Super Bowl LVIII MVP Tips: Why it could pay to oppose Mahomes

• Mahomes the MVP favourite in Las Vegas

• Christian McCaffrey worth a look at 4/15.00 for MVP

• Read Betfair's new 90 Minute Payout offer here

Mahomes the MVP favourite

The quarterbacks get all the love in the NFL, they're the big stars, the highest earners and more often than not walk away with all the trophies - including the Super Bowl MVP award which has been won 32 times by a QB in 57 games.

It's only six in the last 10 though, with a couple of wide receivers and a couple of linebackers getting in on the act, and the fact we haven't got an odds-on favourite here tells you the MVP race is a bit more wide open than usual.

Patrick Mahomes is the 5/42.25 market leader to win Super Bowl MVP, and we know big names get the votes so even a regular performance from him might be enough - but he's not been the statistical star of previous years in this campaign.

So while Mahomes is a justified favourite, the conditions are set up to oppose him with plenty of options elsewhere - from the studs in the Kansas City Chiefs defence that has been the real star of their season, to the playmakers on the Niners offence that can dominant games all by themselves.

And with the fans getting 20% of the vote would Taylor Swift's huge fanbase flood the poll for her boyfriend Travis Kelce to pinch it? Let's look at the options.

Patrick Mahomes - 5/42.25

He got the Super Bowl MVP in both the Chiefs' recent victories and if this game's anything like those then odds are he'll get the nod, but the Niners are slight favourites to win this, hence why he's not odds-on - and why he might be worth opposing.

Brock Purdy - 2/13.00

Mr Irrelevent is now anything but and although his lines were OK in the two play-off games, he was instrumental in both - leading a late game-winning drive against the Packers then that epic 17-point comeback against Detroit.

He's got the storyline voters love, and his scrambling against the Lions was brilliant, but San Fran have such strong eye-catching playmakers that often take short passes for huge gains, so unless Purdy has a mega game he'll likely get outshone by a brighter star.

Christian McCaffrey - 4/15.00

Speaking of stars, they don't come much bigger than Christian McCaffrey who is an electric game-breaker and one-man highlight reel, who was ultra-consistent in the play-offs with 128 yards and 132 yards along with two TDs in each game.

The production is stellar, and the way he goes about it is a joy to watch, as he not only crunches into tacklers but als dances through gaps and has the jets to run away from anyone.

He'll get his yards and TDs like always - and if San Fran win then he's the one to beat.

Travis Kelce - 14/115.00

You'd normally think if a receiver has a big game the QB gets the credit - but twice in the last five Super Bowls a pass catcher has won MVP over the man supplying the bullets - Julian Edelman (10-141) over Tom Brady and Cooper Kupp (8-92-2) over Matt Stafford.

Kelce had an MVP-type display against Baltimore to get KC here and another big game in a low-scoring defensive contest, especially if he produces some big runs after the catch, would put him right in the frame.

He's definitely the most viable alternative in a Kansas City win.

Deebo Samuel 17/118.00

Much like McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel could be such a good option as he gets the ball in the pass and the run game and has the type of bruising tough running style that will catch the eye.

He's had a couple of monumental games this season when he's scored a receiving and rushing TD and got 150 total yards or thereabouts - something like that here in a Niners win would surely send Deebo to Disneyland.

Isiah Pacheco - 30/131.00

A few things going for Isiah Pacheco even as an outsider - he had some big games down the stretch with an 110 and a 130-yard rushing game with TDs, while he scored in every play-off game.

His running style is entertaining, as mentioned the Chiefs defence could make this a low-scorer and Andy Reid won't be scared of running the ball if they can - Detroit gashed the Niners for 183 yards on the ground. They're perfectly plausible game conditions that could hand Pacheco the gong.

Nick Bosa - 90/191.00

Von MIller was the last defensive winner eight years ago, but he followed Malcolm Smith to make it two in three years - and Nick Bosa leads the betting for defenders here.

He'd need his best game of the season, 2/3 sacks and ideally create a turnover at some point in a low-scoring game to win it - but in his favour he's already a big name.

Chris Jones - 125/1126.00

Only one defensive tackle has ever won Super Bowl MVP but not all of them have the game-wrecking abilities or the reputation of Chris Jones. We're into the huge outsiders here but, again, in a low-scoring game where defences take over, this guy can really stand out in a crowd.

Nick Bolton - 500/1501.00

Nick Bolton was immense in the Super Bowl last year, scoring a defensive TD and having another chalked off, and history has a funny way of repeating itself. Another scoop and score this time in a game with not so many points could swing it in his favour. If you fancy a bit of a punt.

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