There is no sports game bigger in North American professional sports than the Super Bowl.
This year’s event may end up being the biggest in quite some time.
Tom Brady, one of the best quarterbacks of all-time, will lead his Tampa Bay Buccaneers into battle against the defending Super Bowl Champions, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
It’s also the first time in NFL history that a team (Buccaneers) will play the Super Bowl in their home stadium.
The Buccaneers are arriving at Super Bowl 55 after defeating the Green Bay Packers 31-26 in the NFC Championship Game two weeks ago. Brady led the way with 280 yards and three touchdowns, however, he also had three interceptions. WR Chris Godwin also had five receptions for 110 yards.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs easily disposed of the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game by a score of 38-24. Mahomes had 325 yards and three touchdowns in the win, while WR Tyreek Hill (172 yards) and TE Travis Kelce (118 yards, two touchdowns) both had huge games.
Super Bowl LV Betting Information
- Date and time: Sunday, February 7, 6:30 pm ET
- Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (14-2) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5)
- Location: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida
- TV: CBS
- Commentators: Jim Nantz and Tony Romo
- Halftime performer: The Weeknd
According to Bovada, these are the Super Bowl LV betting odds as of Tuesday, February 2:
- Point spread: Chiefs -3.0 (-120), Buccaneers +3.0 (EVEN)
- Moneyline: Chiefs -165, Buccaneers +145
- Over/Under: Over 56.5 (-110), Under 56.5 (-110)
Super Bowl LV: By the Numbers
This Super Bowl clash is between two of the top offensive teams in the NFL this season.
Between the regular season and playoffs, the Buccaneers scored an average of 30.7 points per game, which is second-best in the NFL. However, the Chiefs weren’t far off, averaging 29.6 points per game (Tied-4th).
Both teams’ defenses have been playing well this season. The Chiefs are only allowing 22.4 points against per game (10th), while the Buccaneers are allowing 22.3 (9th).
One aspect that could make a difference is that the Buccaneers run defense is the best in the league, allowing 81.4 rushing yards per game. On the other hand, they’re giving up 249.4 passing yards per game.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs are allowing an average of 121.9 yards on the ground (19th) and 233.8 yards through the air (13th) per game.
This will also be the second time that these teams have met this season.
In Week 12, the Chiefs beat the Buccaneers 27-24. Mahomes had 462 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Hill had a monstrous stat line of 13 receptions, 269 yards and three touchdowns.
Brady had 345 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss.
Can the Chiefs win back-to-back Super Bowls?
One of the major storylines of the 2021 Super Bowl is that the Chiefs can become the first back-to-back Super Bowl champions since… Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in 2004 and 2005.
That’s fitting considering another main storyline is that experts are saying this is the most important game in Patrick Mahomes’ career if he ever wants to catch Brady as the greatest quarterback of all-time.
So far in the playoffs, Mahomes has thrown for 580 yards and four touchdowns and even added one rushing touchdown in two games. He also hasn’t thrown an interception and has only been sacked once.
As usual, Mahomes will have two of the top receiving threats in the entire NFL in Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill.
Kelce has caught 21 out of 25 targets this postseason, hauling in 227 yards and three touchdowns. While Hill doesn’t have a playoff touchdown yet, he does lead the team with 282 receiving yards.
On the injury front, the Chiefs lost T Eric Fisher to an Achilles injury in the AFC Championship Game. In the last two years, the Chiefs are 4-4 without Fisher in the lineup and 27-1 when he’s playing.
The Chiefs are hoping to have WR Sammy Watkins and RB Le’Veon Bell back in the lineup, although they’re both questionable to play.
Can Tom Brady win Super Bowl No. 7?
Tom Brady continues to defy Father Time.
When he left New England for Tampa Bay, many wondered if he could win a Super Bowl away from Bill Belichick. While Super Bowl 55 hasn’t happened yet, Brady has shown that he’s capable of leading a team at 43 years old.
Brady’s looked like the TB12 of old, throwing for 860 yards and seven touchdowns in three playoff games. He also has three interceptions, which all came in the NFC Championship Game.
WR Antonio Brown is doubtful for the Super Bowl with a knee injury. Brown’s injury means that Brady will have to rely on the Buccaneers’ other two big receivers, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, at Super Bowl 55.
Godwin has 223 yards and one touchdown in three playoff games this year, while Evans has 173 yards and two touchdowns. Neither stat line is terrible, but both receivers will have to play better than that if they want their first Super Bowl.
Brady also has his two tight ends, Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate, to look at if the Chiefs’ defense focuses on Evans and Godwin.
While Gronkowski, one of Brady’s favorite targets in New England, has not been having a remarkable postseason so far (43 yards, zero touchdowns), Brate has been looking good (149 yards, one touchdown).
RB Leonard Fournette has shown the Buccaneers that he was a worthwhile acquisition this year, putting up 313 total yards and three touchdowns in the playoffs so far.
The Buccaneers may be without safeties Jordan Whitehead (doubtful) and Antoine Winfield Jr. (questionable). If neither safety can play, the Chiefs’ aerial offense may have a field day.
Buccaneers’ OLB Lavonte David is also questionable for Super Bowl L5.
Super Bowl LV Betting Advice
With the offense involved in the 2021 Super Bowl, the game could go either way.
However, I do like the Buccaneers to upset the Chiefs. When it comes down to it, I think playing at home in front of 22,000 fans will give the Buccaneers an edge. I also think that Eric Fisher’s absence will really hurt the Chiefs at the end of the day.
Brady has shown no signs of slowing down in the postseason and it might be too important for him to show that he can win without Bill Belichick in his corner.
I’m also taking the OVER for the Super Bowl because with offenses like the ones involved, I could easily see them scoring more than 56.5 points.
Either way, this should be a Super Bowl to remember.
