Big Ben early favorite for MVP
What do Dexter Jackson, Desmond Howard and Doug Williams all have in common?
Other than the fact that their first names start with a ?D?, all three were Super Bowl MVPs within the past 20 years.
While hardcore NFL trivia nerds would likely have known this, most of you probably had no clue. For the most part, players that are earn Super Bowl MVP honors are household names, guys like Tom Brady, Kurt Warner, John Elway and Troy Aikman.
But occasionally, you get a relatively unknown player who has one shining moment in the biggest game of the year. For instance, Doug Williams was the quarterback for the Washington Redskins when they won the Super Bowl on Jan. 31, 1988.
That season, Williams had played just five regular-season games for the Skins before leading them to a 42-10 victory over John Elway and the Broncos. Williams completed 18 of 29 passes for 340 yards and four touchdowns in the victory. He played only 15 more NFL games after that triumph.
Who will be the MVP in Super Bowl XL? As you would expect, the familiar names have the best odds.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is currently favored to take home the honors at +200. The 23-year-old has had a standout season despite suffering a knee injury and undergoing surgery that kept him out of four games. In just his second NFL season, Big Ben had the third-best QB rating in the league at 98.6. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound pivot had 17 TDs, just nine interceptions and a mere two fumbles.
Through three playoff games, Roethlisberger leads all playoff quarterbacks with a 68.1 completion percentage (49 of 72), eight touchdowns (seven through the air) and a QB rating of 124.8. He has tossed only one interception.
Unless he does something truly spectacular in Detroit, the play Roethlisberger will likely be remembered for most was his tackle on Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. Harper had returned Jerome Bettis' fumble in the final moments of the game and was heading for a potential winning touchdown when he was hauled down by Big Ben at the Indy 42-yard line.
Behind Big Ben as the favorites to win MVP honors are two Seahawks: quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and running back Shaun Alexander. Both players are listed at +350.
Like Roethlisberger, Hasselbeck is having an outstanding season. Sporting the fourth-best QB rating (98.2) in the league, the seven-year veteran had a 65.5 completion percentage throwing for 24 TDs and just nine interceptions. Through two playoff games, he has four TDs (three through the air) and no interceptions. In fact, he has not thrown an INT since Dec. 11.
Neither Roethlisberger nor Hasselbeck have been rattled by the pressure of a playoff game so far. Alexander, on the other hand, has been criticized in the past for disappearing during big games. However, this year?s league MVP put those criticisms to rest with his performance against the Panthers last week. Alexander ran for 132 yards on 34 carries and two touchdowns.
That performance came a week after Alexander suffered a concussion in the first quarter of the Seahawks? first playoff game against Washington. Alexander left the game after gaining just six yards on nine carries. He also fumbled the ball without being hit. During the regular season Alexander tore up the NFL, running for a league-leading 1,880 yards and logging a record 28 TDs.
After Hasselbeck and Alexander, the Super Bowl MVP favorites are Pittsburgh running backs Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker, and wideout Hines Ward. All three are listed at +1200.
Parker was the Steelers? leading rusher during the regular season and Ward was the leading receiver. Ward also had the most TDs of all three with 11. But Bettis, the 33-year-old veteran, is everyone?s sentimental favorite to win the MVP.
The Bus, who is expected to retire following the Super Bowl, is returning to his hometown to play in the biggest game of his life. Although he had that one big fumble against the Colts, Bettis has three TDs in three playoff games. Ward has two and Parker has one.
And what about some of the lesser-known players? Will one of them have a career performance come February 5?
Although defensive players rarely win MVP honors, Pittsburgh?s Troy Polamalu might be a player to consider. The wild-haired safety has been very visible in the playoffs having logged 19 tackles, deflected three passes and intercepted one. Polamalu is listed at +1500 to take home the MVP award.
For the Seahawks, you might want to consider taking the field which includes the likes of Michael Boulware. The second-year safety led the team in interceptions this year with four and was fourth on the team in tackles with 73. Through two playoff games, Boulware has two pass deflections, one INT and eight tackles.
The odds for the field are +1500.
BetWWTS.com
What do Dexter Jackson, Desmond Howard and Doug Williams all have in common?
Other than the fact that their first names start with a ?D?, all three were Super Bowl MVPs within the past 20 years.
While hardcore NFL trivia nerds would likely have known this, most of you probably had no clue. For the most part, players that are earn Super Bowl MVP honors are household names, guys like Tom Brady, Kurt Warner, John Elway and Troy Aikman.
But occasionally, you get a relatively unknown player who has one shining moment in the biggest game of the year. For instance, Doug Williams was the quarterback for the Washington Redskins when they won the Super Bowl on Jan. 31, 1988.
That season, Williams had played just five regular-season games for the Skins before leading them to a 42-10 victory over John Elway and the Broncos. Williams completed 18 of 29 passes for 340 yards and four touchdowns in the victory. He played only 15 more NFL games after that triumph.
Who will be the MVP in Super Bowl XL? As you would expect, the familiar names have the best odds.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is currently favored to take home the honors at +200. The 23-year-old has had a standout season despite suffering a knee injury and undergoing surgery that kept him out of four games. In just his second NFL season, Big Ben had the third-best QB rating in the league at 98.6. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound pivot had 17 TDs, just nine interceptions and a mere two fumbles.
Through three playoff games, Roethlisberger leads all playoff quarterbacks with a 68.1 completion percentage (49 of 72), eight touchdowns (seven through the air) and a QB rating of 124.8. He has tossed only one interception.
Unless he does something truly spectacular in Detroit, the play Roethlisberger will likely be remembered for most was his tackle on Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. Harper had returned Jerome Bettis' fumble in the final moments of the game and was heading for a potential winning touchdown when he was hauled down by Big Ben at the Indy 42-yard line.
Behind Big Ben as the favorites to win MVP honors are two Seahawks: quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and running back Shaun Alexander. Both players are listed at +350.
Like Roethlisberger, Hasselbeck is having an outstanding season. Sporting the fourth-best QB rating (98.2) in the league, the seven-year veteran had a 65.5 completion percentage throwing for 24 TDs and just nine interceptions. Through two playoff games, he has four TDs (three through the air) and no interceptions. In fact, he has not thrown an INT since Dec. 11.
Neither Roethlisberger nor Hasselbeck have been rattled by the pressure of a playoff game so far. Alexander, on the other hand, has been criticized in the past for disappearing during big games. However, this year?s league MVP put those criticisms to rest with his performance against the Panthers last week. Alexander ran for 132 yards on 34 carries and two touchdowns.
That performance came a week after Alexander suffered a concussion in the first quarter of the Seahawks? first playoff game against Washington. Alexander left the game after gaining just six yards on nine carries. He also fumbled the ball without being hit. During the regular season Alexander tore up the NFL, running for a league-leading 1,880 yards and logging a record 28 TDs.
After Hasselbeck and Alexander, the Super Bowl MVP favorites are Pittsburgh running backs Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker, and wideout Hines Ward. All three are listed at +1200.
Parker was the Steelers? leading rusher during the regular season and Ward was the leading receiver. Ward also had the most TDs of all three with 11. But Bettis, the 33-year-old veteran, is everyone?s sentimental favorite to win the MVP.
The Bus, who is expected to retire following the Super Bowl, is returning to his hometown to play in the biggest game of his life. Although he had that one big fumble against the Colts, Bettis has three TDs in three playoff games. Ward has two and Parker has one.
And what about some of the lesser-known players? Will one of them have a career performance come February 5?
Although defensive players rarely win MVP honors, Pittsburgh?s Troy Polamalu might be a player to consider. The wild-haired safety has been very visible in the playoffs having logged 19 tackles, deflected three passes and intercepted one. Polamalu is listed at +1500 to take home the MVP award.
For the Seahawks, you might want to consider taking the field which includes the likes of Michael Boulware. The second-year safety led the team in interceptions this year with four and was fourth on the team in tackles with 73. Through two playoff games, Boulware has two pass deflections, one INT and eight tackles.
The odds for the field are +1500.
BetWWTS.com
