As Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles rapidly approaches, the betting markets are heating up – especially when it comes to predicting the game’s Most Valuable Player. For the third consecutive year, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes finds himself as the odds-on favorite to secure the prestigious award.
Mahomes Leads MVP Odds Despite Underdog History
Mahomes, the superstar signal-caller who has already led Kansas City to two thrilling come-from-behind Super Bowl victories, enters Sunday’s championship clash at +120 odds to claim his third career Super Bowl MVP, according to ESPN BET. This places him comfortably ahead of Eagles standouts like running back Saquon Barkley (+250) and quarterback Jalen Hurts (+330).
Interestingly, while Mahomes may be the betting favorite, his Chiefs are actually underdogs for the third straight Super Bowl appearance. Kansas City kicked off as 1-point ‘dogs versus Philadelphia, marking a departure from Mahomes’ previous MVP-winning performances against the San Francisco 49ers in 2020 and the Eagles just last year in 2023.
Bettors Flocking to Barkley as High-Value Pick
Despite Mahomes’ impressive Super Bowl résumé and statistical advantages, the betting public seems to be siding heavily with Barkley as a high-upside MVP selection. According to ESPN BET data, more money has been wagered on the dynamic Eagles running back to win the award than on Mahomes and Hurts combined.
“A big day for Saquon will make a lot of bettors happy,” noted Adrian Horton, ESPN BET’s director of North American sports trading.
If Barkley were to take home the hardware, he would snap a 25-year drought for running backs, becoming the first since Terrell Davis in 1998 to win Super Bowl MVP. His +250 odds are also the shortest for any non-quarterback in over two decades.
Long Shots and Prop Bets Attracting Interest
Of course, Mahomes and Barkley aren’t the only players capturing the attention of eager bettors. BetMGM reported a massive $25,000 wager on Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at 15-1 odds that would pay out $375,000 if he becomes the first tight end to ever win Super Bowl MVP.
Even some truly long shot bets are finding takers, like the $10 ticket one bettor placed on Eagles lineman Landon Dickerson at astronomical 1,000-1 odds. While wildly unlikely, it demonstrates the incredible range of betting options and storylines that emerge every year during the Super Bowl frenzy.
Point Spread Holding Steady with Chiefs as Slight Favorites
As for the game itself, despite some brief line movement toward Philadelphia, most sportsbooks continue to list Kansas City as slim 1-point favorites. The over/under total sits at a robust 55.5 points, reflecting the offensive firepower of these two juggernauts.
With legalized sports wagering now available in more states than ever before, Super Bowl LIX is expected to shatter records for betting handle as fans flock to put action on everything from the coin toss to Gatorade colors and more. But when it comes to cold, hard cash, the MVP market reigns supreme – and all eyes will be on Mahomes and Barkley under the bright lights on Sunday.
Final Thoughts on the MVP Race
At the end of the day, the Most Valuable Player award often comes down to a tremendous individual performance that sparks their team to a championship win. Patrick Mahomes has proven himself up for that challenge each time he has reached the Super Bowl stage, and he richly deserves his favorite status.
Yet in a game as unpredictable as football, on a night where legacies can be forged in a single moment, the opportunity for Saquon Barkley or another unheralded hero to etch their name in history looms equally large. Regardless of the betting lines, only sixty minutes of intense, unforgettable action will determine who takes their place in the Super Bowl MVP pantheon.
