Sports Betting Futures Odds: Newton, Manning to Battle for Multiple Honors

by Ricky Dimon - 1/29/2016

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton

It's one of those years with a week off in between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl, so there is plenty of time-too much?-for storylines, predictions, prop-bet discussions, and everything else. Next Sunday's festivities in San Francisco feature the Panthers and Broncos, two teams with outstanding defenses but whose quarterbacks are the headliners. Not surprisingly, Cam Newton and Peyton Manning are the favorites to win MVP.

All odds provided by MyBookie.ag .

Super Bowl MVP

Cam Newton, Panthers (-160) -Newton is almost certain to win regular-season MVP after leading Carolina to a league-best 15-1 record. Can he also bag the Super Bowl honor? If he does both, Newton would become the first player in history to win a National Championship, the Heisman Trophy, be the No. 1 pick in the draft, and win NFL and Super Bowl MVP.

Peyton Manning, Broncos (+275) -If Denver wins the Super Bowl (and it is +200 to do so), it will be hard to deny Manning the MVP simply as the sentimental favorite. Likely in his final season at 39 years old, Manning has been to three Super Bowls and he was MVP of the 41^st installment-when Indianapolis beat Chicago in February of 2007.

Tedd Ginn Jr., Panthers (+1100) -Ginn played in Super Bowl XLVII with the 49ers, who lost to Baltimore 34-31. He also returned the opening kickoff of the 2006-07 BCS National Championship for a touchdown, but he left with an injury sustained during the celebration and Ohio State got blown out by Florida. He rushed for a TD in the NFC title game against Arizona.

C.J. Anderson, Broncos (+1800) - In addition to its stellar defense, Denver may also try to "defend" Newton and company by keeping them off the field. That would mean lots of carries for Anderson. Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart and each team's star linebacker-Luke Kuechly of the Panthers and Von Miller of the Broncos-are all +2000.

Week 1 NFL Roster in 2016

Johnny Manziel on the Cowboys (+175 ) -Manziel still has two years left on the rookie contract he signed with the Browns in 2014, but neither party seems eager to see it through to the finish. Manziel's tenure in Cleveland has been tumultuous at best. Dallas owner Jerry Jones would love the publicity surrounding Manziel-and Jones needs a backup QB, too.

Johnny Manziel on the Browns (+500) -The former Heisman winner started six games as a rookie but was sacked 19 times and never got into a rhythm. Season No. 2 was even worse, plagued by ineffectiveness on the field and immaturity away from it. Suspensions were not infrequent. Manziel on no NFL roster in Week 1 of next season is +600.

Robert Griffin III on the Cowboys (+150) -Griffin's career has been on a steady decline since being drafted No. 2 overall by Washington in 2012. He threw for 20 touchdowns in 2012, 16 in 2013, four in 2014, and did not play this season. It is certain that he will never play for the Redskins again, but he could stay in the NFC East if Dallas passes on Manziel.

Robert Griffin III on the Texans (+150) -The Cowboys at least have a starting quarterback (when Tony Romo is healthy). Houston, on the other hand, was the laughingstock of the league at the position in 2015. The Texans tried out both Brandon Weeden and Brian Hoyer, with results nothing short of disastrous. RGIII on any CFL team is +600.

NBA Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks (-200) -No division in the NBA is even close to as competitive as the Southeast; the leader in every other one is up by at least five games. The Hawks have a one-game lead but are not looking like the team that soared to the conference's No. 1 seed with plenty of room to spare in 2014-15.

Miami Heat (+250) -By comparison, every division leader in the Western Conference has at least an absurd 12-game cushion. That is hardly the case with the Hawks and Heat, as the latter is within one game thanks to having won two in a row on the heels of an alarming seven losses in their last eight outings.

Washington Wizards (+450) -How close is this division? Washington is all the way down in fourth place but only 4.5 games out of first. Heck, the Orlando Magic are just five games south of Atlanta but mired in fifth. The Wizards can be dangerous if John Wall and Bradley Beal stay off the injury report.

Charlotte Hornets (+1800) -The third-place team (and the fourth, for that matter) in the Southeast is closer to the top (four games) than every other second-place squad. Charlotte recently endured a seven-game skid but has currently won three of four to pull within two victories of a .500 record.

Best SupportingActor at the 88^th Academy Awards

Sylvester Stallone, Creed (-150) -The Rocky series is back, but this time with Rocky Balboa as the coach of Apollo Creed's son, Adonis Johnson. This is the only honor Creed has a chance of bagging at the Oscars, but it is highly-regarded in the film industry nonetheless. Stallone already won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies (+125) - While Stallone had been nominated for an Oscar only once before (1977 for Rocky, but did not win), this is Rylance's first nomination. The 56-year-old had done much of his work in theatre and television-until Bridge of Spies. He plays Soviet intelligence officer Rudolf Abel.

Christian Bale, The Big Short (+800) - This comedy-drama that focuses on the build-up of the housing and credit bubble during the 2000s is gaining late momentum in the Best Picture category (currently favored at even money). Bale, who won this same award for The Fighter in 2011, plays American hedge fund manager Michael Burry.

Tom Hardy, The Revenant (+1000) - The Revenant is a third choice to take home Best Picture honors, and Leonardo DiCaprio is a borderline lock (-1600) for Best Actor (which he won at the Golden Globes in the Drama category). Hardy plays the villain to counter DiCaprio's hero role, and it's a part he got only after Sean Penn became unavailable.

Start:	November 23, 2024 @ 2:30 PM
Expert:	Tony George
Free $60 Account Sign Up

Most Recent Weekly Sports Betting and Handicapping