The NFL season is underway, bringing excitement and plenty of debate to Southern Nazarene University. From cheering for their favorite teams to discussing championship predictions, students have plenty of opinions about which team will come out on top.
When asked who they thought would win the Super Bowl, SNU students shared several predictions. The Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, and Kansas City Chiefs were among the teams students discussed the most.
At the start of the season, the Los Angeles Rams were among the favorites to win Super Bowl LXI. However, the odds have shifted as the season progressed. As of Oct. 27, the San Francisco 49ers led the Super Bowl odds, followed by the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Los Angeles Rams. These rankings can change throughout the season.
Terrell Owens, a junior basketball player named after a former NFL wide receiver, said he sees potential in the Rams.
“I think the Rams have a great chance,” Owens conveyed. “I would hate to not say them because they’re the favorites, but you can’t question the talent and coaching they have. They’re definitely my pick.”
Owens and other students pointed to the Rams’ talent and coaching as reasons the team could compete for a championship. Players such as Davante Adams, Puka Nacua, and Matthew Stafford were among the names mentioned.
The Buffalo Bills were another popular choice among students. Junior Noah Hawkins, an avid sports fan, believes the team has the potential to make a deep playoff run if they can stay healthy.
“If the Bills can stay healthy, I think they’re fully equipped to make a deep playoff run and win the Super Bowl,” Hawkins said confidently. “Especially if they get everything figured out defensively, I don’t see any reason they can’t win it all.”
SNU students also pointed to quarterback Josh Allen, the team’s receiving corps, and running back James Cook as reasons to believe in the Buffalo Bills’ chances.
No Super Bowl prediction would be complete without mentioning the Kansas City Chiefs. Although the Chiefs were third in the Oct. 27 Super Bowl odds, they received the third-most mentions among the SNU students interviewed. Both Owens and Hawkins considered picking Kansas City before settling on other teams.
“You can always say the Chiefs,” said Owens.
Hawkins shared a similar opinion but admitted that his feelings about the team made the decision more complicated.
“I kind of think the Chiefs are going to, but I’m not gonna say that,” Hawkins stated intensely. “I don’t like Patrick Mahomes very much, but I always feel like he’s going to find a way.”
Other students echoed the sentiment, with some describing the Chiefs’ ability to win as “Mahomes magic.”
The Baltimore Ravens and defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks also received mentions. Some students picked the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers as underdogs, pointing to their young quarterbacks as reasons for optimism.
With students debating their predictions and supporting their favorite teams, the NFL season has given the SNU community another reason to connect. Whether students are backing a championship favorite or hoping for an underdog run, the question remains: Which team will ultimately lift the Lombardi Trophy?
Photo provided by: AnnaGrace Mercer