Pro Picks: Purdy Will Lead The 49ers To Another Comeback Win, Ruining Chiefs’ Repeat Bid – News18

LAS VEGAS: Pro Picks is a weekly column the place AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming video games. For all earlier Pro Picks, head right here.

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The underdog Kansas City Chiefs are enjoying for historical past in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers.

No staff has been the underdog in consecutive Super Bowls and received each video games. The two earlier defending champions to return as an underdog each misplaced.

But the Chiefs (14-6) have been defying the percentages all through the postseason. They have been underdogs in victories at Buffalo and Baltimore.

Now, they’ve received to do it once more to change into the primary repeat champions in 19 years.

The 49ers (14-5) are 2 1/2-level favorites on Sunday, in keeping with FanDuel Sportsbook. They’re fairly acquainted with that function having been favored to win every recreation this season.

The previous three groups to be favored in each recreation in a season — 2017 and 2007 Patriots and 2001 Rams — every misplaced the Super Bowl.

So, one thing has to present. One streak will finish Sunday.

The Chiefs are 13-1 in domes with Patrick Mahomes. He has 33 landing passes and simply three interceptions in these video games. They’ll be indoors at Allegiant Stadium.

“I just like playing football, so it doesn’t matter if it’s minus-30 or if we’re in indoors,” Mahomes stated. “I’m just going to go out there and try to play the best I can. I’m sure quarterbacks will tell you it’s easier to throw the football when it’s in perfect conditions, so that’s probably why, but for me it’s just going out there and competing.”

Here are two stats going in opposition to the 49ers. The staff with the higher profitable share is 1-15 in opposition to the unfold within the Super Bowl since 2003. Teams who had a bye going through groups who performed a wild-card recreation are 5-10 straight up and a couple of-12-1 in opposition to the unfold in Super Bowls.

Here are two stats going San Francisco’s approach. Niners coach Kyle Shanahan is 6-0 straight up as a favourite within the playoffs.

Under Shanahan, the 49ers are 32-11 straight up and 28-14-1 in opposition to the unfold when enjoying within the Pacific time zone for the second straight recreation.

This would be the thirty first Super Bowl with some extent unfold of six factors or fewer. The profitable groups additionally lined the unfold in 29 of 30 video games.

Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Chiefs have been inconsistent on offense all through the season and needed to rely typically on a powerful protection led by Chris Jones.

Brock Purdy and the 49ers have loads of offensive playmakers led by All-Pro working again Christian McCaffrey, All-Pro tight finish George Kittle and extensive receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.

They’ve received a gifted protection led by star edge rusher Nick Bosa and All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner. But San Francisco has been vulnerable on third downs.

“As good as we sometimes think we are, teams do a really good job of having really good plays and no matter what the situation may be, we gotta play hard and we gotta play fast,” linebacker Dre Greenlaw stated.

If they let Mahomes and the Chiefs lengthen drives and don’t get off the sphere, it may be an extended day.

In the earlier 57 Super Bowls, the favorites are 36-21 straight up and 27-28-2 in opposition to the unfold. Pro Picks leans barely towards the 49ers in a detailed one which comes all the way down to Purdy having to guide the staff to a comeback win for the third straight recreation.

Playoffs: Straight up: 7-5. Against unfold: 5-7.

Regular season: Straight up: 168-104. Against unfold: 144-118-10.

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/robmaaddi

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)