Sports betting knows which players and teams to root against.
It’s nothing personal. But when a team has long odds and lots of bets on it to win a Super Bowl, or a winning player MVP would be a huge win for bettors, sports betting is of fundamental interest.
With NFL teams set to report to training camps in just a few weeks, here’s a look at BetMGM’s biggest liability in each of the NFL rewards futures markets:
It’s close between Hurts and Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes has more money bet on him (15%) to win MVP. But Hurts (14%) has the most tickets and the longest odds. Mahomes is +700 to win MVP. Pain is +1100. Hurts therefore represents BetMGM’s greatest liability.
Hurts was in the middle of the MVP race last season before suffering a season-ending injury. Mahomes won the award. Hurts could have won had he not been injured. Then he was amazing in a Super Bowl loss. It’s no surprise that many bettors support Hurts.
Offensive Player of the Year: CeeDee Lamb
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is popular among bettors. He has the most bets in the Offensive Player of the Year market. It’s a good game at +1300. He and Justin Jefferson are co-favorites.
But CeeDee Lamb is a big name on a popular team at more than twice the favorites rating. Lamb, the star receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, is +3000 to win Offensive Player of the Year and is BetMGM’s biggest liability. Lamb is one of the few receivers to make the first round of most fantasy football drafts and has the ability to put together the kind of stats to get him into the OPOY race. It’s an interesting bet that many people have already made.
Detroit fans love betting on their teams. That must be one of the reasons why Detroit Lions second-year defensive end Hutchinson is the most popular bet to win DPOY. Of all the money bet on the prize, 18.7% is on Hutchinson. With odds of 20 to 1, he is a big handicap for BetMGM.
Returning Player of the Year: Russell Wilson
It’s a hard reward to define, but Wilson’s case is easy to understand. He was bad last season, and if he rebounds for the Denver Broncos and new coach Sean Payton, it will get a lot of attention. At BetMGM, 33% of the money on Comeback Player of the Year is on Wilson, which is +2500. The favorite for the award is Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin at -300.
Coach of the Year: Dan Campbell
Campbell, the Detroit Lions coach, was also the most popular COY bet last year. Detroit fans love their teams. The Lions are favorites to win the NFC North, which would be their Premier League title since 1993. And Campbell, the +900 COY favorite, gets 35% of the prize money bet.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Bijan Robinson
It’s no big surprise that Robinson is BetMGM’s biggest liability for this award. The Atlanta Falcons drafted the running back from Texas eighth overall and he’s going to have a lot of work to do. That’s why 36.2% of the money is on Robinson, even as the +275 short favorite.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jack Campbell
Oh, hey, another Leo. Campbell, a first-round pick who should start right away at linebacker for the Lions, has +2,000 to win DROY. It is tied for the ninth best rating. Of the last 10 winners, only one (Shaquille Leonard) was an off-ball linebacker. Campbell doesn’t stand out as an obvious longshot, but don’t tell Detroit fans that.