Betting Odds Tighten Around Drake Maye for MVP

In the fourth quarter of Sunday night's game against the Ravens in Baltimore, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye led a nine-play, 89-yard winning drive that narrowed the distance between the young quarterback and LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in the NFL MVP betting odds watch.

After winning the game 28–24, the Pats were guaranteed a postseason berth. In the fourth quarter of the Pats' defeat to the Buffalo Bills last week, Maye had two opportunities to spearhead comebacks but was unable to do so. In the week before the Ravens game, he called the circumstance the "elephant in the room."

However, Maye was outstanding in the chilly Baltimore weather on Sunday night, throwing 31/44 for 380 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

MVP Odds Get Tighter

With two weeks left in the regular season, Maye and Stafford are currently the front-runners for MVP.

Stafford is at -195 and Maye is at +170 on Monday morning at FanDuel. Josh Allen, the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, has returned to +2500. Stafford is at -215, Maye is at +180, and Allen is at +2500 at DraftKings.

The back injury that kept Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson out of Sunday night's game and the suspected ACL injury to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew during Sunday's 26-9 loss to the Tennessee Titans, a week after the Chiefs lost quarterback Patrick Mahomes to an ACL tear in his left knee, are the two biggest stories from a betting standpoint on Monday morning.

In other news, quarterback Trevor Lawrence's three touchdown passes helped the 11-4 Jacksonville Jaguars defeat the top-seeded Denver Broncos 34-20 at Empower Field at Mile High.

Jaguars Make a Statement

“The week was decided in favor of the customers early,” said Caesars Sportsbook’s Head of Football Joey Feazel. “Everyone was expecting [Anthony] Joshua to knock out [Jake] Paul in Round one, except the Rams and Seahawks same-game parlays delivered the Christmas bonanza and made it a festive week all around for the bettors after one game. Saturday continued in the same manner, with popular teams Eagles and Bears winning, and the big comeback in Chicago was the icing on the yule log. A knockout Christmas week in favor of the customers.”

For fans, the LA Rams' victory against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night was the second-biggest NFL season victory (the first was the Bills' victory over the Ravens in Week 1). For the patrons on Saturday, the Eagles and Bears were significant. The Bengals, Saints, and Vikings all won on Sunday.

According to Feazel, the Steelers' straight-up victory in Detroit, the Browns' cover over the Bills, and the Raiders' cover against the Houston Texans were the biggest games for the book.

The Rams +340 to +430, the Seahawks +700 to +500, the Jaguars +1900 to +1300, and the Lions +3000 to +12500 were among the Super Bowl movers following Week 16.

MNF Probabilities

On Monday night, the Indianapolis Colts must defeat the San Francisco 49ers, who have already secured a postseason berth, at home. The 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers leads the Colts, who have dropped their last four games. At BetMGM, the 49ers are strong favorites at -250 on the moneyline, while the Colts are +200.

Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers over 38.5 receiving yards (-115), Alec Pierce of the Colts over 19.5 receiving yards (-120), Eddy Pineiro of the 49ers over 1.5 field goals made (-115), George Kittle of the 49ers over 68.5 receiving yards (-115), and quarterback Brock Purdy of the 49ers over 9.5 rushing yards (-110).

McCaffrey -210, Kittle +110, Tyler Warren +250, Jauan Jennings +130, and Jonathan Taylor -235 are the most bet anytime TD scorers (tickets) for the game thus far at BetMGM. McCaffrey +335, Taylor +325, Kittle +750, Tyler Warren +1500, and Jennings +900 are the most likely first TD scorers (tickets).

McCaffrey is the most popular player prop at DraftKings for first, anytime, and two or more touchdowns. Taylor is also well-liked as an Anytime TD scorer and a 2+ TD scorer.