Arizona Cardinals Odds, Kyler Murray MVP Rankings Take Huge Jump After Win vs. Rams
By Ben Heisler
![Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray stands alone at the top of the NFL MVP odds at WynnBET. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray stands alone at the top of the NFL MVP odds at WynnBET.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/NFL-Arizona-Cardinals-at-Los-Angeles-Rams-221f0386a4041dc57a4f6208f9f2df5b.jpg)
The Arizona Cardinals were projected to be the doormat team of the NFC West division. Now, they're in the top 4 to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
With a dominating road win over the division-favorite Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Arizona's team odds have rocketed up the board in multiple areas.
They're now tied with the Rams at +170 to win the division after starting the year in last place at +500. They've moved up to fourth in the NFC amongst the teams most likely to win the conference at +650, way up from +2500 at the beginning of the year, and have moved from +5000 preseason Super Bowl odds all the way up to +1400!
It's still very early, but do I get to pat myself on the back just a little for my AZ Cardinals preseason prediction at @BetSided?
— Ben Heisler (@bennyheis) October 4, 2021
Don't worry, we did them for all 32 teams so there's plenty I've gotten wrong too... ? pic.twitter.com/u6AMwVQbQF
Arizona's 4-0 start has finally caught the attention of the oddsmakers, both for the team as well as for their starting quarterback.
Kyler Murray in Year 3 has completed a career-high 76.1% of his passes, scored 12 touchdowns through four games through the air and the ground, and owns a quarterback rating of 115.05. At the start of the year, Murray's MVP odds were set at +1800 at WynnBET Sportsbook, 10th amongst quarterbacks in the league.
Via BetSided's MVP Odds page, here's a look at where the top candidates opened compared to where they are now.
Latest NFL MVP Odds
- Kyler Murray: +400 -- opened season at +1800
- Patrick Mahomes +650 -- opened at +475
- Tom Brady: +650 -- opened season at +1000
- Matthew Stafford: +750 -- opened season at +1500
- Josh Allen: +750 -- opened at +900
- Justin Herbert: +900 -- opened at +1500
- Aaron Rodgers: +1000 -- opened at +600
- Dak Prescott: +1200 -- opened at +1100
- Lamar Jackson: +2000 -- opened at +1100
- Russell Wilson: +2000 -- opened at +1300
Is now a good time to bet on Kyler Murray for MVP?
The #AZCardinals sent a message to the rest of the NFL on Sunday after demolishing the previously unbeaten #Rams https://t.co/IkCW7voVYD
— Raising Zona (@RaisingZona) October 3, 2021
Ultimately, the best window to grab Murray has likely passed, but the Cardinals could slip over the next few games against very tough competition.
Five of their next six games are against teams .500 or better, including two matchups against the 49ers who have lost two straight. After hosting San Francisco in Week 5, they travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns, host the Texans and Packers, and then head to San Francisco in Week 9 before a date with the upstart Panthers in Glendale, AZ.
If Murray dominates the bulk of those games, he may be able to put the race in the rearview mirror. I still think he'll be up and down, and would consider waiting until that stretch of the season is over to find further value.
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