Super Bowl 50 bets: Cam Newton the MVP favorite

The potential NFL MVP is also favored to bring home some hardware from Super Bowl 50.

Feb 1, 2016, 1:00 PM UTC

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Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is the favorite to win the MVP in his first Super Bowl at -140, according to the odds listed on Bovada. Denver quarterback Peyton Manning comes in second on the list at +275, with Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly a distant contender rounding out the top 3 at +1400.

Newton has had a fantastic season for the favored Panthers, throwing for 3,837 yards and a career-high 35 touchdowns during the regular season, while cutting his interceptions to a career-low 10. Combined with his 10 rushing touchdowns during the season schedule and five scores during the playoffs (three passing, two rushing), Newton has put his team in the endzone an even 50 times this year. A few more in Super Bowl 50, and the 2011 Heisman winner and possible 2015 NFL MVP might need to clear a little more space in his trophy case.

Manning will play in his fourth Super Bowl after winning Super Bowl XLI and losing Super Bowl XLIV, both with the Colts, and losing Super Bowl XLVIII two years ago with the Broncos. It’s a different sort of narrative for Manning this year, as the veteran signal caller struggled with injuries throughout the 2015 season, appearing in just 10 games and throwing for 2,249 yards and nine touchdowns — all career lows.

Manning was not in vintage form all season, and his struggles forced him to miss half of November and the entire month of December, when fourth-year quarterback Brock Osweiler started in his stead. Yet a diminished Peyton Manning is still Peyton Manning, and it seems the oddsmakers aren’t writing off the five-time NFL MVP just yet.