Early NFL MVP Betting: Russell Wilson Now The Favorite For The Award

• Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson now has the shortest odds of winning the 2020 NFL MVP award.
• Russell Wilson has recorded 610 passing yards and completed 82.5% of his passes through two regular-season games.
• Last year’s NFL MVP Lamar Jackson has +750 odds of winning the award in back-to-back years.

SEATTLE – The NFL’s start to the regular season amid the coronavirus pandemic couldn’t have gone any smoother as no players have tested positive for COVID-19 and no games have had to be postponed because of an outbreak.

That’s a positive sign for the NFL and so far, means that there will be a full season played.

Now with more confidence that the NFL will play a full season, professional football bettors should be keeping a close eye on how the MVP award race is shaping up early.

The NFL MVP race through two regular-season games has already taken its first turn as the favorite coming into the regular season was Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Now sportsbooks have pivoted listing Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson as the favorite to win his first career NFL MVP award.

Wilson has been one of the best quarterbacks in a small sample size this season as he’s thrown for 610 yards while leading the NFL in passing touchdowns (9), and completion percentage (82.5%).

In large part, due to Wilson’s stellar performances, the Seahawks remain undefeated this season.

After his Week 2 performance against the New England Patriots, Wilson has left little doubt that he should be considered the front runner for the MVP award early this season.

Wilson outdueled Cam Newton on Sunday Night Football against a stingy Patriots defense that featured DPOY Stephon Gilmore en route to throwing five touchdown passes and leading the Seahawks to victory.

FINAL: @DangeRussWilson throws five TDs as the @Seahawks win on #SNF! #Seahawks #NEvsSEA

(by @Lexus) pic.twitter.com/cutXaQRVpV

— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2020

Wilson’s +300 NFL MVP odds going into Week 3 puts him in the driver’s seat for the award with a matchup against a porous Dallas Cowboys defense that should provide another bump in his stats.

While much attention will be focused on Wilson in the MVP race now might be one of the best times to place a bet on some of the former MVP’s in the field like Patrick Mahomes (+450) and Lamar Jackson (+750) who’s longer odds could provide a better return now than later in the season.

However, the Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens do face-off in Week 3 and the winner of that matchup would likely see their odds for the MVP become shorter.

The NFL season still has a lot of games left to play but the first two weeks have given us a glimpse of how the MVP race will shape up.

Wilson is the favorite and if he keeps up this level of play throughout the entire season it’ll be hard to pry this award out of his hands.