CLEVELAND — Baker Mayfield doesn't have the highest MVP odds entering the 2021 season -- that honor belongs to Patrick Mahomes. But when it comes to the MVP candidate who's had the most money wagered on him to this point in the offseason, it's the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback who tops the list.
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Earlier this week, the William Hill US sportsbook released an article examining the recent betting trends for this year's future bets. And in doing so, it revealed that Mayfield has had the most money bet on him to win MVP, with wagers placed on the No. 1 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft accounting for 12 percent of the dollars bet for the futures prop.
While Mayfield opened at 40-1 odds, the most bet on him has since cut his MVP odds in half to 20-1. According to one expert, the Browns' playoff run last season and overall supporting cast have played a role in Mayfield's MVP popularity.
“Baker played well in the playoffs last year,” Nick Bogdanovich, Director of Trading for William Hill US, said. “The Browns are still the hot commodity this offseason, people are betting them in every fashion. Cleveland has a lot of weapons and a strong offensive line, [Odell Beckham Jr.] is even healthy again. He opened at 40/1 and is down to 20/1, and we lose pretty good with Baker.”
Following Mayfield, Josh Allen (10-1), Tom Brady (10-1), Mahomes (9-2) and Matthew Stafford (20-1) have had the next most money bet on them, with each quarterback accounting for seven percent of the money wagered on the 2021 NFL MVP award.