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Super Bowl LIV score predictions: ESPN experts pick 49ers-Chiefs

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Stephen A.: No way in hell Jimmy G outplays Mahomes (1:52)

Stephen A. Smith has a hard time believing Jimmy Garoppolo can outplay Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIV. (1:52)

On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs meet at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, for Super Bowl LIV. Will Chiefs coach Andy Reid finally get his Super Bowl ring with Patrick Mahomes guiding his offense? Can 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan's tough San Francisco defense complete their magical one-season turnaround with a championship?

Ahead of kickoff, ESPN.com's writers, editors, analysts, columnists and pundits make their predictions for the big game.

The tally: Chiefs have the advantage

  • Of 108 experts who weighed in, the Chiefs were favored by 68 of them (63%), while the 49ers claimed 40 votes (37%).

  • The most common predicted final score was 31-27, picked by 11 of our experts. The lowest combined total was 37 (20-17). The highest combined score was 105 (54-51).

  • Caesars Sportsbook currently favors Kansas City by 1.5 points. ESPN's Football Power Index also likes the Chiefs (64.8%) by an average of five points.

Predicting a Chiefs victory

ESPN personalities and analysts

Chris Berman, NFL studio host: 35-32

Matthew Berry, fantasy writer: 31-27

Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: 28-20

John Buccigross, SportsCenter anchor: 27-24

Will Cain, ESPN radio: 34-28

Michael Eaves, SportsCenter anchor: 32-27

Mike Golic, ESPN radio: 28-24

Mike Golic Jr., ESPN radio: 35-31

Mike Greenberg, Get Up host: 33-26

Matt Hasselbeck, NFL analyst: 33-32

Tim Hasselbeck, NFL analyst: 30-23

Keyshawn Johnson, NFL analyst: 38-17

Preston Johnson, ESPN Chalk analyst: 30-24

Suzy Kolber, Monday Night Countdown host: 31-27

Todd McShay, NFL draft analyst: 31-27

Chris Mortensen, senior NFL insider: 35-34

Randy Moss, NFL analyst: 42-38

Dan Orlovsky, NFL analyst: 38-37

Sam Ponder, Sunday NFL Countdown host: 35-24

Louis Riddick, NFL analyst: 38-35

Laura Rutledge, Get Up host: 31-27

Aaron Schatz, Football Outsiders: 38-31

Sarah Spain, espnW reporter: 27-24

Marcus Spears, NFL analyst: 38-35

Sage Steele, SportsCenter anchor: 38-24

Trey Wingo, NFL analyst: 34-31

ESPN NFL reporters

Todd Archer, Cowboys reporter: 31-27

Sarah Barshop, Texans reporter: 34-31

Rich Cimini, Jets reporter: 31-28

Courtney Cronin, Vikings reporter: 34-31

Turron Davenport, Titans reporter: 34-21

Rob Demovsky, Packers reporter: 33-28

Michael DiRocco, Jaguars reporter: 31-27

David Fleming, NFL writer: 54-51

Domonique Foxworth, The Undefeated writer: 33-31

Dan Graziano, national NFL reporter: 34-28

Brady Henderson, Seahawks reporter: 23-21

Jamison Hensley, Ravens reporter: 20-17

John Keim, Redskins reporter: 30-28

Vaughn McClure, Falcons reporter: 28-21

Tim McManus, Eagles reporter: 33-26

Ian O'Connor, senior NFL writer: 27-23

Brooke Pryor, Steelers reporter: 34-28

Jordan Raanan, Giants reporter: 31-26

Jason Reid, The Undefeated reporter: 41-27

Mike Reiss, Patriots reporter: 31-27

Michael Rothstein, Lions reporter: 35-24

Dianna Russini, NFL reporter: 31-27

Adam Teicher, Chiefs reporter: 27-21

Mike Triplett, Saints reporter: 27-23

Seth Walder, analytics writer: 34-17

Mike Wells, Colts reporter: 31-21

Eric D. Williams, Chargers reporter: 33-30

Cameron Wolfe, Dolphins reporter: 31-27

ESPN editors

Dan Appenfeller, NFL editor: 34-27

Ben Arledge, NFL editor: 34-27

Dave Bearman, ESPN Chalk editor: 31-20

Dane Beavers, NFL editor: 31-20

Heather Burns, NFL editor: 42-28

Chris Grandstaff, NFL editor: 38-31

Jon Hudec, NFL editor: 23-20

Tim Kavanagh, NFL editor: 31-18

Vince Masi, ESPN Stats & Information: 36-31

Bob McClellan, NFL editor: 37-31

Chris Sprow, NFL editor: 34-24

Pat Sutherland, NFL editor: 33-23

Jeremy Willis, NFL editor: 34-21

Predicting a 49ers victory

ESPN personalities and analysts

Emmanuel Acho, NFL analyst: 37-32

Bill Barnwell, senior NFL writer: 27-23

Stephania Bell, fantasy analyst: 31-28

Tedy Bruschi, NFL analyst: 38-35

Bobby Carpenter, NFL analyst: 31-27

Ryan Clark, NFL analyst: 38-34

Mike Clay, NFL analyst: 28-27

Jason Fitz, ESPN radio: 35-31

Eric Karabell, fantasy writer: 38-31

Doug Kezirian, ESPN Chalk analyst: 30-24

Mina Kimes, ESPN Daily host: 34-31

Steve Levy, SportsCenter anchor: 24-17

Katie Nolan, Always Late host: 24-21

Rex Ryan, NFL analyst: 28-27

Adam Schefter, senior NFL insider: 31-24

Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst: 35-31

John "Stugotz" Weiner, ESPN radio: 28-27

Damien Woody, NFL analyst: 34-31

Field Yates, NFL analyst: 31-27

Steve Young, NFL analyst: 35-31

ESPN NFL reporters

Jeff Dickerson, Bears reporter: 28-27

Jeremy Fowler, national NFL writer: 30-27

Paul Gutierrez, Raiders reporter: 31-30

Jeff Legwold, Broncos reporter: 27-23

Marcel Louis-Jacques, Bills reporter: 35-24

Elizabeth Merrill, NFL writer: 35-31

David Newton, Panthers reporter: 28-24

Kevin Seifert, national NFL writer: 38-35

Lindsey Thiry, Rams reporter: 28-26

Kevin Van Valkenburg, NFL writer: 28-24

Nick Wagoner, 49ers reporter: 34-31

Josh Weinfuss, Cardinals reporter: 27-24

Seth Wickersham, NFL writer: 21-20

ESPN editors

Elizabeth Baugh, multisport editor: 34-27

T.J. Berka, NFL editor: 28-24

Ben Fawkes, ESPN Chalk editor: 34-31

Keith Lipscomb, fantasy editor: 31-27

Alisha Miller, NFL editor: 35-32

Anthony Olivieri, researcher: 28-24

John Pluym, NFL editor: 31-28