Kittle vs. Kelce: Which TE will have more receptions in Super Bowl LIV?

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There are hundreds of Super Bowl props for bettors to choose from but theScore Bet is offering an interesting one in a game featuring the NFL's two top tight ends. Bettors can wager on who will have more receptions in Super Bowl LIV, George Kittle or Travis Kelce. We break down the prop to see which player has the edge heading into Sunday's game.

George Kittle

Kittle has been quiet in the playoffs, catching just four passes for 35 yards, but that's because the 49ers have relied more on the ground attack. Jimmy Garoppolo completed six passes on eight attempts in the NFC Championship Game, as San Francisco rolled over the Green Bay Packers' defense for 285 rushing yards.

Look for Kittle to have a bigger role on Sunday in a juicy matchup against the Chiefs. Kansas City was a bottom-10 team at defending tight ends this season, allowing 6.1 receptions and 60.9 yards per game to the position. Those numbers become even more alarming when you consider the Chiefs didn't face many quality tight ends. Oakland Pro Bowler Darren Waller is the top player to play Kansas City's defense this season and he racked up 13 receptions in two games.

Another thing to keep in mind is the Chiefs will be without starting safety Juan Thornhill for this game. The rookie standout was a big reason for Kansas City's improved pass defense, and while the Chiefs didn't miss him against Houston and Tennessee, his absence is likely to be felt against an elite tight end like Kittle.

Kittle saw at least eight targets in half of his games this season, finishing with six or more receptions 11 times. Garoppolo will need to throw the ball more than eight times on Sunday, meaning Kittle is likely to be a big factor.

Travis Kelce

As good as Kittle is, it can be argued he will be the second-best tight end on the field Sunday. Kelce had another 97-catch regular season in 2019. The Chiefs' All-Pro tight end has now eclipsed 80 receptions and 1,000 yards in four straight seasons.

Kelce was limited to just three catches for 30 yards in the AFC Championship Game, although that followed a monster performance against Houston, where he caught 10 balls for 134 yards and three touchdowns. Overall, Kelce’s recorded at least seven receptions in 10 of 18 games this season. It's a good bet he will see his share of targets in Kansas City's biggest game of the year. Kelce has been targeted eight or more times in 13 games this season. It also doesn't hurt to be playing with Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs quarterback has topped 270 yards passing in 11 of 16 games.

Unlike his counterpart, Kelce doesn't have a strong matchup on paper. San Francisco’s defense is one of the best in the NFL at defending tight ends, as it gave up just 4.1 receptions per game to the position. Only two tight ends have caught more than four passes against the 49ers all season, so Kelce has his work cut out for him on Sunday.

Pick

Both players have the ability to put up monster numbers in the Super Bowl, although Kittle clearly has the better matchup against a defense that can be exploited by tight ends. Don't underestimate the loss of Thornhill. He allowed just 0.22 yards per coverage snap - the sixth-fewest in the NFL - according to Pro Football Focus. His absence will be felt against a versatile player like Kittle, who often lines up as a slot receiver.

Kittle has been asked to focus on run-blocking in the 49ers' first two playoff games - expect that to change on Sunday. The prediction here is Kittle bests Kelce to finish with more receptions.

Thomas Casale is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. He's been following the sports betting industry for almost 30 years. A devoted fan of the wishbone offense, Thomas bets on all sports but specializes in college football, NFL, and college basketball. Find him on Twitter @TheTomCasale.