Over the past 15 years, it's been rare for a non-offensive player to win Super Bowl MVP, but if it happens this year, one bettor could win big.
Two of the biggest MVP bets at BetMGM have been placed on players who don't play offense. The biggest bet is on Rams star Aaron Donald. One gambler put $7,500 on Donald to win MVP at 16-to-1 odds, which means if Donald wins, the bettor will go home with a cool $120,000 profit.
Although Donald is arguably the best defensive player in the NFL right now, his odds are so long because it's been almost impossible for someone playing his position to win Super Bowl MVP. In the 55-year history of the game, only one defensive tackle has won the award, and that came back in Super Bowl XII when Randy White was a co-MVP for the Cowboys after they beat the Broncos 27-10. (White won the award with teammate Harvey Martin.)
Even if Donald wasn't a defensive tackle, it would still be difficult to win the award and that's because defensive players rarely win. Over the past 15 years, only two defensive players have won the award. However, it's worth noting that one of those players is currently a teammate of Donald's. Von Miller was named the MVP of Super Bowl 50 after a game during which his Broncos beat the Panthers, 24-10.
The only other defensive player to win Super Bowl MVP over the past 15 years was Seattle's Malcolm Smith, who won the award after the Seahawks' 43-8 win over the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
The other big MVP bet placed this year is on Bengals kicker Evan McPherson. One bettor has put $1,000 on McPherson to win MVP at 100-to-1 odds, which means our gambler will take home $100,000 if McPherson wins the award. Although a kicker has never won Super Bowl MVP, it's not crazy to think that McPherson might have a chance to do it.
The Bengals kicker has been a key part of their postseason run. Not only has he kicked them to victory in each of their past two playoff games, but he currently holds the NFL record for most field goals in a single postseason without a miss (12-of-12). If McPherson hits three field goals in the Super Bowl, he'll break Adam Vinatieri's record for most field goals in a single postseason.
McPherson has hit four field goals in each of the Bengals' three playoff games, and if he hits four again in the Super Bowl, he would tie the Super Bowl record for most field goals in a single game, which would likely put him in the MVP conversation.
