The Super Bowl has always been the biggest night of the year for Las Vegas sportsbooks with the event’s MVP winner often being one of the most fun props to bet on.
With Super Bowl LVIII taking place in Sin City, the betting action could very well break records. One bet in particular would reportedly break the bank for at least one sportsbook.
Sports betting reporter Ben Fawkes spoke to one oddsmaker, who talked openly about the Super Bowl MVP market.
Oddsmaker Claims San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Sam Darnold Winning MVP Is Their Biggest Liability
The oddsmaker claimed that their worst-case scenario winner would be a San Francisco 49ers quarterback not named Brock Purdy. Apparently, it’s backup Sam Darnold at 300-1.
“Our biggest liability for Super Bowl MVP is Sam Darnold. At 300-1, that liability can add up quickly,” he told Fawkes.
From one oddsmaker on the #SuperBowl MVP market:
“Our biggest liability for Super Bowl MVP is Sam Darnold. At 300-1, that liability can add up quickly.”
— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkes22) February 3, 2024
Darnold is currently the Niners’ QB2 behind Purdy.
The former No. 3 overall pick played in 10 regular season games this season. However, 80 percent of his appearances were during garbage time situations, while just two of them were for any significant on-field action.
One of those games was during the 49ers-Ravens clash on Christmas Day when Purdy suffered a stinger in one of the worst games of his career. The other was in Week 17 when San Francisco rested most of their starters in an inconsequential contest against the Los Angeles Rams.
300-to-1 odds offers quite a rich payout in the unlikely event that the bet actually hits. But some fans believe that the oddsmaker’s “biggest liability” claim is pure baloney and potentially just bait to get people to actually wager on the longshot bet.
Oddsmakers are blowing smoke this week.
— slim shady (@iliveinpdx) February 4, 2024
Is this a joke?
— JJ Seaba (@Jseab4_IA_Hawks) February 3, 2024
The Chances Of San Francisco 49ers QB Sam Darnold Winning Super Bowl MVP Are Slim To None
The only way Darnold would even have a chance is if Purdy somehow gets injured early like what happened during last year’s NFC Championship Game. However, it would also entail Darnold outplaying Chiefs superstar and 2-time MVP Patrick Mahomes to win the contest.
Even if the 49ers did win, Darnold would have to have a larger impact on the result than All-Pro talents Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel.
And again, the bet has no legs at all if Purdy doesn’t have to sit out likely within the first 15 minutes of the game.
Darnold went 28/46 with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception for the 49ers this season. San Francisco lost the two games in which Darnold played any significant action during the regular season. Darnold has also yet to take the field during the Niners’ current playoff run.
But if anyone’s feeling spicy out there and looking to burn a few bucks, the Sam Darnold MVP prop bet may be for you.