The wait is over, NFL fans. Super Bowl Sunday has officially arrived. 

And before the big game kicks off, I have some predictions I need to get off my chest. 

49ers vs. Chiefs in Las Vegas! #SBLVIII pic.twitter.com/ARHIwQBaia

— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2024

Patrick Mahomes Vs. Brock Purdy

Like most football games, all eyes will be on the QBs during the Super Bowl. Two of the most talked about QBs of this past season are set to square off in Chiefs Patrick Mahomes and 49ers Brock Purdy. Both are the most likely players on their teams to be named Super Bowl MVP if their team pulls out the win, but how will each perform? 

Predictions:

Patrick Mahomes: Over 261.5 Passing Yards, Over 1.5 Passing TDs, Over 0.5 Interceptions, Over 36.5 Pass Attempts

I think Mahomes' solo performance in this game will matter more than any of his past Super Bowls. I expect him to come out throwing the ball early and often, and I think we will see him record his first-ever 300-yard passing game in a Super Bowl. When it comes to finding the endzone, I have him going over his 1.5 line, but I think he only throws two touchdowns. Mahomes is a threat with his legs in the red zone, and Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco will be a threat to steal touchdowns away. I do think we will see at least one Mahomes interception in this game due to how often I think he will be throwing the ball. He's gone for over 40 pass attempts in two of his previous three Super Bowls, and I think we'll see him do it again this year. 

Brock Purdy: Under 249.5, Over 1.5 Passing TDs, Over 0.5 Interceptions, Over 31.5 Pass Attempts

Purdy and the 49ers offense have their toughest defensive matchup of their playoff run this year on deck with Steve Spagnuolo's Chiefs defense. The Chiefs have faced quite the QB trio on their way to this year's Super Bowl, with wins over Tua Tagovailoa, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson. They held two of the three under 200 passing yards, with Tagovailoa only having 199 and Allen only having 186. Due to that and my belief that the 49ers will look to RB Christian McCaffrey to carry a large workload to keep the ball out of Mahomes' hands, I think Purdy passes for under 249.5 yards. In my opinion, the 49ers skill players are too good for Purdy not to reach at least two passing touchdowns. And with McCaffrey being just as likely to catch a touchdown as he is to run one, I think Purdy ends the game with three passing touchdowns. Like Mahomes, I think Purdy will throw at least one interception in this game. He's had some lapses in judgment when defenses get creative with the coverages they deploy against him, and I think Spagnulo will have something up his sleeve. And lastly, I believe Purdy ends the game with over 31.5 pass attempts. I don't think Purdy will have as many passes as Mahomes in this one, but I think Shannon's creativity in getting guys like McCaffrey and Samuel the ball quickly will help Purdy clear that number. 

Run Game

The running games of both the 49ers and Chiefs have been a big part of their playoff runs to this point. But will either successfully run their way to a Super Bowl victory? 

Predictions: 

Isiah Pacheco: Over 66.5 Rushing Yards, Over 15.5 Longest Run, Over 0.5 Rushing TD

Patrick Mahomes: Over 0.5 Rushing TDs

Pacheco has gone for over 66.5 rushing yards in each playoff game during the Chiefs run to the Super Bowl. And the 49ers have also allowed a RB to go over that mark in both of their playoff games. So, to me, Pacheco going over that mark seems like free money. I also think his longest run of the day will go for more than 15.5. Pacheco is an angry runner, and I think he can barrel his way to at least a 16-yard run. And lastly, I believe Pacheco and Mahomes will both have rushing touchdowns in the Super Bowl. 

Christian McCaffrey: Under 90.5 Rushing Yards, Under 17.5 Longest Run, Over 0.5 Rushing TDs

Brock Purdy: Under 0.5 Rushing TDs

Some may think I'm crazy for taking the under on McCaffery's yards. But I think the Chiefs will key in on him in the run game, which will force most of his impact to come in the passing game. For that same reason, I also think his longest run of the day will be under 17.5 yards, but I think we will see him surpass that number via a reception. I believe McCaffery finds the endzone multiple times in this game, and one of them will come from a handoff. With Purdy, though, I think he is held out of the endzone in terms of the run game. 

Pass Catchers

While these two groups of pass catchers both are led by two of the best TEs in the NFL, their WR rooms are very different. The Chiefs' are led by rookie WR Rashee Rice, who has come on the second half of the season. Meanwhile, the 49ers are led by the star WR duo of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Ayiuk. 

Predictions:

Travis Kelce: Over 69.5 Yards, Over 6.5 Receptions, Over 0.5 TDs

Rashee Rice: Under 68.5 Yards, Under 6.5 Receptions, Under 0.5 TDs

Justin Watson: Over 17.5 Yards, Over 1.5 Receptions, Over 0.5 TDs

The Mahomes-Kelce connection has been clicking this postseason (and their entire career together) as they have connected for 23 receptions, 262 yards, and three touchdowns through their first three games. And I don't think that success is done yet. I think Kelce hits all his overs to put up a big day. Another player who has had a solid postseason so far is Chiefs rookie WR Rashee Rice, but I don't think he will make a significant impact today. The Mahomes-Kelce connection won't be easy to take away, so I think the 49ers will focus on Rice in this one and force one of the Chiefs' lackluster WRs to step up in a big way. I have Rice ending the day with under 68.5 yards, under 6.5 receptions, and no touchdowns. One of those WRs that I think could benefit from Rice absorbing a lot of the defense's attention is Justin Watson. I think he easily clears his overs here with over 17.5 yards over 1.5 receptions, and I say he finds the endzone once. 

George Kittle: Over 50.5 Yards, Over 3.5 Receptions, Over 0.5 TDs 

Deebo Samuel: Over 58.5 Yards, Over 4.5 Receptions, Over 0.5 TDs

Brandon Aiyuk: Under 62.5 Yards, Over 4.5 Receptions, Under 0.5 TDs

Christian McCaffrey: Over 33.5 Yards, Over 4.5 Receptions, Over 0.5 TDs

While I don't think the run game for the 49ers will have a huge impact, I think their pass game could make up for it. I think the group of three to watch in this one is TE George Kittle, WR Deebo Samuel, and RB Christan McCaffrey. I think all three sweep their overs here, with Kittle ending the game with the most receiving yards on the team. I also think all three find the endzone in this one. With me predicting those three have big days, I think it leads to Brandon Aiyuk's production taking a hit. I think he still sees more than 4.5 receptions, but I think he ends the day with under 62.5 yards and is held out of the endzone. 

Defense: 

As you'll see in my score prediction at the end of this article, I think both defenses will leave this game wishing they did more because I think this one will be a high-scoring affair. But will either be able to give their team an edge? 

Predictions: 

Chiefs: Under 2.5 Sacks

The area of the defense I'm watching on both sides is the pass rush. The Chiefs are preparing to play the best offensive line they've faced this postseason, and I think that will show by the end of this one. I'm taking the Chiefs to have under 2.5 sacks. 

49ers: Over 1.5 Sacks

First of all, I was shocked to see the 49ers sack total only at 1.5. I would have expected both to be listed at 2.5, but I'm easily taking the over here, especially with the Chiefs being without star guard Joe Thuney in this one. For what it's worth, I would have also taken the over at 2.5 sacks for the 49ers in this one. 

Who Wins? 

The rest of the predictions above were just icing on the cake, but I saved the one you all came here to see for last. This year's Super Bowl has two of the NFL's best teams all season ready to square off. In the end, which team will be celebrating in Las Vegas, and which team will want the phrase "What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas" to be true?

Prediction

Point Total: Over 47.5 

Spread: 49ers -2

Score: 49ers 34 – Chiefs 31

First and foremost, I think this game ends up being a shoot-out type. While both defenses have had strong years, these are two of the best and most creative offenses in all of the NFL, and I think that leads to fireworks. So I'm taking the over 47.5 points in this one. I've gone back and forth on the winner of this game, and in the end, I've landed on the 49ers getting their revenge from their first loss to Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Super Bowl and pulling out a 34 to 31 win. I think it'll truly come down to who can make that one extra play to give their team the edge, and in this one, I think the drastic gap between the Chiefs' lack of weapons and the 49ers' abundance of them comes into play in a big way. 

Super Bowl MVP: Christian McCaffrey 

I know I took the under on McCaffrey's rushing yards, but I think his dual-threat ability will lead to him having over 125 total yards and two touchdowns, one through the air and one on the ground. It's hard for a player to beat out a quarterback for the Super Bowl MVP, but if anyone is going to do it, it'll be Christian McCaffrey, who has been the 49ers' best player all season. 

Don’t miss a second of Super Bowl 58

All the info you need on when, where, and how to watch Super Bowl 58 between the Chiefs & 49ers on Sunday, February 11th, 2024.