FAVORITES AND LONGSHOTS
Here we will look at the Super Bowl MVP favorites and the longshots to win the award.
Favorites
Matthew Stafford (): The Rams were getting +200 odds to win it all before the NFC Championship game and the Bengals have been the biggest underdog left in these playoffs since the Divisional Round. So it follows logic that Stafford is the favorite to win Super Bowl MVP with his team favored by 4 points and getting nearly -200 odds on the moneyline. Stafford posted a 21:6 TD:INT ratio with a 107.7 passer rating at home this season and he’s completing 71% of his passes for 269.5 YPG over two home starts in these playoffs.
Joe Burrow (): Calm, cool, and collected, Burrow hasn’t sputtered on the road much during the second half of the regular season and throughout the postseason. His Bengals are 8-2 straight up on the road and 6-1 against the spread when listed as road underdogs. Burrow will have to carry the load in the Super Bowl considering the Rams are yielding just 54 rushing YPG at a 3.2 YPC clip this postseason.
Cooper Kupp (): The unofficial MVP of the NFC Championship, Kupp set a new record by topping 100 receiving yards for the 13th time this season while posting an 11-142-2TD line to carry his squad in a comeback victory over the 49ers. He draws another tough matchup in the Super Bowl against Cincinnati’s surging secondary, but no team has truly contained Kupp this season.
Longshots
Aaron Donald (): The primary reason the Rams are only giving up 54 rushing YPG in these playoffs, Donald should have his fingerprints all over the Super Bowl regardless of the result. He was a monster in 2019 when the Rams and Patriots battled to a 3-3 draw through most of the game, and he might have won SB MVP that year if the Rams had pulled it out.
Ja’Marr Chase (): Burrow’s main weapon was held in check by the Chiefs after burning KC in Week 17 and he will see a ton of shutdown CB Jalen Ramsey in the Super Bowl.
Odell Beckham Jr. (+2800): Coming off his first 100-yard game since joining the Rams, Beckham Jr. could play a larger role if the Bengals game plan to take away Kupp at all costs. He caught a TD in five of his last seven regular season games this year.
Joe Mixon (): Cincinnati’s workhorse has excelled in tough matchups throughout the season and he could burn the Rams defense as a receiver even if Donald and co. shut down the Bengals interior run game. It’s worth noting that the highest percentage of TDs (54.5%) came on the ground against the Rams in their home games this season.
Cam Akers (): The Rams have been a pass-heavy team, but Akers is their go-to-guy when they look to establish the run. He returned to the NFC Championship after suffering a shoulder stinger and he should be ready to carry the load two weeks later.
Tee Higgins (): With the Chiefs doubling Chase, Higgins was the more productive wideout in the AFC Championship game, and that trend could repeat if Ramsey does a good job of taking Chase away from Burrow.
Tyler Higbee (): After suffering a knee injury in the NFC Championship, Higbee should be considered questionable to play in the Super Bowl. Kendall Blanton (+5000) would step in as the Rams’ primary TE in that event.
Tyler Boyd (): The Bengals’ slot receiver could also thrive if the Rams pay too much attention to Chase and Higgins on the perimeter.
Von Miller (): The only player in Super Bowl LVI with a Super Bowl MVP under his belt, Miller could certainly affect this game with his pass-rushing presence since the Bengals allowed the second-highest sack rate (8.2%) this season.
Jalen Ramsey (): If Ramsey is able to erase Chase and come up with a key turnover, he could certainly garner MVP consideration.
Trey Hendrickson (): The Bengals’ best pass rusher could also make a huge impact by turning over Stafford, who has been shaky with ball security throughout the second half of the season. Hendrickson recorded a sack in 10 straight games at one point this season.
Evan McPherson (): The rookie kicker carried the Bengals past the Titans with four long FGs, including the game-winner, and he could become the first kicker to win Super Bowl MVP if he leads his team in scoring in a close game.