2017 NFL MVP odds: Matthew Stafford shares same odds as Adrian Peterson, Eli Manning

On Thursday, gambling site Bovada released their odds for the 2017 NFL MVP. The list includes 37 players, 24 of which are quarterbacks.

Unsurprisingly, one of those quarterbacks is Detroit Lions Matthew Stafford, who holds 50:1 odds to win the award. There are only 13 players with better odds than Stafford, including obvious choices like Tom Brady (4:1) and Aaron Rodgers (7:1), along with more curious choices Marcus Mariota (33:1) and Cam Newton (25:1).

Maybe even more puzzling are the players that share the same odds as Stafford; Eli Manning, Kirk Cousins and Adrian Peterson all share 50:1 odds to win the prestigious award at the end of the 2017 season.

Ty Schalter at Lions Wire perfectly explained why some of these players, who clearly aren’t still playing at Stafford’s level (I’m looking at you, Eli), are listed alongside the Lions quarterback:

But the oddsmakers know the MVP award almost always goes to the best player on the best team.

Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer hasn’t played anywhere near Matthew Stafford’s level over the past two seasons, yet they’re both listed at 50/1. Why? Because these oddsmakers think Arizona’s more likely to be one of the league’s best teams than Detroit

But that doesn’t completely explain some of Bovada’s choices. Take, for example, Adrian Peterson. The last time Peterson was healthy, he ran for 1.9 yards per carry. Now he’s with a New Orleans Saints team that has finished with a losing record for three straight years.

Of course, gambling lines aren’t set as football predictions, but rather predictions of how bettors will act. Understandably so, many people refuse to count out Adrian Peterson, seeing as he’s come back from several injuries in his lifetime. Vegas is assuming many of those fans will put their money behind that theory.

Overall, Stafford has the 12th-best odds among quarterbacks. Here are the quarterbacks listed ahead of him:

• Tom Brady (4:1)
• Aaron Rodgers (7:1)
• Derek Carr (9:1)
• Dak Prescott (12:1)
• Ben Roethlisberger (12:1)
• Russell Wilson (12:1)
• Matt Ryan (16:1)
• Drew Brees (25:1)
• Andrew Luck (25:1)
• Cam Newton (25:1)
• Marcus Mariota (33:1)

What do you think of Stafford’s placement? Would you be willing to put money on Stafford? (Don’t, gambling is bad.)