The two-week gap between Championship Sunday and the Super Bowl will seem unnecessarily long this year, especially without a traditional Media Day and the circus that leads up to the big game due to covid restrictions. The Buccaneers have the advantage when it comes to travel as the Chiefs won't arrive in Tampa until the day before the game.
That extended break will allow for an overload of content heading into the Super Bowl showdown, including a breakdown of every prop, award, x-factor, and big-play prediction you can imagine. So today, we'll start with the game's MVP. We'll take a look at the favorites and include a longshot to consider when you're putting together your picks.
PATRICK MAHOMES (+110)
The Chiefs' quarterback is the runaway favorite at this point as the 25-year old will be looking to win the MVP in back-to-back years. He'd be the first to accomplish that feat since Terry Bradshaw in 1979-80 and only the third ever with Bart Starr winning the first two Super Bowl MVP awards.
The award has gone to a QB 30 times in the history of the game and four of the last six years. With the Chiefs opening as 3-point favorites in the game itself, it's only fitting that their quarterback has the shortest odds.
TOM BRADY (+250)
Brady already holds the record for most Super Bowl MVPs with four as he gets set to make his 10th appearance in the title game. He's outdueled Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers on the road to make it here in his first year in Tampa Bay, and it's only fitting that he's leading the first team to play the Super Bowl inside their home stadium.
Brady last won the award in 2017, but the last time a Brady-led team won the Super Bowl, Julian Edelman took home the trophy.
TYREEK HILL/TRAVIS KELCE (+900)
Hill and Kelce have the shortest odds for a non-QB in the game and are the only other players with single-digit odds at this moment. The Chiefs' WR/TE combo combined for 22 catches, 290 yards, and two touchdowns en route to their AFC Championship victory over the Bills.
In last year's Super Bowl, Hill had nine grabs for 105 yards while Kelce hauled in six catches for 43 yards and a score. The Chiefs' running game has been limited lately, and these two have been the total focal point of the offense.
MIKE EVANS/CHRIS GODWIN/LEONARD FOURNETTE (+2500)
As of now, this Bucs trio has an equal chance of winning the MVP, according to the oddsmakers. Godwin has been the more productive of the receivers during the postseason, but both he and Evans have experienced random cases of the drops. Fournette, aka Playoff Lenny, has been steady but not spectacular, scoring three touchdowns in the playoffs but never rushing for over 100 yards.
If you have to pick between the three, go with Godwin, who has been attracting the highest target share, but if Antonio Brown comes back for the game (currently listed at +5000 for MVP), that could go down.
LONGSHOT TO CONSIDER
Ten defensive players have won the Super Bowl MVP, most recently Von Miller in 2016. While Devin White has been a monster for the Bucs defense, Lavonte David's 50-1 odds are much more appealing. Look for this LB tandem to wreak havoc all over the field, and if David is able to create a turnover/score, he could be on the podium at the end of the night.
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