Super Bowl MVP Betting – Quarterbacks Lead Super Bowl MVP Candidates In Dallas
It’s no surprise for online betting players that the list of candidates to win the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award on Sunday are led by the quarterbacks, as 23 of the 45 winners have come from that position. We’re going in a different direction with our pick to win this honor, but after quarterbacks, running backs have won seven MVP awards, so this isn’t that much of a stretch.
- What: NFL Betting
- When: Sunday, February 6th, 6:00 PM ET
- Where: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX
- Pick: Rashard Mendenhall +500
MVP Candidates – Steelers Betting
Ben Roethlisberger is the Pittsburgh Steelers favorite at +250 in his third Super Bowl, and he has improved by leaps and bounds since a 22.6 rating in Super Bowl XL, bouncing back with a great game in Super XLIII, but the MVP (and game-winning catch) went to Santonio Holmes. Roethlisberger has a ton of weapons at his disposal, but many are looking at his ability to play outside of the pocket with the likely absence of Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey. To be fair, Roethlisberger has played this way his entire career, and Pouncey or no Pouncey, that offensive line hasn’t been good in pass protection all season.
An excellent NFL betting choice would be running back Rashard Mendenhall at +500, as he offers a little bit of value, and he could be the key to Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl chances. The Green Bay Packers are much better defending the pass than they are against the run, and the Steelers are 4-0 this season when Mendenhall runs for 100 yards or more. He rolled for 121 yards against the Jets in the AFC title game, and another effort like that would really help Pittsburgh as it keeps the Green Bay offense off the field.
Other Pittsburgh candidates for the MVP award include receivers Mike Wallace and Hines Ward at +1200 and +1500, respectively, although we’d take Ward over his speedy teammate because Wallace has been struggling during the postseason, and Ward tends to come up big in important games. Remember, he was the Super Bowl MVP at Super Bowl XL five years ago, and Roethlisberger tends to look for Ward when he needs a third down or in the red zone. Defensive candidates include safety Troy Polamalu at +1500, coming off the Defensive Player of the Year award, and we all know what kind of effect he has on the Pittsburgh defense. James Harrison comes in at +2000, and he already has the longest play in Super Bowl history, running a pick 100 yards back to the house for the score two years ago against the Arizona Cardinals.
MVP Candidates – Packers Betting
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the overall NFL betting favorite to win the Super Bowl MVP at +150, and he has probably been the best player in the postseason so far. His performance in Atlanta was unbelievable, and he has led the Packers to three wins on the road in very tough places to play. Running back James Starks has emerged as a threat at running back, but his inexperience still worries some, which is why he is rated at +1200. Rodgers will have a much bigger load to carry, especially since Starks has to go up against what has been the best run defense of the last 10 years. Like Roethlisberger, Rodgers has been playing behind a suspect line for much of the year, and he has shown his ability to throw on the run. This will likely come in handy against the Steelers, who will harass Rodgers all day long.
Receiver Greg Jennings is listed at +1000, and if Rodgers has a big game, Jennings will have a big game. Jennings may not get the attention of most receivers, but he’s blossomed into a top-five wideout in the league and he’s only getting better. He can stretch the field and go over the middle, and he has great hands. Jennings has broken out for two straight 100-yard games, but he has no touchdowns, which is worrying. Take a look at the wily veteran, Donald Driver, with Super Bowl betting odds of +2500. Rodgers may look for the experienced Driver when he gets down to it in the second half, as he has 12 years in the NFL under his belt. James Jones (+3000) and Jordy Nelson (+3000) have seven years combined in the league.
Defensively, take a long look at Clay Matthews at +1500, and we think that the linebacker could be motivated by the Defensive Player of the Year snub. Many feel he should have won the award instead of Polamalu, and even though he has been gracious in interviews, it has to burn a little bit. Former DPOY Charles Woodson comes in at +2000, and he would love to add this award, along with a Super Bowl ring, to a resume that includes the Heisman (he is the last defensive player to win that award), the DPOY and a whole slew of others. Don’t forget about nose tackle B.J. Raji at +3000, especially after his big interception for a score in the NFC title game.
Outlook And Pick – Steelers Packers Betting
Defensive players have won just seven of the 45 MVP awards, so it’ll take a massive performance for someone on that side of the ball to take the honor. The obvious choice is to go with the quarterbacks, but we’re going with Rashard Mendenhall. The Pittsburgh running back will help slow down the Green Bay pass rush, which helps Roethlisberger, and as we said, the Packers’ run defense can be attacked, and that is the area where Pittsburgh holds a major advantage. If they’re going to attack it, Mendenhall will be leading the way, and he should be your sports betting pick for the Super Bowl MVP.
Stan’s Pick: Rashard Mendenhall
