Source: Alamy Stock Photo
Two Kansas City stars feature in our best bets to win the Super Bowl MVP award when the Chiefs meet the Eagles in New Orleans on Sunday night.
The iconic Vince Lombardi Trophy is not the only prize on offer when the Kansas City Chiefs meet the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday as the Most Valuable Player award is also up for grabs.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the favourite in the NFL betting as he bids to be named Super Bowl MVP for the fourth time in his sparkling career, with running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts seen as the top contenders to star for the Eagles.
Super Bowl MVP bets
Patrick Mahomes 21/20
Xavier Worthy 28/1
Mahomes a solid choice to claim fourth MVP award
Mahomes has won the Super Bowl three times with the Kansas City Chiefs and has been named MVP after all three of his successes.
With the Chiefs favourites to win the showdown against the Eagles in New Orleans on Sunday, it’s hard to look past Mahomes as the most likely winner of the award, particularly as he hasn’t even had to produce particularly fantastic stats to win it previously.
In Super Bowl LIV, Mahomes threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns, but was also intercepted twice by the 49ers defence. Many observers thought running back Damien Williams had done enough to earn the award with his 133 total yards and two touchdowns, but voters were clearly keen to crown the hottest quarterback in the league.
When the Chiefs beat the Eagles two years ago, Mahomes posted a modest 182 passing yards, but had three touchdown passes and orchestrated the Chiefs’ fourth-quarter comeback to generate two late touchdowns and the game-winning field goal.
Mahomes made it a hat-trick of MVPs last season with 333 passing yards and two touchdowns, while he also led the team in rushing yards with 66 and again stayed cool to carry his team over the line in overtime.
The KC quarterback will be the default choice to win the prize before the game starts and someone will need to do something special to wrest it from him.
Quarterbacks have won seven of the last 10 MVP awards, with wide receivers Cooper Kupp of the LA Rams, Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots and linebacker Von Miller of the Denver Broncos the only players to break that trend.
Xavier is worthy of a wager at a big price
Tom Brady won the MVP award in five of his seven Super Bowl wins and the only occasions when he didn’t get the individual honour it went to one of his wide receivers at the Patriots.
Deion Branch was the recipient in 2005 after having 133 receiving yards on 11 receptions, while in 2019 it went to a similar player in Edelman, who caught 10 passes for 141 yards.
If the Chiefs win and Mahomes doesn’t pick up a fourth award, it could be because one of his receivers has been the star of the show.
Tight end Travis Kelce is a strong candidate as he often comes up big for Mahomes in important games, plus he is nearing the end of his career which could inspire a sentimental vote.
He is 14/1, but wide receiver Xavier Worthy appeals more at twice the price.
Worthy has an X-Factor that is more than just his initial, as he is a rookie and has the talent to break the game open with his speed.
The college star for Texas played a key role in the AFC Championship win over Buffalo with 85 receiving yards and a touchdown and he has really come into his own in the final third of the season.
Head coach Andy Reid will have some innovative plays stored up for the Super Bowl and a long touchdown score or two by Worthy may be enough to have voters looking his way. He’s also a fine option in the Super Bowl prop bet markets.
Running back Barkley looks the best option for the Eagles as it’s hard to see Nick Sirianni’s side triumphing unless he has a big game.
Barkley has been an incredible free-agent signing for the Eagles this year with 2,005 rushing yards in the regular season and 442 more with five touchdowns in the playoffs and he will be at the forefront of MVP voters’ thinking.
Barkley is 13/5 and ahead of his quarterback Jalen Hurts in the betting. Hurts had a great game in the Super Bowl against the Chiefs two years ago, with one touchdown pass and three rushing scores, but the Eagles’ passing game has taken a back seat to their rushing in the second half of the season.
Defensive players should also be considered and with both teams capable of getting to opposing quarterbacks, Jalen Carter and Zach Baun of the Eagles might have a squeak if they come up with pivotal plays, while Chris Jones of the Chiefs is an option if his team win through their defensive efforts rather than Mahomes magic.