Greg Cote's Super Bowl LIX pick: It's history vs. revenge in a monumental matchup

Greg Cote, Miami Herald on Feb 6, 2025

Published in Football

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We had an even split in the conference title games. Bull’s-eyed the NFC with Eagles beating and covering over Washington, but misfired in calling a Buffalo upset of the Chiefs. Down to one last game now. After a very solid regular season, need to nail the dismount!

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Championship round: 1-1, .500 overall; 1-1, .500 vs. spread

Playoffs: 8-4, .667 overall; 4-7-1, .375 vs. spread.

Final regular season: 186-86, .684 overall; 139-128-5, .521 vs. spread.

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GREG COTE’S SUPER BOWL LIX PICK

— THE HISTORY SUNDAY MIGHT BRING

We all know a third straight championship by Kansas City on Sunday would be a first in the Super Bowl era. But it would be a historic rarity beyond that. In the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL combined, there have been only 10 championship three-peats and none in more than 20 years. The most recent in each league: NBA: Los Angeles Lakers in 2000-02; MLB: New York Yankees in 1998-2000; NHL: New York Islanders in 1980-83; and NFL: Green Bay Packers in 1965-67.

CHIEFS (17-2) vs. EAGLES (17-3)

Line: KC by 1.

Cote’s pick: PHI, 28-24.

TV: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox.

Upset! Well, technically, yes. But this 59th Super Bowl is as close to pick-’em as betting odds get, with two teams so good that either losing will feel a bit like an upset. We’ve been feeling all season the Chiefs aren’t as good this time ... as they went 17-2. Two straight Super Bowl victories prove K.C., Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes know how to win, period. Philadelphia, though, is an awesomely constructed team on both sides of the ball, with a No. 1 -ranked pass defense to slow Mahomes, and with Saquon Barkley almost unstoppable behind a superb offensive line. Respect for the Eagles is why the point spread favoring he Chiefs as whittled from 2 1/2 points down to a negligible 1. Mahomes got off to a rough (for him) start this season but glides into New Orleans on a 13-0 run of TDs/picks since Week 11. And his team has a history-making Super Bowl three-peat driving it. Philly has ample motivation, too, of course, having lost a Super Bowl to K.C. just two years ago on a Chiefs rally, 38-35. I like the Eagles because of that motivation and because I think they have the better all-round roster. I think Philly’s pass-D and Barkley behind a premier O-line will deny the Chiefs their three-peat. Bird Bowl!

[Note: Betting line courtesy ESPNBet as of Thursday afternoon.]