News
November 9, 2017 Staff Writer

NFL News

NFL Betting Props: Wentz Leads Brady, Smith on NFL MVP Odds

At the mid-point of the NFL season the hunt for the NFL MVP award looks like a three-man race. Of course, that can change on a dime; just ask former MVP favorite Aaron Rodgers.

The current favorite on the NFL MVP odds shouldn’t surprise you at all – it’s Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz at even money. In only his second season Wentz has improved incredibly fast to grow into one of the league’s top QBs. He’s led the Eagles to the top record in the NFL at 8-1. Wentz leads the league in touchdown passes and has steadied a once erratic and unreliable Eagles’ offense to become the No. 2 scoring offensive unit in the league.

If Wentz does end up taking home MVP honors bettors may be kicking themselves that they didn’t get on his bandwagon sooner. He started the season at +10,000 on the NFL MVP futures.

After Wentz on the odds comes New England Patriots QB Tom Brady at +210. Brady has two MVP awards already, having won in 2007 and in 2010. Brady has led the Patriots to four straight wins and first place in the AFC East while also leading the league in passing yards. If Brady can lead the Patriots to another division title and the best record in the AFC it will be an impressive feat, as he has the league’s worst-ranked defense working against him.

The only other player on the Super Bowl futures getting triple-digit odds is Kansas City Chiefs QB Alex Smith at +800. Smith’s MVP candidacy has lost some shine lately. Kansas City started the season 5-0, but since then they’ve dropped three of their last four games. Smith does still sit second in the league in passing yards and his 18 touchdowns versus one interception is impressive. If he can’t get the Chiefs to start playing winning football again those stats likely won’t matter though.

If history means anything the MVP award will most likely end up going to a quarterback. The last four awards have been won by QBs, as have nine of the last 10. That’s why you’ll find Drew Brees and Russell Wilson next in line on the odds list, both at +1400. Brees is an interesting case, as he has led New Orleans back to the top of the NFC South after they were almost left for dead to start the season. Despite his huge career numbers Brees has never won an MVP award, so this may be his last real chance to claim the honor.

The top non-quarterback on the MVP odds is Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell at +2800. Bell is third in the league in rushing right now, just 40 yards back of league-leader Kareem Hunt. The last running back to win MVP honors was Adrian Peterson in 2012 when he came up just short of the single-season rushing record. Bell might need to deliver a similar performance to bump his QB competition out of the spotlight, but that may be hard to do in Pittsburgh as part of an offense that also includes Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown.