB positions have produced the MVPs—5 wide receivers and 2 linebackers to be precise—so it’s not unprecedented. Building on our previous selections, given Christian McCaffrey’s position as a Running Back and Travis Kelce’s role as a Tight End, they remain our top choices for MVP consideration. **Betting Tips:**
**1st Scoring Play** In their three Super Bowl appearances in this era, the Chiefs have yet to take a halftime lead. They were even with the 49ers a few years ago and trailed both the Buccaneers and the Eagles. With this in mind, we think their slow start will continue, and the 49ers will get on the scoreboard first. **Betting Tip**
**First Touchdown Scorer** Several names stand out here, each tempting for various reasons. Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes’ most trusted weapon, presents an enticing option at 7.50. Also, Running Back Isiah Pacheco is a crucial piece for the Chiefs, especially when they’re within 5 yards of the end zone. However, the most appealing choice for us is Christian McCaffrey, the recently crowned Offensive Player of the Year, and here’s why. San Francisco has scored touchdowns on over half of their first drives this season (10 out of 19), while Kansas City has managed touchdowns on just 25% of their opening drives. Also, McCaffrey has found the end zone in 13 of the 18 49ers games this season. So, if the 49ers score the first touchdown as the stats suggest, McCaffrey feels like a smart choice. **Betting Tip**
**Some of Our Other Bet Predictions** ● **Will there be Points Scored in Every Quarter? Yes.** These are two elite offenses, and I just don’t see them going cold at the same time.
● **Total Sacks by San Francisco 49ers:** The 49ers have a scary defense, but I’ve been impressed by the Chiefs Offensive Line that has given up just 2 sacks in 3 playoff games and this is our bet of the day.
● **Team Total Touchdowns San Francisco 49ers:** Christian McCaffrey has scored 2 touchdowns in each of his playoff games. We think he’s good for two more in this game, and his teammates should be enough to get at least one on their own. -
● **Team Total Touchdowns Kansas City Chiefs:** It’s the Chiefs. Of course, they’ll have more than two Touchdowns.
● **Team to Score Longest Field Goal:** Chiefs’ Harrison Butker is the more accurate Kicker. He has a 94.3% FG accuracy while 49ers’ Jake Moody is way below at 84%. Also, Jake Moody has missed 50% of his kicks over 40 yards this playoff while Butker has hit 100% of his.
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