Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow are the overwhelming favorites to emerge from Super Bowl LVI as the game’s MVP, but the odds that a former Pitt star takes home the award aren’t too bad either.
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald holds the fourth-best odds to take home the MVP at 16/1 while Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd holds the 14th-best odds at 66/1, according to BetOnline.
Stafford at 6/5 or Burrow at 12/5 will likely take home the award, and Cooper Kupp at 4/1 and Ja’Marr Chase at 16/1 are excellent bets as their teams’ leading receivers (with Odell Beckham Jr. at 28/1 rising a bit).
Like most awards at any level of football, the Super Bowl MVP is a quarterback’s award. Since 2010, nine quarterbacks have won the award. In Super Bowl history, 31 quarterbacks have won the award. Which makes sense.
But it doesn’t bode well for the odds set for Donald and Boyd.
Wide receivers have won the award seven times, with the Patriots’ Julian Edelman winning last in 2019. Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward both won as wide receivers for the Steelers in 2006 and 2009, respectively.
A defensive tackle has only won the award once when Cowboys’ defensive tackle Randy White and defensive end Harvey Martin shared the honor in 1978. However, current Rams’ edge rusher Von Miller won the award in 2016. Which may show a better chance for a player like Donald.
Boyd has caught 10 balls for 62 yards and a touchdown so far this postseason, and while it hasn’t been his most explosive showing, he’s helped teammates Chase and Tee Higgins in getting open and provided Burrow with a reliable third down target.
Donald has racked up nine tackles (six solo), two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and defended a pass so far this postseason and his pressure on San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo late in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship Game led to a game-sealing interception.
The Bengals and Rams will face off in the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 13. Kickoff from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles is set for 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NBC, Telemundo and Peacock with NBC’s top crew of Cris Collinsworth, Al Michaels, Michele Tafoya and Kathryn Tappen on the call.
