Super Bowl LVIII Q&A: Which team has the edge, who are the national anthem and halftime performers?

Super Bowl LVIII, hosted in Las Vegas, is on Feb. 11. For the second time in five seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs will take on the San Francisco 49ers.

Kansas City is aiming to become the first team to repeat as champions since the 2003-04 Patriots, while the 49ers will hope their upgraded roster can help avenge the team's loss in Super Bowl LIV. 

In preparation for the highly anticipated rematch, here's the key information, storylines and players to monitor for Super Bowl LVIII. 

What time is kickoff? 

Super Bowl LVIII kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET and will mark the first time the game will be available on different broadcasts. CBS will host the traditional broadcast (which can also be streamed on Paramount+), with Jim Nantz and Tony Romo on the call. 

Meanwhile, fans can catch a Bikini Bottom-themed broadcast featuring Spongebob Squarepants and friends on Nickelodeon. 

What’s the betting line? 

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, San Francisco is a 1.5-point favorite over Kansas City, with the game having an implied point total of 47.5. The 49ers have been listed as favorites in each of their games this postseason, failing to cover the spread both times. Kansas City, on the other hand, has covered the spread in all three of its playoff games, including its last two as an underdog. 

Who is singing the national anthem, and who will be part of the halftime show?

Country Music Hall of Famer Reba McEntire will perform the national anthem while Grammy-nominated artist Post Malone will sing "America the Beautiful." Additionally, Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter and actress Andra Day will sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" prior to kickoff.

Eight-time Grammy Award winner Usher will be the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show performer in an event that has been dubbed "30 years in the making." Usher previously performed at halftime of Super Bowl XLV as a guest of The Black Eyed Peas.  

Which quarterback has the edge? 

Although San Francisco’s Brock Purdy threw for more yards (4,280) and touchdowns (31) and fewer interceptions (11) during the regular season than Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs have the clear advantage at quarterback.

Mahomes, a two-time MVP in both the regular season and Super Bowl, hopes to keep pace with the greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady, by earning his third title in his sixth season as a starter. Over his three Super Bowl appearances, Mahomes has thrown for 738 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions, which is far from flawless, but the 28-year-old should be just fine. 

Where did each offense rank this season?

Despite not being as explosive as in seasons past, Kansas City's offense remains one of the NFL's most dangerous units. During the regular season, it ranked 15th in points (21.8) and ninth in yards per game (351.3). 

Even though it hasn't been much of an issue in the playoffs, the Chiefs dropped a league-leading 44 passes in 2023, and it will be interesting to see whether that plays a role in the season's final game. 

San Francisco's multi-dimensional offense makes a strong case as the clear-cut top unit in the league. This season, the team finished third in points (28.9) and second in yards per game (398.4) while also boasting the sixth-best passing attack (269.2 ypg) and third-ranked rushing offense (140.5 ypg). 

The high-powered offense has scored at least 30 points in 10 games this season, including the playoffs, the third-most in the NFL. 

Where did each defense rank this season? 

The Chiefs have arguably the best defense in the NFL this season, and it has only gotten better as the playoffs have gone on. Three-time Super Bowl-winning coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's unit allowed the second-fewest points (17.3) and yards (289.8) in the regular season but has only conceded just 13.7 points per contest in the postseason. 

That's not to say San Francisco's star-studded unit will be a pushover for Mahomes and the Chiefs offense, either. The 49ers gave up the third-fewest points (17.5) and the eighth-fewest total yards per game (303.9) during the regular season, in addition to picking off the fourth-most passes among teams (22).

What is the most underrated storyline? 

As the San Francisco Chronicle's Eric Branch pointed out, this will be the seventh Super Bowl rematch in NFL history and just the fourth time the participating teams have met twice in a five-season span. In four of the last six instances, the team that won the first game also won the second game. 

While this might seem encouraging for Kansas City, it's worth noting that the Philadelphia Eagles avenged their Super Bowl XXXIX loss to the New England Patriots in the most recent championship rematch. 

Who is the most underrated player on each side? 

For Kansas City, it's CB L'Jarius Sneed, who somehow wasn't named a Pro Bowler or All-Pro selection despite ranking third among cornerbacks in target EPA (-29.7) and not allowing any touchdowns this season, per NFL.com's Kevin Patra. 

Sneed made arguably the biggest play of Sunday's AFC Championship game by forcing a fourth-quarter Zay Flowers fumble at the one-yard line, resulting in a touchback to help the Chiefs maintain a 17-7 lead. 

For the 49ers, it's WR Brandon Aiyuk. While Aiyuk was San Francisco's leading receiver during the regular season (1,342 yards and seven TDs), he often gets overlooked in part because he shares an offense with superstars like RB Christian McCaffrey and TE George Kittle. 

During the 49ers' NFC Championship game win over the Detroit Lions, Aiyuk hauled in three of eight targets for 68 yards and one touchdown. 

What could decide this game’s outcome?

San Francisco's ability to run the ball.  

If the 49ers offensive line handles its business and McCaffrey plays to his usual standards, Kansas City could be in for a long night. The 49ers boast the NFL's third-best rushing offense (140.5 yards per game) and scored the most touchdowns on the ground among teams this season (27). 

In comparison, the Chiefs gave up the 15th-most rushing yards per game during the regular season (113.2), though the team limited Baltimore's top-ranked rushing attack to a mere 81 yards in the AFC Championship game. 

Dark horse Super Bowl MVP candidates? 

Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco and 49ers TE George Kittle. 

A seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Pacheco was instrumental in Kansas City's Super Bowl LVII win over Philadelphia, rushing for a game-high 76 yards and one touchdown. The second-year back racked up 1,179 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns in the regular season but has stepped up in the playoffs. 

Pacheco has accounted for the most rushing yards of any player this postseason (254) and has found the end zone three times in as many games. 

With so many talented players, anyone on the 49ers could be in play for Super Bowl MVP honors. However, we'll give the nod to Kittle as he seeks to avenge himself. 

The five-time Pro Bowler was held to only 36 yards on four receptions in San Francisco's 31–20 loss to Kansas City in Super Bowl LIV but said after the game that he'd "be back with a f------ vengeance."