Super Bowl predictions: Chris Berman, Steve Young, Randy Moss and our guys look into the crystal ball

ESPN's Chris Berman, Steve Young and Randy Moss join our team of Super Bowl prognosticators

Chris Berman likes the Chiefs in this one (35-32), and that’s saying something because the ESPN giant once had a 49ers Super Bowl ring.

The ring, from Super Bowl XXIII — the Joe-to-John-Taylor Super Bowl, also in Miami — was a gift from then-49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo. Berman ultimately returned it.

”This was a personal gift from Mr. DeBartolo, not the 49ers,” Berman told the Chicago Tribune in 1991. ”Nothing has ever swayed what I see or what I say when I report on the 49ers, the NFL or anything else in the world of sports, for that matter… Anyone who thinks differently doesn`t know me or my work. I never viewed this as an issue, but perhaps I should have.’

In the business, it’s called a conflict of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest.

But enough about that. Steve Young likes the 49ers to win (35-31) . Randy Moss likes the Chiefs (42-38).

And here is what our guys think:

Cam Inman: 49ers 31, Chiefs 24

The 49ers’ pass defense is top-rated for a reason and has the capability of denying Patrick Mahomes in his Super Bowl debut. That’s why the Chiefs won’t get to 30 points. The 49ers’ offense will strut its underrated stuff, likely with a more balanced mix of Raheem Mostert runs, George Kittle’s yards after catch and Jimmy Garoppolo’s four touchdown drives. As for the 55-point total, it’s simple math: 55-49=6, which make for the 49ers’ sixth Lombardi Trophy.

Dieter Kurtenbach: 49ers 40, Chiefs 34

Both teams are going to be able to move the ball down the field at will and there are certainly many universes in which Patrick Mahomes gets the better of the San Francisco defense. But the balance of the 49ers’ offense and the possible domination of the San Francisco pass rush makes me side with the Niners. In a game where one mistake could tip the balance, I’ll go with the Niners’ defense to create it. Jimmie Ward has an interception early in the contest and Nick Bosa caps the game with an all-time moment: a strip-sack of Mahomes on the final drive.

Jerry McDonald — 49ers 34, Chiefs 27

The 49ers have looked like the best team in the NFL since the moment Dre Greenlaw tackled Jacob Hollister at the half-yard line in Seattle and it really hasn’t been close. The Chiefs’ team speed and the play-making of Patrick Mahomes will put points on the board, but slow starts like the ones against Houston and Tennessee would be a problem against a team as deep and as talented as the 49ers. On offense, the 49ers have run the ball 89 times in two wins but that doesn’t mean they can’t pass. Balance is just one more reason why they’re the better all-around team.

Evan Webeck — Chiefs 34, 49ers 31

We should be in for a treat Sunday. The beauty of a two-week gap between conference championship week and the Super Bowl is that both teams expect to be at or near 100 percent. And that means we’ll see one of the game’s most prolific — and fast —  offenses go up against a defense that has struggled against only one thing. That’s mobile quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs have torn up zone defenses, and it will be worth watching how much man coverage the 49ers play. Either way, expect them to be out of their element. Mahomes is no Kirk Cousins, and Kansas City has seemingly infinite more weapons than Green Bay. Jimmy Garoppolo is more than capable of leading a late-game scoring drive, but the 49ers come up just short.

Kerry Crowley — 49ers 41, Chiefs 38

The Chiefs have the best player in this game with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but the 49ers have the more talented roster. The guess here is if Jimmy Garoppolo can avoid turning the ball over, Kansas City’s defense won’t have enough firepower to stop a balanced 49ers’ offense. The 49ers can only hope to slow down Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, but if they keep the Chiefs from scoring 40, San Francisco’s offensive line is good enough to grind down the clock at the end of a close, entertaining shootout.

Other Voices

Josh Alper, Pro Football Talk: Chiefs 35-31

Chris Berman, ESPN: Chiefs 35-32

Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee: 49ers 34-31

Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland.com: 49ers 32-28

Mark Cannizzaro, New York Post: 49ers 39-33

Josh Dubow, The Associated Press: Chiefs 38-31

Darrin Gantt, Pro Football Talk: Chiefs 38-28

Sam Farmer, LA Times: Chiefs 31, 27

Bob Glauber, Newsday: Chiefs 34-20

Lindsay Jones, The Athletic: 49ers 31-30

Matt Maiocco, NBC Sports Bay Area: 49ers 31-27

Kimberley Martin, Yahoo!: 49ers 17-14

Randy Moss, ESPN: Chiefs 42-38

Dennis O’Donnell, CBS 5: 49ers 37-34

Mike Sando, The Athletic: Chiefs 30-27

Tracy Sandler, Fangirl Sports Network: 49ers 31-28

Kent Somers, Arizona Republic: Chiefs 34-28

Art Spander, Maven Sports: 49ers 27-24

Ben Volin, Boston Globe: Chiefs 34-24

Nick Wagoner, ESPN: 49ers 34-31

Steve Young, ESPN: 49ers 35-31