Those who bet on Super Bowl odds will definitely be looking at the vast amount of props available, and the most popular prop will likely be the Most Valuable Player Award, where there are plenty of candidates on both sides of the ball. Here are the top contenders, and who we think will come out on top.
Bet On Super Bowl –Sunday, 6:00 PM ET
Aaron Rodgers (+130)
The Green Bay quarterback has been the postseason MVP so far, and if the Packers win, it’ll be a tremendous upset if he does. Rodgers is looking to become the 24th quarterback to win this award, and he’ll have a major say in Green Bay’s fate, given that they have a rookie at running back in James Starks, who just emerged about a month ago.
Ben Roethlisberger (+325)
Rodgers’ counterpart in Pittsburgh is going for his third Super Bowl in seven seasons, but he’s never won the Super Bowl MVP. Those doing some NFL betting online will say that Roethlisberger should have won the award in 2009, but he gets another chance and Roethlisberger has shown he can put the team on his back.
Rashard Mendenhall (+650)
Roethlisberger’s load will be substantially less if the Steelers can get Mendenhall off and running, and that would be a good thing; the burly running back has four 100-yard games this season, and the Steelers are a perfect 4-0 in that time. Some making NFL predictions think that Mendenhall is the most important factor in Pittsburgh’s success, and they’re probably not that far off.
Greg Jennings (+1200)
Much like Santonio Holmes in 2009, Jennings is in a great position because if Rodgers has a good game, Jennings will likely have a good game. Jennings may be the best receiver in the league that no one talks a lot about, but we’re sure the Steelers will be going over their gameplan to stop the versatile wide receiver who seems to get better each and every game.
Any Defensive Player (from +1200 up)
Only seven defensive players in 45 Super Bowls have won the MVP award, and this year’s candidates are led by Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu, who just won the Defensive Player of the Year award. His main challengers should be Green Bay’s Charles Woodson, who was last year’s DPOY, and Clay Matthews, who many feel should have won this year. On the Pittsburgh side joining Polamalu, James Harrison is looking to have another big Super Bowl after his 100-yard return became the longest play in the game’s history in 2009. It’s a longshot that a defensive player will actually win the award, but these are all good choices if you’re looking to make a darkhorse online sports bet.