Will the Chiefs or Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV?

The countdown to kickoff crew makes their Super Bowl predictions.

Video Transcript

LIZ LOZA: All right, guys, we have discussed every single angle and aspect of this game, so it's time to go public with our predictions. Does Tom Brady get that seventh ring or does Patrick Mahomes make it back to back? Thankfully, my high school experience has made me very comfortable with being unpopular, so I'm gonna go first.

All show long, we have talked about this game being a potential baton-passing on numerous levels, but Tom Brady and this iteration of the Bucs have repeatedly shown us that they're not interested in handing anything off. In week 12, when these two teams met over the regular season, the Chiefs won by 3 points. OK, fine.

But in that game, the Bucs pressured Mahomes to the tune of 12 hurries. For context, Mahomes only recorded double-digit hurries three times all season, against the Chargers in overtime and the Saints in week 15. He was also sacked by both my boy JPP and Shaq Barrett in that game, and that was before his toe issue and while Eric Fisher was still available to protect his blindside. Listen, I know that trench talk can be dry and nobody wants to go there, but the Chiefs squad that is taking the field on Sunday will be without three-- three-- of the O-linemen that they won a Super Bowl with a year ago.

Todd Bowles is gonna bring the heat, and Tom Brady is still a cunning chess master with ice water running through his veins. I am taking Tampa Bay with a final score of 33 to 30. Charles, go ahead and tell me why I'm wrong.

CHARLES ROBINSON: Well, I mean, first off, you picked a defensive end to win the MVP. And, I mean, I got to assume you are the one who placed the $2.3 million bet on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if you really believe that a defensive end is gonna win MVP. Yeah, we're off the rails here.

I gave up my pick, obviously, when I picked Travis Kelce to win MVP. I think this is the Chiefs' game. I think speed creates mismatches in the Super Bowl. And although everyone says, hey, Tampa Bay has got that better wide receiving corps, I look at guys like Sammy Watkins. If you think he doesn't make a difference in the Super Bowl, go back and look last year, OK?

Mecole Hardman-- I know it hasn't been the greatest season ever, but this is the kind of game where somebody who we don't expect to be on track creates a big, explosive presence in a Super Bowl. And then, of course, we have Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, who have proven to be almost uncoverable over the course of the season. I'm sorry.

But I love that Tampa Bay front, the defensive front, no doubt about it. But I look at the back end of that defense, and I just don't know how they single coverage all these guys. And if they want to go zone, Terez said it earlier in the show, Patrick Mahomes love zone, chops it up. And he's had a healthy week of practice. The toe is fine.

I think Patrick Mahomes is gonna come out and he's gonna have a big game. All those speedy weapons are gonna make a huge difference against that Tampa Bay secondary. I see this being a Chiefs game, 31 to 24.

LIZ LOZA: Somewhat unexpected. Huh, OK. Well, Terez, go ahead and pile it on.

TEREZ PAYLOR: Oh, you better believe I'm gonna do that, Liz. Now first of all, I'll be very clear. I think you've got a point. The Bucs have a chance to win this game, and it starts with pressure up front. They've got to be able to win and dominate up front like the 2007 Giants did. If they can find a way to do that, they can win the game. But they've got to dominate to that degree.

But my hunch is this, you can pressure Patrick Mahomes, but he's proven really to be unblitzable. Because of his movement, because of his off-platform ability, he'll just run around and throw a dart. You can't blitz him. It's like Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood." I drink your milkshake, Eli! I drink it up!

You can't do it. You go ahead and you try that with that guy, he's gonna make you pay. And that's what I'm guessing. I'm guessing Mahomes is brilliant, provided he's still healthy. And the last two weeks for Andy Reid to prepare to counter that pressure is gonna be enough for that Chiefs offense to roll. Screens, draws, and keep an eye on Clyde Edwards-Helaire, or whoever their starting running back is, making an impact in the short passing game as a receiver.

LIZ LOZA: All right, Tank, Terez is now dropping pop culture refs. Although, if I'm thinking milkshakes, that's not the ref I'm going. Anyway, Tank, are you gonna bail me out here or not?

TANK WILLIAMS: Lizzie, you know you're my girl, right? But, look, I can see a path to the Tampa Bay Bucs winning because, obviously, it's tough to beat a team twice, especially in the Super Bowl, which means the Tampa Bay Bucs are really good. And I can imagine Brady's gonna play well.

At the same time, the Chiefs just have way too many weapons. I understand the deficiencies that the Chiefs may have on the offensive line. But when you have Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, and all of these other weapons, he's gonna get the ball out quick. So I don't really worry about the pressure too much.

I worry about the pressure on the other side. Chris Jones is a monster on that defensive line for Kansas City. And he and Brady were already talking noise in the first matchup, so I expect him to bring the heat this game. And if he does, your boy the Honey Badger, who was probably one of your sneaky MVP picks if you figure that Kansas City was gonna win, I see him getting an interception or two maybe in this game. So, therefore, competitive game. Chiefs win it 34-30.