Free 2012 Super Bowl MVP Odds, Picks and Predictions: Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers to Win Super Bowl XLVI MVP Award 2/5/12: Football is a team game, and the ultimate prize in the NFL is the Lombardi Trophy awarded to the winner of each Super Bowl. However, taking home the Super Bowl MVP is one of the highest individual honors in the sport. It is also one of the many prop bets that can be wagered on leading up to Sunday’s showdown between the New England Patriots and New York Giants. For football fans that want to spice up the game with a little extra wager, betting on the potential MVP offers is probably a little more enticing than betting on the coin toss or national anthem length. After all, it at least has to do with the action taking place on the field.
2012 Super Bowl XLVI MVP Award Odds and Predictions – The Favorites
He already has two Super Bowl MVP Awards to his name, and if the Patriots win Sunday, there is a good chance quarterback Tom Brady earns the honor for the third time in his career. Considering he is the centerpiece of a one-dimensional, pass-heavy offense that has had to compensate for a below average defense all season, a strong showing from New England almost certainly means big numbers from Brady. Brady also has the added advantage of playing the most-coveted position in the game. There is a reason that a quarterback has been named MVP in 24 of the 45 previous Super Bowls.
Did I mention that 24 of the 45 previous Super Bowls have seen a QB take home MVP honors? Just as Brady is in the driver’s seat for New England, New York quarterback Eli Manning is the likely candidate to win the award if the Giants win. He is also helped by the fact the Giants are a pass-heavy team as well and have three talented receivers available for him to throw to. More importantly, Manning has been outstanding on third downs and in the fourth quarter this season, setting an NFL record with 15 fourth-quarter touchdowns. If he has that type of clutch performance in a win Sunday, the award is as good as his.
2012 Super Bowl XLVI MVP Award Odds and Predictions – The Dark Horses
Saying that tight end Rob Gronkowski had a pretty good year would the understatement of the century. The second-year player caught 90 passes this season and set an NFL record for tight ends with 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns. His 17 scores were the most in football this season, and with a three-score game already on his resume this postseason, he has the talent to put up MVP-caliber numbers Sunday. Gronkowski’s combination of size and speed make him an impossible matchup for opposing defenses, and his ability to run over defenders in the open field allows him to make highlight plays. Assuming his ankle holds up, he could snag the award.
The Giants’ answer to “Gronk” is receiver Victor Cruz. He came out of nowhere this season to finish third in the NFL with more than 1,500 receiving yards. More importantly, Cruz has shown a knack for making ridiculous catches and turning short passes into long scores. His big play ability makes him a constant threat to the New England secondary and a threat to win MVP honors.
2012 Super Bowl XLVI MVP Award Odds and Predictions – The Sleepers
He is a relative unknown to casual football fans, but New England’s Julian Edelman will have plenty of opportunities to make an impact Sunday. Edelman does a little bit of everything for the Patriots, filling in at receiver, cornerback and returning kicks. Playing all three phases of the game will give him plenty of chances to make plays, and if he has a big kick return and a clutch interception, Edelman’s all-around impact could earn him MVP honors.
Any player on New York’s defensive line could dominate the game, but Jason Pierre-Paul probably has the best chance. He led the team with 16.5 sacks this season, and he had 86 tackles. Pierre-Paul has also tipped his share of passes and even blocked a kick during the course of the year. His ability to make an impact on defense in more ways than simply rushing the passer makes him the likely choice for the MVP if the Giants’ defense controls the game.
