Peyton Manning has won the NFL’s MVP award four times and, with the NFL’s pre-season now underway, he’s the betting favourite to add a fifth to his trophy case this season.
Manning almost won that award for a fifth time last season after he led the Denver Broncos to a 13-3 record, but instead it was Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson who walked away with the honours.
Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards and a dozen touchdowns for the Vikings in 2012, with Minnesota finishing with a 10-6 mark.
Still, it’s Manning who sits as the 5/1 favourite at the sportsbooks on the odds to win the NFL MVP award this season, with Peterson back at 12/1 on that odds list. Manning won his first four MVP awards in 2003 (split with Steve McNair), 2004, 2008, and 2009.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was the MVP in 2011, is next at 13/2 odds, with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady all at 10/1 odds.
Brady was the NFL’s MVP in both 2007 and 2010.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (15/1), Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (18/1), and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (18/1) round out the top tier of MVP contenders, with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning joining Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson at 25/1 on those NFL betting props at the sportsbooks.
Johnson might be in tough, however, since a wide receiver has never won the NFL’s MVP award. In fact, either a quarterback or a running back has won the award each and every season since 1986, when New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor claimed the honour.
The top defensive player on the NFL MVP odds at the sportsbooks heading into the season is Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt at 40/1. Tim Tebow, who is trying to make the New England Patriots’ roster, is a longshot at 250/1 on those MVP odds.
Pre-season NFL action kicks off Thursday with a potential Super Bowl preview, but don’t expect Manning or Kaepernick to play much when the Broncos visit the 49ers.
