Campus crystal ball: VCU predicts who will win the Super Bowl
Illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter.
Violet Velasquez, Contributing Writer
The 2023-2024 NFL season has finally boiled down to the last two surviving teams, the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the San Francisco 49ers. The 2024 Super Bowl will commence at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 11.
The Commonwealth Times took to the streets of VCU and asked students, “Who do you think is going to win the Super Bowl this year?”
The data gathered from students and staff said the Chiefs will beat the 49ers — 11 votes to 10 —, with some opinions being stronger than others.
Aaron Berry, a third-year health science student, went all in with the Chiefs and said, “Patrick Mahomes is super reliable. He has been for the past few years. Brock Purdy’s good, but he has been shown to choke under pressure, so I think Patrick Mahomes will carry it out again.”
Patrick Mahomes was drafted in 2017 as the 10th overall pick coming out of Texas Tech University. Since then, he has won two Super Bowls, and this year, he will be making his fourth appearance, according to AS.
Jack Irvine, a second-year business student at VCU, said, “I don’t think the Chiefs are going to take the 49ers seriously because Brock Purdy’s never been there before. He was the last pick in the draft, so they are not going to take them seriously, but they are going to surprise them.”
The 49ers have seen ample amounts of offensive success thanks to running back Christian McCaffrey.McCaffrey has led the league in rushing yards, coming in at 1,459 yards during the regular season, according to CBS Sports.
Another factor that could determine the game in favor of the 49ers is Kansas City’s defensive end, Charles Omenihu, sitting out due to a torn ACL from the Ravens vs. Chiefs game, according to CBS Sports.
The Chiefs have been gaining traction this season not only due to their winning ability but for something a little more heartwarming.
Ava Trenum, a first-year forensic science student, when asked who she thought would win the Super Bowl, said, “Oh, is it the Chiefs and the 49ers? I’ll go with the Chiefs, just because I like Taylor Swift.”
Tight end Travis Kelce is a key contributor for the Chiefs, but has also been building a romance with Taylor Swift in his free time this season.
Swift and Kelce’s relationship has enticed the “Swifties” to cheer on the Chiefs and also helped generate $316.6 million in digital earned media value, according to SBJ.
This Super Bowl win will set the tone for either quarterback’s career. If Mahomes wins this Super Bowl, he will have won three. Which will be the most of any quarterback in this new generation.
As for Purdy, this will dictate if he is just a game-managing quarterback or if he can lead the franchise to their sixth Super Bowl win. Let the games begin!
