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We are quickly approaching the time of year where we start to get our wagers together for the various NFL futures markets. I have a couple of NFL MVP longshot bets I will be taking a crack on this season and it’s only right I share them with you. As always, all odds provided by PointsBet.
Jameis Winston New Orleans Saints, Quarterback (+5000)
I can totally dig it if you want to stop reading at this point, but bear with me while I explain why Jameis Winston is my favorite MVP longshot bet. The New Orleans Saints are the defending NFC South champs after a 12-win season and most of their key pieces are coming back. The piece that’s missing is future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees.
Winston is likely taking over for Brees and I would dare say Winston will do a better job leading the Saints this season than Brees did last year. In the final game of Drew Brees’ career he threw 3 interceptions. I understand Jameis is a turnover machine, but this is why it’s called a longshot bet. The NFL MVP is a quarterback award. Last year, before the season started Brees was +1000 to win the MVP. At +5000, Winston is a tremendous value. If the Saints are a top-three seed in the NFC this number will be down around +500 during the season. I realize I didn’t mention Taysom Hill because I’m not worried about him. Winston signed a $12 million deal in the offseason. I’m sure he didn’t sign that deal to be Hill’s backup.
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Carson Wentz Indianapolis Colts, Quarterback (+4000)
I’m old enough to remember when Carson Wentz was an MVP favorite. Since tearing his ACL in Los Angeles with the Eagles things have gone terribly wrong for Wentz. The end of Wentz’s time in Philadelphia was marred by controversy, envy, a benching and more. Once Jalen Hurts was drafted by the Eagles the writing was on the wall for Wentz.
Wentz is not a bad quarterback; he was in a situation that made it almost impossible for him to be successful. Getting out of Philadelphia alone is enough for Wentz to turn it around and landing in Indianapolis with his BFF Frank Reich is the perfect backdrop for a rebound and possible MVP season. Reich is the comforting voice Wentz needs to regain his confidence.
The AFC is top heavy with Kansas City, Buffalo and Baltimore, but I would say the fourth best team is the Colts. Indianapolis has a great offensive line, a running game and talent on both sides of the ball. PointsBet has the Colts as the favorites to win the AFC South with projected win total of 10. If they are contenders, you will see Wentz’s MVP odds start to tumble.
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