NFL
Ricky Rothstein
January 27, 2010

Super Bowl XLIV MVP Betting

At least we can now say this about the MVP of Super Bowl XLIV — it’ll either be a Saint or a Colt.

Yes, the wonderful world of NFL football betting has brought us arguably the most intriguing of all the prop bets. Super Bowl MVP betting has always been a strong rite of passage for football fans; it’s their chance to sit back and predict which individual will dominate the game, walk away a hero and get to notify the world that yes, indeed, he is going to Disney World (or, Land).

The great thing about Super Bowl MVP awards is the total randomness of it all. Because it’s based on just one afternoon’s performance, any player who sets foot on the field that day has a chance to be immortalized in Super Bowl lore. Don’t believe us? Consider some of the lesser-lights who have captured the honors (all NFL football betting lines courtesy Sports Interaction’s online sportsbook):

— 1996: Dallas Cowboys cornerback Larry Brown (two years later, he’d be out of football)

— 2003: Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Dexter Jackson (spent last season in the UFL)

— 2005: New England Patriots receiver Deion Branch (has never had a 1,000-yard receiving season)

So yes, it appears that anybody really could win this year’s MVP. First, though, let’s break down the leading candidates.

The QBs: Peyton Manning 1/1, Drew Brees 3/1

No surprises here. Traditionally, QBs have dominated the Super Bowl MVP voting, capturing it 22 of the 39 times it has been awarded. Come to think of it, since 2004, only two positions — QB and WR — have won it. Speaking of wide receivers…

The WRs: Reggie Wayne 10/1, Marques Colston 12/1

These two are listed the highest due to the fact they’re the “No. 1” receivers on each team…But on diverse offenses as high-powered as the Saints and Colts, does it really matter who’s No. 1? Indianapolis WR Pierre Garcon, generally thought to be the third or fourth option in the passing game, hauled in 11 catches for 151 yards in the AFC Championship, showing that anyone who is catching balls from Peyton Manning stands to have a huge game every Sunday.

The X-Factors: Dallas Clark 14/1, Reggie Bush 16/1

Clark is the ultimate wild-card, because Manning is so reliant on him in the passing game and his production is on par with a top-flight WR. Lest we forget that, back in Week 2, Clark had a jaw-dropping 7-catch, 183-yard, one-TD day against Miami that was testament to his big-play ability. The big problem? No tight end has ever won a Super Bowl MVP.

Bush is a wildcard because he can make game-breaking plays in so many different fashions. Carrying the ball, catching the ball, returning kicks — he’s like a pocket knife. The most obvious comparison is former Green Bay Packers KR/PR Desmond Howard, who won the 1997 Super Bowl MVP. He recorded 244 all-purpose yards in that game without touching the ball on offense, a testament to the fact an MVP can come from special teams.

The Rest