Football fans were treated to one of the most insane weekends of NFL action thanks to four thrilling Divisional Round contents. Now, only four teams remain with hopes of winning Super Bowl 56. Regardless of which team ends up winning the championship, one player will need to be named the Super Bowl MVP.
Aaron Rodgers was the favorite at the start of the playoffs, however, the Packers were eliminated by the 49ers on Saturday. Now, Bovada’s is favoring Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at +175 odds.
It’s hard to argue against Mahomes’ case for being the eventual Super Bowl MVP. The 26-year-old has completed 75.9% of his passes over the Chiefs’ first two postseason games for 782 passing yards and a whopping eight touchdowns to only one interception. Mahomes was instrumental in both tying and winning the Divisional Round game over the Buffalo Bills as well, so it’s clear that Kansas City wouldn’t be here without him.
Mahomes was the Most Valuable Player when the Chiefs won Super Bowl 54, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see him do it again if they win their second title in three years. Only five other players in league history have been named the Most Valuable Player of the NFL’s finale multiple times, so he’d be joining some elite company if he can accomplish the feat.
Before that, the Chiefs must defeat a Cincinnati Bengals that beat them, 34-31, back in Week 17. If Kansas City can get past that hurdle, Mahomes is in great shape to win his second Super Bowl MVP award.
Stafford Makes Huge Super Bowl MVP Jump
When the 2021-22 NFL Playoffs began, Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford had +1200 odds to be named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl 56. However, with the Rams advancing to the NFC Championship Game, the veteran gunslinger’s Super Bowl MVP odds have improved to +330 — second-best among all remaining players.
Like Mahomes, Stafford is a major reason behind his team’s success this offseason. The 33-year-old was expected to take the Rams to the next level this year and he has. Stafford has completed 41 of his 55 postseason passing attempts for 568 passing yards and four touchdowns without an interception. He's also rushed for two TDs on 11 carries, which is something he didn’t even accomplish once during the regular season.
If Stafford can keep the ball rolling into the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers (a team that he’s averaged 275 passing yards and 2.0 TDs against in six games), he could strengthen his Super Bowl MVP case.
Garoppolo Rounds Out the Top 3
According to Bovada, 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo has the third-best odds (+600) to win his first Super Bowl MVP award.
Some may be surprised by Garoppolo’s odds despite him not having the most statistically impressive season. While the 49ers have advanced to the NFC Championship, he’s completed just 61.4% over San Francisco’s first two postseason contests and has yet to throw a touchdown despite tallying two interceptions.
Unless Garoppolo’s play turns around, it’s hard to imagine him becoming the Super Bowl 56 MVP at this rate. Nevertheless, quarterbacks have won the award 14 times since 2000, which indicates that he has a good shot as long as the 49ers make it to the end. Only time will tell if this trend continues or if Garoppolo is in a much different spot next week — for better or worse.
Super Bowl MVP Odds Tracker
Odds via Bovada as of Monday, January
- Patrick Mahomes (+175)
- Matthew Stafford (+330)
- Jimmy Garoppolo (+600)
- Cooper Kupp (+1000)
- Joe Burrow (+1000)
- Ja’Marr (+2000)
- Travis Kelce (+2000)
- Tyreek Hill (+2000)
- Deebo Samuel (+2200)
- George Kittle (+3500)
The complete odds list is available at Bovada.lv.
