Russell Wilson Still Has the Best Odds to Win NFL MVP After Turnover-Filled Loss to Bills
- Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson remains the +110 favorite to win the NFL MVP
- His average odds were -171 prior to Sunday’s 44-34 loss to the Buffalo Bills
- Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, the 2018 MVP, is the +210 second betting choice
The Seattle Seahawks clearly hit a bump in the road on Sunday. Russell Wilson’s NFL MVP campaign also took a hit but not nearly as devastating a blow.
Seattle’s horrid pass defense caught up to the Seahawks as they were torched 44-34 by the Buffalo Bills. Wilson also endured a rough day. He turned the ball over four times.
However, Wilson didn’t surrender his favorite’s role in the NFL MVP odds. Wilson remains the +110 chalk to win the award for the first time in his career.
2020 NFL MVP Odds
| Player (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Russell Wilson (Seahawks) | +110 |
| Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs) | +210 |
| Aaron Rodgers (Packers) | +450 |
| Josh Allen (Bills) | +1800 |
| Kyler Murray (Cardinals) | +2500 |
| Tom Brady (Buccaneers) | +3000 |
| Drew Brees (Saints) | +3000 |
| Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers) | +3000 |
| Lamar Jackson (Ravens) | +6000 |
| Ryan Tannehill (Titans) | +6000 |
Odds as of Nov. 9th at FanDuel
Across the leading sportsbooks, the Seahawks QB was at average odds of -171 entering Week 9 of the NFL season.
Bills Menace Wilson
The 44 points allowed by Seattle on Sunday were the most ever since Pete Carroll became the team’s coach. Wilson passed for a season-high 390 yards. However, his two interceptions and two fumbles provided the difference on the scoreboard.
Wilson still leads the NFL in touchdown passes (28) and TD pass percentage (9.4). Dig a little deeper, though and there is cause for concern.
Russell Wilson's 390 yards passing today the third-most in his career.
But with the four turnovers, has there ever been a quieter 390 yards passing by a #Seahawks QB?
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) November 9, 2020
In the past three games, Seattle is 1-2. Wilson has been picked up five times in those three games. Prior to that, he’d only thrown three interceptions over the first five games.
As well, he was averaging over 9.49 yards per attempt through the Seahawks’ first four games. In the last four games, those digits have slumped to 7.77.
Mahomes, Rodgers Looming
The 2018 NFL MVP is beginning to make his move. Ditto for the 2011 and 2014 MVP.
As a team on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs were terrible. Except for one player – QB Patrick Mahomes.
Patrick Mahomes is the first QB in NFL history to have 25 passing TDs and 1 or 0 INT thru the first 9 games of a season
He's broken the old record of 22 TD, 1 INT by Russell Wilson last season https://t.co/CnNariZSuP https://t.co/KBKR0A8OtH
— Pro Football Reference (@pfref) November 8, 2020
Mahomes turned in a dominant performance to lead the reigning Super Bowl champions to a 33-31 victory over the Carolina Panthers that they probably didn’t deserve. KC ran for just 30 yards.
The Chiefs QB and 2018 NFL MVP went 30-of-45 for 372 yards and four TDs. Mahomes has tossed for 25 TDs and one interception on the season. He’s on pace for 4,777 yards, 44 TDs and two picks.
On Thursday, Rodgers went 25-31 for 305 yards with four TDs in a 34-17 drubbing of the 49ers. Since Week 6, the two-time MVP has thrown for 11 TDs.
Allen Making His Case
In the victory over Seattle, Bills QB Josh Allen was 31-of-38 for 415 yards and three TDs. He also ran for a TD while posting a 138.5 passer rating.
Josh Allen is the 1st QB in the Super Bowl era with 400+ pass yds, 3+ pass TD, 0 INT & a 130+ passer rating in multiple games in a season
Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers & Patrick Mahomes are the only other players with multiple such games in their careers
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) November 8, 2020
However, Allen’s inconsistency is hurting his MVP case. He averaged 346.0 passing yards and 3.3 scores per game over the first three weeks of the season. In the two weeks prior to the Seahawks game, Allen tossed just one TD pass. He’d thrown for only eight scores through the previous five games.
It’s Still Wilson
Every MVP gets a mulligan for an off-game during the course of a season. During his record 2,003-yard rushing season in 1973, MVP OJ Simpson was held to 55 yards on the ground during a 27-6 loss to the Dolphins.
Russell Wilson sidearm throw while sliding. Silly good.pic.twitter.com/jhmxyeIVwF
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 8, 2020
One of the parameters in MVP selection is supposedly a player’s value to his team. With the NFL’s worst defense (455.8 yards per game allowed) and virtually no run game to speak of, the Seahawks are 6-2 and atop the NFC West.
Without Wilson at the helm, Seattle could just as easily be 2-6.
Pick: Russell Wilson (+110)
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
