It?s going to be a battle between pivots for this season?s National Football League MVP honors, according to the early line at www.betED.com.
Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning is the favorite at +400, but New England Patriots pivot Tom Brady is right behind at +525, based on NFL Futures betting available at www.betED.com.
And it should be quite a battle, judging by the preseason performance of both players.
Manning, who took the MVP award in 2004, has had a solid preseason, as the Colts are ranked third in passing in the preseason. The Colts aerial attack has averaged 262 yards per game. Manning has directed game-opening scoring drives in all three preseason games, completing 11-of-16 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns on those possessions.
Brady has been even better. He was outstanding in New England?s 41-0 rout over the Washington Redskins on Saturday night. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown before leaving after the first series of the third quarter.
"I hope it looks as good in the regular season as it did tonight," Brady said.
In three exhibition games, Brady is 35 for 54 for 404 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Rounding out the top 5 MVP picks at www.betED.com are a trio of star running backs: Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, last season?s MVP, who is tied with Brady at +525; Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson at +625, and San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who?s at +725.
Johnson would seem like a good bet at those odds, as many observers believe he is an early favorite to take the MVP honors this season.
Johnson could also break some records this year.
The former first-round pick out of Penn State finished last season with 1,750 yards and 21 touchdowns, both AFC highs, despite starting just over half the season. He rushed for 100 yards nine times in nine starts, going over 200 twice. He scored at least two touchdowns in seven of those starts. He made the Pro Bowl.
Barry Sanders' streak of 14 consecutive 100-yard games is well within reach, but the determined Johnson is unlikely to stop there. If he maintains the 135.6 yards per game average that he has over his first 12 NFL starts (including three at the end of the 2004 season) during the 2006 campaign, he'll end up with roughly 2,170 yards, which will break Eric Dickerson's mark of 2,105, set in 1984.
Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning is the favorite at +400, but New England Patriots pivot Tom Brady is right behind at +525, based on NFL Futures betting available at www.betED.com.
And it should be quite a battle, judging by the preseason performance of both players.
Manning, who took the MVP award in 2004, has had a solid preseason, as the Colts are ranked third in passing in the preseason. The Colts aerial attack has averaged 262 yards per game. Manning has directed game-opening scoring drives in all three preseason games, completing 11-of-16 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns on those possessions.
Brady has been even better. He was outstanding in New England?s 41-0 rout over the Washington Redskins on Saturday night. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown before leaving after the first series of the third quarter.
"I hope it looks as good in the regular season as it did tonight," Brady said.
In three exhibition games, Brady is 35 for 54 for 404 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Rounding out the top 5 MVP picks at www.betED.com are a trio of star running backs: Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, last season?s MVP, who is tied with Brady at +525; Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson at +625, and San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who?s at +725.
Johnson would seem like a good bet at those odds, as many observers believe he is an early favorite to take the MVP honors this season.
Johnson could also break some records this year.
The former first-round pick out of Penn State finished last season with 1,750 yards and 21 touchdowns, both AFC highs, despite starting just over half the season. He rushed for 100 yards nine times in nine starts, going over 200 twice. He scored at least two touchdowns in seven of those starts. He made the Pro Bowl.
Barry Sanders' streak of 14 consecutive 100-yard games is well within reach, but the determined Johnson is unlikely to stop there. If he maintains the 135.6 yards per game average that he has over his first 12 NFL starts (including three at the end of the 2004 season) during the 2006 campaign, he'll end up with roughly 2,170 yards, which will break Eric Dickerson's mark of 2,105, set in 1984.
