Super Bowl pick: Who wins the Big Game?

Yesterday was all about Super Bowl props, so either head back to your inbox or navigate here if you're curious about which players we're backing or fading on Sunday. The time has come for us to plant our flag on the outcome of Super Bowl LVII. We've given this almost full two weeks, but our choice hasn't wavered since Championship Sunday wrapped up...

Fly Eagles Fly 

The spread has settled on Eagles -1.5 since last Monday and hasn't seen much movement, while the over/under has been rising from 48.5 to 51 as of this morning. We're of the belief that Philly -1.5 is a bargain.

We've seen those trying to diminish what Philadelphia has accomplished with their two playoff victories by a combined 55 points. "It was only the Giants." "They didn't have to play a QB in the NFC Championship Game."

New York took down the 13-4 Vikings and was the best betting team ATS all season. The Eagles destroyed them by halftime.

San Francisco had no more healthy quarterbacks because Philly's menacing defensive line, which has racked up 78 sacks this year, hurt them both with constant pressure.

Are those not deserved outcomes?

Patrick Mahomes will be the best quarterback Philly has played in quite some time, and Travis Kelce figures to be a headache for the defense. Kansas City has strong players on both lines, but it's not going to be enough.

Philly has the advantage everywhere else. Its offensive and defensive lines are truly elite, and success has always started in the trenches in the NFL. The Eagles secondary is far superior in this contest and should be able to mitigate much of the outside passing game from Kansas City.

Philadelphia brings one of the best 1-2 punches to the table at WR with AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert is a strong TE in his own right. The Eagles have the top rushing attack this year and should have opportunities to flex that muscle on Sunday.

Jalen Hurts has shown the ability to stay calm, cool and collected, and with the experience he's gone through at Alabama and Oklahoma, it's hard for us to see this moment being too big for the young passer.

Mahomes is great, but you win a Super Bowl with the better team, and that edge most definitely favors Philadelphia.

Give us the Eagles -1.5, and we don't particularly think it'll be close.

In the news ...

NFL awards handed out last night — The 12th annual NFL Honors was last night, handing out a bevy of individual awards for the 2022 season. Patrick Mahomes headlined the night, taking home his second MVP award. Justin Jefferson won Offensive Player of the Year, Nick Bosa won Defensive Player of the Year, Sauce Gardner won Defensive Rookie of the Year and Garrett Wilson won Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Jets' young duo of Gardner and Wilson became the third teammates in NFL history to sweep the Rookie of the Year honors. Brian Daboll won Coach of the Year, and Geno Smith won Comeback Player of the Year.

Dust settles on crazy NBA trade deadline — It seemed a new trade was being announced every five minutes on Twitter Thursday as the NBA was busy with player moves throughout the league. We have you covered with recaps of some of the biggest moves, as it was quite the day. NBA titles odds have settled a bit, with Boston (+350) and Phoenix (+425) the current favorites to win it all.

All-Star Vladimir Tarasenko traded to New York Rangers — NHL makes trades too! The big news from the ice Thursday came from New York as the Rangers acquired All-Star Vladimir Tarasenko from the Blues. New York also added rugged defenseman Niko Mikkola in exchange for a conditional 2023 first-round pick, a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick, Sammy Blais and Hunter Skinner. Tarasenko is on an expiring contract, so this may very well be a rental for the Rangers. New York made the Eastern Conference Finals last season, and with Tarasenko in the fold, it sports one of the most menacing top nines in the NHL. With strong defensemen and one of the best goalies in the game, we're loving the value on the Rangers to hoist the Cup at +1600.

Yu Darvish signs six-year extension with Padres — Yu Darvish, 36, coming off one of his best seasons yet as a pro, has agreed to a six-year extension with San Diego. The deal, worth $108 million, will tie Darvish to the Padres through his age-42 season in 2028. While some consider the move a gamble for a player of Darvish's age, San Diego seems convinced Darvish is only getting better. The Padres have one of the strongest rosters heading into the 2023 season and are +1100 to win the World Series, the sixth-best odds.

Today's Bark Bets is written by Griffin Carroll