The Big Game is just around the corner \u2013 time to think about the mountain of wagers that you will be placing on the contest. The MVP is always an intriguing bet \u2013 chances are that if you are a Pats fan, Tom Brady will be your overwhelming favorite. <\/p>\n
If you are a Giants fan, Eli will more than likely be your man. After all, quarterbacks have won MVP in 24 of 45 Super Bowls. The next closest position is running back, with seven times.<\/p>\n
So let\u2019s take a look at some of the players and their potential to win the prestigious Super Bowl MVP Award.<\/p>\n
Tom Brady<\/strong> 13\/10 \u2013 Hard to argue with a combined (regular season and playoffs) 6,220 yards with 48 touchdowns and 16 interceptions this season. Brady has been MVP of the Super Bowl before and has added league MVP honors to his rash of accolades. The Patriots are favored in this game. If they do indeed win, chances are Brady will have played a huge part in the victory.<\/p>\n Eli Manning<\/strong> 9\/4 \u2013 Manning has looked brilliant in the playoffs with 923 yards and eight touchdowns with only one interception. To date has 6,170 yards with 37 touchdowns and 19 interceptions total on the season. The Giants are not the running team they used to be \u2013 they have to throw to be successful and Eli needs to be New York\u2019s best player for them to have a chance to win.<\/p>\n Rob Gronkowski<\/strong> 8\/1 \u2013 What a weapon! Gronkowski had 17 touchdowns during the regular season and has three more in the playoffs. If he scores multiple touchdowns in the game which he is certainly capable of, Gronk could steal the Award from his QB. This of course is assuming that his injured ankle is good to go!<\/p>\n Victor Cruz 12\/1<\/strong> \u2013 Cruz had a tremendous regular season and appeared as though he was Eli Manning\u2019s guy (82 receptions for 1,536 yards and nine touchdowns). His production looked to be falling off with the emergence of Hakeem Nicks until a 10 catch, 142 yard effort in the NFC Title game. Cruz is insanely talented and an interesting prospect for MVP against New England\u2019s brutal secondary.<\/p>\n Hakeem Nicks 14\/1<\/strong> \u2013 Nicks has found his form in the playoffs after a good, not great regular season. In the playoffs, Nicks has 18 receptions for 335 yards and four scores and has once again become Eli\u2019s go-to-guy. He has two games of 160 or more yards in his past seven and has notched three touchdowns of 60 or more yards in that span and just may be the best value on the board. [soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n Aaron Hernandez 15\/1<\/strong> \u2013 Hernandez\u2019s value skyrockets is Rob Gronkowski is at all limited with his bad foot. He had 79 catches for 910 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season and proved to be a very valuable target even with Gronkowski in the lineup. Keep tabs on the Gronkowski injury \u2013 Hernandez could emerge as a decent sleeper pick for this Award.<\/p>\n Wes Welker 15\/1<\/strong> \u2013 Welker had 122 receptions for 1,569 yards and nine touchdowns in the regular season but has been held in check in the playoffs so far. He has shown MVP chops this season already \u2013 remember the three games this season when he had over 200 yards receiving and 11 catches or more? It happened three times and with Rob Gronkowski\u2019s injury, Welker could be leaned on a whole lot more on Sunday!<\/p>\n Ahmad Bradshaw 22\/1<\/strong> \u2013 It is hard to imagine Bradshaw stealing the show with Eli Manning, New York\u2019s receiving corp. and most of all, Brandon Jacobs on the team. No Running Back has won the Super Bowl MVP since 1998 and it is unlikely that Bradshaw\u2019s time-share situation will generate another.<\/p>\n BenJarvus Green-Ellis 22\/1<\/strong> \u2013 Ditto! The only difference being that BGE will handle the goal-line touches unlike Bradshaw! He could reasonably score a couple of times but his yardage totals figure to be a little low to garner MVP consideration.<\/p>\n Jason Pierre-Paul 30\/1<\/strong> \u2013 Defense? Why not? If there is one defensive player that could get it done, it\u2019s Jason Pierre-Paul. He had 86 tackles, 16.5 sacks and two forces fumbles during the regular season. The Giants game-plan is to get after Tom Brady which is right up JPP\u2019s alley. A couple of sacks and a few game-changing plays could make Pierre-Paul only the third defensive end to ever win the Super Bowl MVP.<\/p>\n