Super Bowl MVP Odds: Brady, Wilson Betting Favorites

Quarterbacks have won the Super Bowl MVP 54 percent of the time, and sportsbooks are playing the odds by making Russell Wilson and Tom Brady the favorites to win the award this year.

For the record, the Super Bowl MVP award has been won by quarterbacks 26 times through the first 48 games, by defensive players eight times, by running backs seven times, by wide receivers six times and by a special teams player once.

Going into last year's game, a quarterback had won the Super Bowl MVP four times in a row and six out of seven, as the Manning brothers combined for three, with Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco winning the other three.

New England's Brady, who's already won the award twice in his career, is the early MVP favorite at odds of 8-5, while Seattle's Wilson, who just threw the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime in the NFC Championship Game, is the second choice at 7-2.

Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, who broke loose late in that victory over the Packers and ended up with 157 yards on the ground, is the third choice on the MVP board at 4-1. Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has caught 10 balls, two for scores, this postseason, is the fourth choice on the list at 9-1.

And New England running back LeGarrette Blount, who ran for 148 yards and three touchdowns in the AFC Championship Game against Indianapolis, is the fifth pick on the Super Bowl MVP odds menu at 12-1.

Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, who threw a touchdown pass in the team's divisional-round victory over Baltimore, is getting 25-1 odds to win the Super Bowl MVP award. New England cornerback Darrelle Revis and three Seahawks, wide receiver Doug Baldwin and defensive backs Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman, are all at 33-1.

Seattle safety Earl Thomas is offered at 40-1, while Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, NFC Championship Game hero Jermaine Kearse and Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins are all lined at 50-1.

Last year, Seattle linebacker Malcolm Smith—who returned an interception for a touchdown, made nine tackles and recovered a fumble—was named Super Bowl MVP.

For long shots, sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark are offering 100-1 odds on Seattle tight end Luke Willson and kicker Steven Hauschka and the same 100-1 odds on New England kicker Stephen Gostkowski. No kicker has ever won the Super Bowl MVP award.

Stats and odds courtesy of Odds Shark.