Chiefs Hold The Edge Over Tom Brady’s Buccaneers In Opening Super Bowl 55 Odds

The matchup is set for Super Bowl 55 on Feb. 7, 2021. For the first time in the history of the NFL’s grand game, the host team will be participating in the contest. And even better, online sports betting arrived in Michigan just in time for Super Bowl betting.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take the field in Tampa, Florida, to face the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs. While the game is still two weeks out, it’s never too early to get on a jump on the odds.

The 2021 Super Bowl will take place on Sunday, Feb. 7, with limited in-person attendance and air live on CBS at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Super Bowl 55 odds: Kansas City Chiefs open as the favorite

The Super Bowl 55 odds are ever-changing, but as of this writing, the general consensus has the Chiefs as a 3-point favorite against the Bucs for the big game.

For the moneyline, the Chiefs are coming in around -150 to -165, while the Bucs are drawing odds of +125 to +145.

The over/under opened up at 57 points but has since dropped to 56.5 or 56 points depending on the sportsbook.

Chiefs own a win over Bucs in 2020

The Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes own bragging rights over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from earlier in the season.

These two met in Tampa on Nov. 29 in Week 12 of the season, with the Chiefs picking up a 27-24 victory. A close game, or was it?

Kansas City jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and led 27-10 in the third quarter before Brady staged a comeback effort. It was an air show with Mahomes throwing for 462 yards and three TDs, while Brady had 345 with three TDs.

The Buccaneers did cover in the loss, as they were a 3.5-point underdog. Tampa has covered the spread in three straight meetings with the Chiefs.

Trends are with Tampa for the Super Bowl as well. Kansas City is just 1-8 ATS in their last nine games on grass and 2-7 ATS in their last nine games as a favorite. The Bucs have covered in four straight as an underdog and in five of their last seven against a winning team.

Early public betting numbers have the Chiefs getting 63% of the wagers thus far for Super Bowl 55.

But the real story here is the two teams’ offense — specifically the quarterbacks.

Tom Brady entering his 10th Super Bowl

The ageless wonder has done it again.

Brady advanced to his 10th Super Bowl on Sunday when the Bucs won their third consecutive road playoff game, besting the Green Bay Packers 31-26 at Lambeau Field.

Brady started hot, leading the Bucs to a 28-10 lead early in the third quarter with three touchdown passes. However, three second-half interceptions opened the door for the Packers to make it interesting in the fourth. The Tampa Bay defense held up and Brady is now playing for his seventh Super Bowl victory.

Brady brings an offense averaging 30.8 points and 384.1 yards per game into the Super Bowl. Tampa’s 289.1 passing yards per game ranks just second in the NFL to Kansas City.

The Bucs are hoping to get Antonio Brown back in the lineup in two weeks after he missed the NFC Championship with a knee injury.

Defensively, Tampa likes to apply the pressure. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles dialed up five sacks and eight QB hits in Sunday’s victory.

The secondary was without young safety Antoine Winfield Jr. on Sunday due to an ankle injury. Second-year DB Sean Murphy-Bunting has intercepted a pass in all three playoff games to provide a big boost to the defense.

Patrick Mahomes seeks back-to-back championships

Mahomes is on a trajectory to contend with Brady for the greatest of all-time label, aka the GOAT.

In his third season as a starting QB, Mahomes has reached three AFC Championships. He is now looking to win his second Super Bowl. On Sunday, he led the Chiefs to a 38-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

KC fell behind 9-0 after one before the offense got rolling. Mahomes threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns, while the offense tallied 439 total yards.

Tyreek Hill (9 receptions for 172 yards) and Travis Kelce (13 receptions for 118 yards, 2 TD’s) continued to be unstoppable in the Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy offense.

The Chiefs did suffer a big loss in the win, however, as starting left tackle Eric Fisher is believed to have suffered a torn Achilles. That will have him out for the Super Bowl. Mike Remmers moved to left tackle during the game as part of a shuffle of the line.

Kansas City has been the top offense in the NFL in total yards (415.8 ypg) and passing yards (303.4 ypg). They face a Tampa defense that ranks No. 1 in rush defense (80.6 ypg), but just 21st against the pass (246.6 ypg). Stopping the Bucs pass rush will be key.

Defensively, Kansas City was great on third down against Buffalo, holding the Bills just 5 of 14 on conversions.

That will be important at Super Bowl LV. Brady and the Bucs were 9 of 14 on third downs in the NFC Championship. Keeping Mahomes off the field will be Tampa’s best defense.