Betting buzz: Barkley, Kelce lead early Super Bowl MVP action​on January 29, 2025 at 4:56 pm

Everything that happens in sports has additional context when viewed from a sports betting perspective. From season-changing injuries to record-setting moments and so much more, the sports news cycle will constantly and significantly affect the sports betting industry.

Our betting buzz file, with contributions from David Purdum, Doug Greenberg and others, aims to provide fans a look at the sports betting stories that are driving the conversation.

Key links: Sports betting home | NFL odds page | College football odds page | ESPN BET

Jan. 29: Barkley, Kelce lead early Super Bowl MVP betting

Doug Greenberg: In Super Bowl history, 33 of the 59 winners of the game’s MVP award have been quarterbacks. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (+105) and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (+360) sport the shortest and third-shortest odds for Super Bowl LIX’s honor, respectively, per ESPN BET odds, and therefore the highest implied probability.

Yet, it’s two non-quarterbacks, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (+275) and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (+1800), who have generated the most buzz among bettors in early Super Bowl MVP action.

Since Sunday evening at ESPN BET, Barkley has taken a leading 32.6% of bets and 48.5% of handle to win Super Bowl MVP, bringing his total bet share to 16% of tickets and 28% of money since the market first opened during the playoffs — the most of any player over that span, which includes those on eliminated teams.

BetMGM also reports Barkley as its overall tickets leader and the sportsbook’s second-largest liability for the award. The 27-year-old would be the first non-quarterback to have the shortest odds on his team to win Super Bowl MVP in two decades, according to ESPN Research.

As for Kelce, he’s got some serious star power on his side and, thus, some powerful backers: BetMGM reports it took a $25,000 wager to win $375,000 for Kelce to win Super Bowl MVP at +1500 odds. That instantly boosted the tight end to the top of the sportsbook’s handle list (22.1%) and made him the book’s largest liability.

“It is always fun to see if a game goes sideways, someone else might show up to be that star,” Caesars Sportsbook head of football Joey Feazel told ESPN before the conference championships. “That’s usually what people are trying to angle for, who’s going to do that.”

Kelce will need an enormous game to snag MVP honors given the history working against him, as a tight end has never won the award.

Jan 26: Long shot land; Barkley falls short of rushing yards prop

Greenberg: ESPN BET listed Saquon Barkley to score three touchdowns at +850, Jalen Hurts to score three touchdowns at +1800, Will Shipley to score an anytime touchdown at +2000 and Shipley to score the last touchdown at 100-1. All of those bets cashed in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 55-23 NFC Championship Game win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

One bet that didn’t cash: the over on Barkley’s rushing yards total. Despite a 60-yard touchdown run on Philadelphia’s first play from scrimmage, Barkley finished with 118 yards to fall short of the 124.5 prop. It was the the highest rushing yards prop by any player in the last three seasons.