Here’s Chiefs fan Bill Self’s prediction on outcome of Sunday’s Super Bowl
Part Two of the 2024-25 Sunflower Showdown men’s basketball series has Kansas coach Bill Self’s full attention this week.
However, his focus on Sunday — 24 hours after a rematch of KU’s 84-74 victory over the Wildcats on Jan. 18 at Allen Fieldhouse — will shift to the biggest game of the weekend on the national sports calendar: The Super Bowl.
His prediction? Kansas City Chiefs 24, Philadelphia Eagles 21.
“I hadn’t given it a lot of thought, but I think if both long snappers are healthy, I think that could be a big key in the kicking game,” Self said jokingly, beginning an answer to a question about the Super Bowl on Thursday at a news conference held in advance of the upcoming Big 12 battle between the No. 16-ranked Jayhawks (16-6, 7-4) and Wildcats (11-11, 5-6), set for a 1 p.m., tip Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan.
“I actually think it’s going to be a great game,” Self, who in the past has said he’s a huge Chiefs fan, added of Sunday’s Super Bowl in New Orleans. “I think the Chiefs will prevail, because they always do, but I think it’ll be a great game and I think I think the game will probably be put in (Eagles QB Jalen) Hurts’ hands to win it, as opposed to letting Saquon (Barkley, running back) have a big role to win it.
“And so I know a lot about defensive football, but that’s what I would think and I think that,” he added smiling. “I think the Chiefs will win. I don’t know if it’ll be a high scoring game though. Hadn’t really thought about it. I’ll say 24-21 Chiefs.”
The Chiefs will be shooting for their third NFL title in a row — a three-peat.
Self’s Jayhawks have three-peated four times, so to speak, in terms of the Big 12 Conference race, winning 14 straight league titles from 2005-18. The 17-18 crown had to be vacated because of NCAA penalties.
“I don’t even compare that, because if you want to make comparisons to that, you should make it how many times have they won their division in a row? That’s more of a realistic comparison I think, and they’ve won it 10 years in a row (actually nine),” Self said. “So I don’t even see a comparison.
“I think if you were to win a national championship twice in a row and go for the 3-peat, I think then you could talk about that. But I don’t even see that as apples and apples.”
This story was originally published February 6, 2025 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Here’s Chiefs fan Bill Self’s prediction on outcome of Sunday’s Super Bowl."
