Lamar Jackson is your new NFL MVP favorite (again)…
and we have a special deal just in time for the NBA’s opening night.
New MVP Favorite Just Dropped
What Happened: Move over Patrick Mahomes. Well, sorta.
Yes, the back-to-back Super Bowl champs are currently 6-0, and no, we aren’t here to forecast anyone besides Andy Reid’s team to earn a trophy lift in February.
But Mahomes has seen his standing in the MVP race diminish, and after the Ravens torched Tampa Bay for 41 points on Monday Night Football, we have a new front-runner for MVP honors in the NFL. It’s a familiar face to award voters.
Why It Matters: Lamar Jackson’s nearly flawless five-touchdown performance has pushed him up the odds board, where he is now the favorite to capture the MVP at +225.
Mahomes, who currently has more interceptions (eight) than TDs (six) is somehow still second at +475, clearly coasting off reputation and getting some undeserved credit for the way Kansas City has performed on defense this season.
After Josh Allen of the Bills (+500), two NFC North quarterbacks provide some intrigue. Detroit’s Jared Goff (+850) has his team atop the division after handing the Vikings their first loss of the season, and has thrown seven touchdowns and zero picks in his team’s last three games, all wins, by a combined score of 120-67.
Jordan Love missed two Packers games due to injury, but has now led his team to three straight wins and they are right in the thick of the NFC standings. In what’s shaping up to be the league’s toughest division, whatever QB drags his team to a division title will have a strong argument for being the league’s best. Whether that can overshadow what Jackson is doing for Baltimore remains to be seen.
What We’re Watching Today
Knicks at Celtics (7:30 PM ET) – A preview of the Eastern Conference finals? Over at ESPN BET, the Knicks have +700 odds to win the NBA title, shorter than all teams but the Thunder (+675) and of course, the defending champion Celtics (+290). The 76ers round out the top-4 with odds of +825. Does that mean the East, whichever team emerges, is destined to produce another title winner this campaign?
Timberwolves at Lakers (10:00 PM ET) – Tough look for the Lakers, who are prominent enough to feature as one of two games on the NBA’s opening night, gifted a home game, and…underdogs in their own building. The T-Wolves are -1.5 favorites tonight as they look to build on last season’s 56 wins and run to the Western Conference finals.
The Look Ahead
Karl-Anthony Towns POINTS + REBOUNDS – While we think the Knicks’ trade for KAT is going to be a success, it’s also game one with a new team for the big man. How will he mesh with Jalen Brunson on offense? Can he win in battles down low against former teammate Rudy Gobert? Will he be a better fit on a Tom Thibodeau team now than he was several seasons ago? Expect some necessary time to adjust before Towns gels with his new team, and in the meantime, fade his 32.5 P+R line for opening night.
