Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger, Devin Bush among Betting Favorites for NFL Awards

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and linebacker Devin Bush are among the favorites to win major NFL awards, according to odds released late last week.

Roethlisberger holds 25/1 odds to win the NFL’s regular season MVP award, while Bush has 10/1 odds to win defensive rookie of the year.

The MVP favorite is Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at 6/1, followed by Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck and Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz at 9/1. Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield has 12/1 odds, New Orleans’ Drew Brees and New England’s Tom Brady are at 14/1 and Los Angeles Chargers’ Philip Rivers is at 20/1.

There are five other players with the same 25/1 odds as Roethlisberger: Carolina’s Cam Newton, Houston’s Deshaun Watson, San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo, Atlanta’s Matt Ryan and Seattle’s Russell Wilson.

Mahomes is the reigning winner. Brady won his third NFL MVP award in 2017. Ryan won in 2016, Newton in 2015 and Rodgers won in 2014 and 2011. The last and only Steelers player to win the award was Terry Bradshaw in 1978.

The last time a non-quarterback won the award was in 2012, when Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson took home the honor. There are four running backs with 50/1 odds this year: New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara, Minnesota’s Christian McCaffrey, Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliot, New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley and Los Angeles Rams’ Todd Gurley.

Los Angeles Rams and former Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald is the top defensive player at 66/1. The last defensive player to win the award was Lawrence Taylor in 1986.

Bush has 10/1 odds to win the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, tied for the fifth-best odds along with Buffalo defensive tackle Ed Oliver. San Francisco defensive end Nick Bosa is the favorite at 5/1, followed by Jacksonville linebacker Josh Allen at 7/1, Tampa Bay linebacker Devin White at 8/1 and New York Jets defensive end Quinnen Williams at 17/2.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard won the award last year. The last Steelers player to win the award was linebacker Kendrell Bell in 2001.